Char's Gardening"As the Garden Grows, so does the Gardener"

One of my “New Years Changes” was to try to eat local.  I do not believe I will be 100% local, which admittedly was my original uneducated aspiration.  Maybe 75% can be done.  There are things that are not grown in my area, such as rice and grains, but the things that I can’t get locally I will be buying organic and fair trade.   I am not a trend follower, but if you are not growing your own food, buying organic or locally,  you may want to jump on the bandwagon at this time.

Here is an eye opening excerpt from an article I found through, 100 mile locavores.  You may want to think twice before eating another pineapple.

“Pineapples need very large amounts of pesticides, about 20kg of active ingredient per hectare per cycle. The soil is sterilised; biodiversity is eliminated. Fourteen to 16 different types of treatment are typically needed, and many have to be applied several times. They use chemicals that are dangerous for the environment and human health. The chemicals involved are legal in Costa Rica but include some of the most controversial in the world.”  Read the entire article here.

"GROWING LOCAL - The Truth About YOUR Food" 
brought to you by Raw & Juicy and Twin Oaks Farm

Tuesday Feb 8th : Movie begins at 6:30

"What's Organic about Organic?"

WHAT’S ORGANIC ABOUT “ORGANIC?” rings the alarm for the need to develop
an ecological
consciousness.  The film illustrates that the organic food
debate extends well beyond personal choice and into the realm of social
responsibility. Each of the film’s characters is intimately connected to the organic
world; they’re farmers, activists, and scientists.  While many folks can
easily endorse “organic,” the characters in the film take the
discussion beyond just shopping for another eco-label. As we glimpse
into each of their lives, we see how organic agriculture has the
potential to solve many of our environmental and health problems.  The
film will explore how organic farming can be used as a soil and air
protection system, a healthy solution to toxic pollution, and an
innovative means to combat global warming.

     Fountain Square, DOWNTOWN FWB  
     196 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE
     Fort Walton Beach  

EAT LOCAL 5PM  * held in the Art Lair, Unit G

Sorry, this post is so late, but I hope if you live in the Fort Walton area you can come and join us.

I posted the other day how my received a package of citrus fruit from my parents in central florida.   Meemsnyc commented that I should make marmalade and it seemed like a great idea, even though, marmalade is on the seemingly endless list, of things I’ve never made. I wasn’t going to let this stop me, so I called my mom for a recipe, I mean who else do you call when you need something.  Not only did she send me a recipe, but she tried it first to make sure it worked.  Mom’s are the best.  Okay, back to marmalade.  Below are the pictures I took making the marmalade.

Here is the marmalade recipe I used.

Head over to  Greenish Thumb for some other great garden to table ideas.

In order to become a locavore a person needs to find sources for local organic food.  So the goal has to be to meet farmers or find a CSA.  So here I am wondering how in the world I was going to do this.  I had searched the internet for local CSA’a and farmers and had come up with nothing.  Then I get an email from someone who reads my blog, thanks Deb, that the neighboring town has an eat local group.  Hooray!  Every second Tuesday of the month some area businesses are sponsoring a film series, “Growing Local: The Naked Truth About Your Food”.  So it seems I will have more info soon.

Here’s a look at the veggies I picked from the garden for a wonderful salad.

salad blend lettuce, carrots, chinese mustard, broccoli

Tasty Salad

Head over to  Greenish Thumb for some other great garden to table ideas.

I don’t know about you, but I have never been very big on making New Years resolutions.   I think resolutions are made, then two weeks later forgotten or set aside.  Since I have this hangup with the whole concept of new years resolutions, I am hoping to just set a few goals and call them “changes”.

1.  I am hoping the first “change” will be a fun one.  I plan on becoming a Master Gardener.  All the ground work has been laid, and my classes start in 2 weeks from today.  I am very excited about this.  It is one of those things I have wanted to do for a few years, but just never got around to.  I have a feeing, I will be sharing some of my new found knowledge with you in the near future.

2.  Now this second “change” will be a much bigger challenge.  I am hoping that by years end to be eating 100% locally.  Produce doesn’t seem too big of a challenge, I figure what I can’t grow, I can attain without too much trouble.  But, I want it to be more then that, though baby steps are the only way here.  I am not a vegetarian so this “change” will mean finding local meat, milk ect.  With my end goal being all local food and no processed food.   Another problem I face, is that since the oil spill, I am not eating any seafood from the Gulf of Mexico I live only a mile from.  I know “they” say the seafood is safe but just yesterday more tar balls are washing up on our beaches.   GRRRR….

So here’s to me and you if you are also trying out some “changes”!