I am also not the primary meal planner in my house, but I'm becoming the primary chef. That's simply because in order for Ed to shop, he needs to know what to buy, and coming up with 1 or 2 meals at the start of the week is about what I muster. So he does it himself. But then, because I'm home almost every night before he is, I get the task of cooking - which actually could be nice if it didn't have to take place in the span of about 25 minutes with hungry kids looking on.
What I am, when it comes to food, is the primary believer in conspiracy theories. I am also the primary complainer about what gets purchased at the grocery store. Helpful, I know.
Invigorated by my recent organic kick that led me to pester Ed into switching to organic dairy and then drove me to join another CSA, this time Shenandoah Farms, I was all in when it came to reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle for my online book club From Left to Write. Is it possible that she's right that the explosion of high fructose corn syrup is a product of over-subsidizing corn? I hear about irrational farm policies all the time - it certainly seems possible that this is another one.
I like the idea of eating local, but I also love all that lovely out of season fruit. And, it's one of few food groups that Connor devours. But I also remember all those strawberries my mom froze every year for us - to be served mid-winter when it is simply impossible to find anything that delicious. I also remember the canned cherries. Yum! I could've done without the day under the backyard tree shucking corn, but I have to give my mom credit that it it more delicious than anything that can be purchased in a can or frozen.
I still have dreams of growing all my food some year, but I won't be doing it here in Arlington. I value my sanity a lot more, which is what led to grassing in my garden about a year ago. I just couldn't take the stress of whatever critter it is that likes to bite into each and every piece of fruit in my garden.
Elaine
I received a free copy of the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle as a member of the online book club From Left to Write. It's been a great read so far.
I dream of a vegetable garden but know that life is too busy right now for me to do that well. We just try our best, right?
ReplyDeleteI loved that book. We are complete proponents of organic dairy and also fairly regular about a variety of organic veg and fruit. The speaker you mentioned seeing in another post is a friend of my sister's in CO. They've had a heck of a time with her child. I don't know her but also heard her speak here once. If only I could kick my sweet habit, we'd do better on the high-fructose corn syrup but I seem to need my stash.
ReplyDeleteWe just decided not to do Waterpenny this year. Curious to hear what drew you to Shenandoah. I was tinkering with finding a new CSA or committing to the farmer's market each weekend.