Eat Local Challenge: August 2010

Monday, August 30, 2010

Posting What I Eat

I've been thinking about what made an initially really tough challenge (four years ago) easier and easier as each year has gone by and determined that it was learning what others eat. I can recall participating in the Challenge in 2007, listening to my tummy growling, and thinking, "What are my friends eating. They must have come up with something." Consequently, starting tomorrow I will post as often as I can--trying for daily--what I am eating. Hopefully this will offer some creative ideas and reassurances that there is no starving while taking the Eat Local Challenge. I hope that others will share their culinary ideas as well.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

2 Days 'til the Challenge. Plan to buy some chicken!

McDowell Family Farms will be processing chicken this Tuesday Aug. 31 at their farm in Draper and will be selling it fresh that day. Whatever is not sold fresh will be sold frozen. The chickens are White Plymouth Rock breed as well as Delawares. You can check out their blog at mcdowellfamilyfarm.blogspot.com

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

4 Days to Go

Start making meal plans based on what is in season. Visiting a farmers market will help to inspire you, and you can find all local recipes here: Recipes

Monday, August 23, 2010

5 Days to Go

A tip to get us all ready for the Challenge:
Be sure to use up any perishables that are non-local.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

New Updates to Food Source List

I just made a whole bunch of updates to the Food Source Lists (find them in the left-hand sidebar--scroll down). If you're shopping this week to prepare you for the Challenge, you may want to plan your shopping by visiting these lists first...And you may be surprised at just how much delicious, local fare there is!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

We're on Facebook

We are on Facebook at Eat Local Salt Lake City. Join discussions, meet other localvores, and find tips about eating locally.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Local Shopping

Start preparing for the Challenge by shopping the local farmers markets. You can find a list of markets (organized by city) here. With different market days, times, and products, you will likely find one that fits your lifestyle.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Locavores with an Altitude

Check out this Park City group that is also "committed to education, demonstration, and community action to promote growing and sourcing our food locally." They have a number of events coming up. Locavores with an Altitude

Eat Local Challenge and Related Events

Social Soup
Finding Healthy Food in the City for All Economic Groups
Tuesday, January 18, 2011, 12:00-1:30 p.m.
University of Utah, Goodwill Humanitarian Building, Room 155

Often local food is equated with foodies who are not concerned with budgeting their food dollars, but local food can be affordable. This session, featuring speakers from Wasatch Community Gardens, People's Market, and Utah Community Supported Agriculture in Utah, focuses on finding healthy and affordable food in our city. Come with your questions and leave with useful information.

This series also provides free, vegetarian soup featuring local ingredients. The event itself is also free and open to the public.

People's Market 5th Annual Seed Swap
Saturday, January 29th, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Mountain Valley Seed Warehouse
455 West 1700 South, SLC

1. Gather your leftover vegetable & flower seeds from last year.
2. Have no seeds? Come anyway and we’ll give you some to start.
3. Bring your friends to the Seed Swap.
4. Trade or donate your seeds with local garden enthusiasts & farmers.
5. Use your new seeds to start or expand your space with variety.

Also accepting non-perishable donations for local food banks.

About the Challenge

Developing a greater awareness about our food—that’s what the Eat Local Challenge is about. While the “standard” Challenge is described as consuming only foods from within a 250 mile radius for a whole month, whatever makes this experience fun and educational (and a challenge to you) is valid.

Is this your first year for the whole family? Consider doing one week of completely local. Are you feeling really strapped for time and realizing that there are really no ready-made meals available locally? Try choosing a couple of food groups such as produce and meats and just be true to those. (You’ll save time on not having to make pasta or bread.)

However you challenge yourself this year—have fun and enjoy learning about your food consumption!

This blog is written by authors who are interested in building community while supporting our local economy and global ecology.

We're interested in your questions, suggestions, and ideas for local resources so please comment under the relevant topic.

If you want to start a NEW topic, contribute new posts to the blog, add events to the calendar, or have other suggestions for improving this blog, please email tarapoelzing@yahoo.com.

Eat Local Challenge