Scramblers Share Their Views and Suggestions on Eating Locally Grown Foods

Hi Aviva,

I’m reading Barbara Kingsolver’s book right now, as well. But, living in Alaska forces me to think of it all a little differently. There are no roads to Juneau, my home town, only the ocean and the sky are available for shipping… so costs are high. The subsistence lifestyle (hunting, fishing, and gathering) can sustain a family, and does in many of the villages in our state, but is rarely compatible with a full-time job and kids in grade school. But it must be admitted, though we have no local farms or dairies, we live in a region that still has pristine fishing grounds, abundant game, and forest and beach harvests that make international gourmets drool. People pay thousands of dollars to visit what we have right out our back door.

So here are the steps I’m taking to eat more locally:
1) We have crab pots to harvest every few weeks from May-Sept.
2) Fishing with my kids… we don’t catch much yet, but we sure have fun.
3) We buy wild salmon from a local fisherman.
4) With 3 girlfriends I’m taking hunting and shooting lessons from a local expert and, even though I’ve been petrified of guns my whole life and a devout pacifist, I intend to get (I can almost say it now… “kill”) at least one deer a year to feed my family, while hunting with my best friends (so much for a book club!).
5) I live in a hilly downtown neighborhood where yards are rare, but I planted a 50 SF garden this summer… in planters and pots on my deck. I grew lettuce, chard, onions, celery, and chives (and broccoli and cauliflower that didn’t do well). Next year I’ll add a potato barrel, climbing peas and beans, and some tomatoes in our sunniest window. I’ll also start composting.
6) In the winter months I subscribe to a Community Supported Agriculture farm in Washington State (Full Circle Farm) that many Southeast Alaskans have discovered is the closest “local” farm. They fly a shipment up once a week.
7) My neighbors and I are seriously considering a flock of laying chickens, though we’ll need to have their run weave between several houses to get enough space… and we’ll have to cover their entire run with chain link to keep the local bears from snacking.
8) I’ve been trying to think of a place to house a goat, for milk and cheese… I may try to start a goat co-op with others near our local horse barns (pretty much the only “livestock” in Juneau).
9) My father is an expert jam and jelly maker, all from berries (thimble, blue, salmon, huckle, elder, watermelon, and cranberries) he harvests from the Tongass rainforest.

So… there are few farmers’ markets in my future (though we did have our first one this year and I sold my dad’s jams and the last of my lettuce and chard!), but even in Southeast Alaska we have local food options that we’ve left to the tourist hunters and fisherman for too long.

Thanks for giving me an opportunity to list all this out… I didn’t actually realize how good I have it here in this beautiful place!

And thanks for your menus! I alter all your fish recipes to salmon, make our CSA vegetables the sides, and hope soon to swap venison for beef. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Take care,
Sarah (not the one from Wasilla!)

Hi Aviva,

I just had to write in response to your note this week, because I am also reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle right now. It really has changed the way I look at buying and eating food! I love The Scramble, because I am a disaster at meal planning and it has turned me into what my husband calls "a domestic goddess"! I would love to see Scramble recipes and meal plans in line with what we can buy locally, seasonally and organically. Inspired by Barbara Kingsolver, I shopped at the farm market yesterday and they still have tons of fresh fruits and vegetables available.

Thanks for The Scramble!
Beth H., Fairfax, Virginia

Aviva,

Kingsolver's wonderful book was among my summer reading, too; I'm glad to hear it inspired you -- for selfish reasons! I was feeling a bit of conflict between my recipes from the Scramble and the desire to eat/buy/use what's in season. I'd be thrilled to see more "seasonal" options in the scramble and fewer out-of-season recipes (like strawberries any time but early summer). I don't envy your position; I'm not sure how you can create seasonal recipes for such a large country.... (My peach season in SE Texas was over long before my parents' peach season in NJ even started!) But I hope you're up for the challenge. We're members of a CSA group and will start getting our "shares" for fall (which extends into December here in Houston!) soon after the Jewish New Year. I'll be able to get local meat through the CSA, as well. Now I'm hoping to combine my local veggies with my scramble convenience.

BTW, you can compost long before you have a garden. Although we had a huge garden when we lived in Idaho, now that we're urban-dwellers, we only have a few plants. Yet, we still compost: the bin in the back yard is a convenient place to dump food waste and doesn't take a lot of effort.... and no garden is required!

Margaret J., Houston, Texas

Aviva,

I'm SO glad you wrote about supporting local, sustainable farms. I too read Barbara Kingsolver's book, and then read The Omnivore's Dilemma--which cemented my commitment not to spend my food dollars on industrial (unhealthy, ecologically harmful, and unnatural) agriculture. I was shocked to find out how many industrial corn byproducts are in my life everyday!! From ethanol to high fructose corn syrup, it's everywhere and it is destroying REAL farming that is sustainable and healthful.

Those of us living in colder climates have a lot more seasonal limitations, but I know that I could learn how to can and preserve...anyway, please keep reminding your subscribers that not all food is equal. Even those of us on modest budgets can choose to spend our money on high-quality food. My CSA allows people to pay gradually over the course of the season if they can't pay upfront. And it's always worth it.

Rebecca H., Rosendale, New York

Dear Aviva,

We LOVE your recipes. They have made a huge difference in our dining lives.

I also value your attention to what we eat and where we buy it from. If you liked Barbara Kingsolver, you might also enjoy a book she mentions called The 100 Mile Diet. It is from my neck of the woods (Vancouver) but of interest to anyone on the path of eating local and eating well.

Cheers,

Anne G., Vancouver, British Columbia

Aviva,

I am so glad you're reading that book! I loved it. It made me want to go plant asparagus in my garden. And I am dying to try that zucchini cookie recipe. It has inspired me to go a little out of
my way to this great farm that has the best tomato's on earth.

Consie M., El Dorado Hills, California

Dear Aviva,

I try to eat as much local as possible. There are a number of farm stands in my immediate area, so it is fairly easy in the summer. There is a food delivery service, called Natural Direct, that I also order from in the colder months. I order a box of veggies and fruits every other week. Included are locally grown and/or organic choices and they put it in a cooler on the porch if I'm not home. I bet there are other services like this around the country.

Janice L., Naperville, Illinois