We are blessed to live walking distance to Canada's largest farmer's market and try and obtain as much of our vegetables and fruit from there as possible. The surrounding Mennonite farmers have their own flour mill nearby, and so we could fulfill almost all our needs locally. Witnessing that the Mennonite community is self-sustainable with the foods they grow, offers additional encouragement to pause and ask whether we "need" or "want" something. However, I am quite sure that I do *need* coffee :) Thanks for your thoughtful writing Hadden!
Ha! Thanks Ruth, I thought "oh no" after I had published this piece as I remembered your comment about coffee before hand!
We are blessed in the community I now live in with so many local small businesses and food producers. It really is quite amazing as most of these businesses have died out in other parts of the country. I see it as my duty (and a pleasurable one at that) as a member of the community to support these businesses.
Well, I intended to argue that bananas are a “need” – but that would make you 0 for 3. Anyway you’re absolutely right, and we all need to think this way more often.
Thanks Elizabeth (I was partly preaching to myself when I said we don't need chocolate - I eat far too much of the stuff!)
I hadn't heard of Fibershed before but they look like an excellent organisation whop are doing some really innovative and beneficial work. On a related note, there is a Spring Show in the rural town I now live in. The woman who won Best in Show had made a bookmark out of woven flax that she had grown herself. The dedication! She was a worthy winner.
One of the things I have enjoyed in my move to a rural Vermont island is that eating locally takes very little effort. Our community values eating local--and supports our farmers by purchasing directly from them or from outlets like the seasonal farmer's markets and the shop in town that sells only local food and goods.
I agree that the choice to eat local is a question of priorities. I, like Ruth, do make an exception for coffee, but at least it's produced by local coffee producer/distributors.
As someone who has come to spending a 1920's level percentage of my limited income on food, I know first hand that many people can afford to buy local, farmer direct and grow their own--as long as they are willing to make sacrifices. I've peeled back the onion, shedding layers of entertainment, travel and consumer goods that were supposed to enrich me. Now I teach foraging, angling and hunting and do my best to practice reciprocity with the land and the farmers that support me. Directly. By volunteering on farms and by practicing honorable harvest in the wild.
Thank you for your well reasoned and referenced post. Wendell Berry writes so eloquently on what we have lost in local knowledge and community and why we can't completely forget these foundations.
We are blessed to live walking distance to Canada's largest farmer's market and try and obtain as much of our vegetables and fruit from there as possible. The surrounding Mennonite farmers have their own flour mill nearby, and so we could fulfill almost all our needs locally. Witnessing that the Mennonite community is self-sustainable with the foods they grow, offers additional encouragement to pause and ask whether we "need" or "want" something. However, I am quite sure that I do *need* coffee :) Thanks for your thoughtful writing Hadden!
Ha! Thanks Ruth, I thought "oh no" after I had published this piece as I remembered your comment about coffee before hand!
We are blessed in the community I now live in with so many local small businesses and food producers. It really is quite amazing as most of these businesses have died out in other parts of the country. I see it as my duty (and a pleasurable one at that) as a member of the community to support these businesses.
Well, I intended to argue that bananas are a “need” – but that would make you 0 for 3. Anyway you’re absolutely right, and we all need to think this way more often.
A wonderfully nuanced article. Thank you!
Rude of you to point out that I don’t *need* chocolate! Seriously though, I love this. The “supermarket industrial complex” is a good phrase.
I wonder if the Fibershed movement has any presence in your part of the world? I’m a fan of the work they’re doing with flax in my region
Thanks Elizabeth (I was partly preaching to myself when I said we don't need chocolate - I eat far too much of the stuff!)
I hadn't heard of Fibershed before but they look like an excellent organisation whop are doing some really innovative and beneficial work. On a related note, there is a Spring Show in the rural town I now live in. The woman who won Best in Show had made a bookmark out of woven flax that she had grown herself. The dedication! She was a worthy winner.
One of the things I have enjoyed in my move to a rural Vermont island is that eating locally takes very little effort. Our community values eating local--and supports our farmers by purchasing directly from them or from outlets like the seasonal farmer's markets and the shop in town that sells only local food and goods.
I agree that the choice to eat local is a question of priorities. I, like Ruth, do make an exception for coffee, but at least it's produced by local coffee producer/distributors.
As someone who has come to spending a 1920's level percentage of my limited income on food, I know first hand that many people can afford to buy local, farmer direct and grow their own--as long as they are willing to make sacrifices. I've peeled back the onion, shedding layers of entertainment, travel and consumer goods that were supposed to enrich me. Now I teach foraging, angling and hunting and do my best to practice reciprocity with the land and the farmers that support me. Directly. By volunteering on farms and by practicing honorable harvest in the wild.
Thank you for your well reasoned and referenced post. Wendell Berry writes so eloquently on what we have lost in local knowledge and community and why we can't completely forget these foundations.
Here's to hope, cheers.