Inaugural Post

Do I really want to "blog" our Lenten experiment of local eating? No, not really.For a couple of reasons. Not the least of which is the fact that I would have to use the word "blog" on a regular basis. A word that isn't a word, but a short-cut, compromise-of-a-word, a lazy way of avoiding having to utter two syllables when our busy, busy, cyber-lives can only afford to spend the time on one. And the sound of the pseudo-word is so plainly, stupidly, bluntly, American. Blog.

A second reason to skip out on the documenting of our all-Oregon eating plan is to avoid the inevitable nay-sayer, the critic who will point out all the hypocracies in our attempt. "You said no outside food. So what are you doing with your grubby little mitts wrapped around that so-called-local beer? Where did you get that yeast?" The truth is that we're going to make some compromises. The truth is that we can only do what we can do. It's that way with any challenge that we take on. If we were to wait until we can do it perfectly, we'd never get anything done. Isn't it the Amish who say "Only God is perfect. It's our duty as humans to embrace imperfections and muddle forward." If it wasn't the Amish, it was someone else who was just trying to get something done. So here is our attempt to get something done in our own small, imperfect way.

Our "rules":
-Purchase food stuffs exclusively from Oregon, and as locally as possible.
Our "exceptions":
-Use up what's on hand (almost out of salt, compeletely out of sugar, and about 2 cups of flour stored up. It's going to go fast).
-Invitations from family/friends (we'll be hospitable and eat what's offered, but if asked to bring a dish it must be local)
-Travel meals (except if buying groceries on the go, then local, local, local)
-Yeast (for bread, beer, wine)
-One exception per family-member (Charlie: the superfulous ingredients in the ice cream from the local dairy; Kim: flax oil from Washington state; Luke: rice cereal, a boy's gotta eat).

With the intent to keep us accountable, and in part to validate the idea that we're trying to make a difference, I'll make some comments now and then. No promises that it will be daily, but I'll try to keep things posted on at least a weekly basis.