My Food Life

Last week, my kids returned home with the strawberries from their lunch uneaten. Mind you, it’s the middle of winter and I had already wrestled the guilt of buying out-of-season, internationally shipped fruit into a head-lock. I thought for certain my son would eat the strawberries without comment or argument. Thus, I reasoned it was okay to purchase them in this particular instance. However, when the kids arrived home with their strawberries warm and smushed, I was hopping mad.

This unleashed an environmental tirade, which included dead polar bears and the melting of the Arctic ice caps. They sat there gap-mouthed and quiet, until my daughter started to giggle. I suppose Mom throwing a tantrum while wielding carrots could be a funny sight. My son, on the other hand, had enough self preservation to know better and simply said, “It’s not funny, J.” (In other words, “Stop laughing, sister, before she throws the carrots at you.”)

That’s right. It’s not funny. And, it’s not easy. And, it’s sure as heck, not cheap. Choosing seasonal foods that are tasty is expensive, time consuming and all too often, emotionally charged. These days, I find myself stopped cold in the produce section searching for organic, seasonal choices. For good reason, I’m also *trying* to find foods that are locally grown. Mind you, I live in the heart of a rich agriculture center, where local summer fare is bountiful. Winter options (that my kids will eat) – not so much.

Like so many working mothers – I’m strapped for time, which makes the whole shopping/planning/cooking chore just that … a chore. The idea of choosing only local, seasonal and organic foods that my family will enjoy feels like a dream for “those” people with an abundance of time, land and know-how. Perhaps, that’s why Barbara Kingsolver’s book, “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” appealed to me. Maybe she would know the easy food secrets for a healthy life.

It’s an inspiring read that has fueled my desire to buy local. However, it’s also been a bit deflating. There are no secrets to food success. Plant, water, grow, weed, harvest. It’s that simple and that hard.

There’s no way I have time for a garden. Hell, we still need to finish the irrigation in the back yard. Plus, I see gardening as a hobby born from extra time, which is non-existent. In fact, I use to take pride that I could fly through the grocery store in 20 minutes. Now, I spend 20 minutes reading the strawberry labels.

And, most recently, I had a one-way conversation in the dairy section, which began with, “Are you kidding me? $6.89 for a gallon of organic milk?” The poor guy stocking the wine rack looked over and I added, “That’s almost twice the cost of a gallon gas. I’m gonna have to buy my own damn cow here soon.”

That’s the rub … my life isn’t set up for a cow or chickens or even a weekly drive to the local farm for a CSA pickup. I might be able to pull off an herb garden on the front porch, and if the irrigation gets done some time this decade, maybe a tomato plant or two in the backyard. I need easy. I need produce origins to be printed in 12 pt bold type on the sticker. I need organic CSAs to be reasonably priced with curbside delivery. And, I need a family that appreciates seasonal fare. Or, at least *learns* to love seasonal produce.  I suppose that is the one thing I can completly control.  With that, I say, “Goodbye Chilean strawberries. Hello Ripon organic oranges.”

Book Overview:  Could you live an entire year eating locally or the food from your garden? Barbara Kingsolver transplanted her family from the deserts of Arizona to the mountains of Virginia for their endeavor. Join From Left to Write on February 21 as we discuss Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. As a member of From Left to Write,  I received a copy of the book. All opinions are my own.