A city girl's explorations into sustainable living

Recently I found myself unemployed, pondering what I should do with my life next. All the career books say, do what you love. Find your passion. Follow your bliss. As if there is an answer -- a solution that will allow you to make money doing what you were meant to do. Help the world, help yourself, and make money!

For me, it's not so easy. I'm interested in a lot of things, but nothing that I am willing to invest in enough to turn it into a career.

I'm what Barbara Sher calls a "scanner," or what Margaret Lobenstine calls "the Renaissance Soul." At least that's what these self-help books for the career-stunted tell me.

What I tell myself is that I'm a learner. And what I want to learn about right now is sustainable living. I have a feeling it's what I'm supposed to be doing -- even if it doesn't pay. Even if it COSTS money to do.

I am meant to be a student right now, exploring peak oil, the economic crisis, climate change, sustainable agriculture, community building, permaculture, natural capitalism, Transition Towns, rural sociology, and my own spiritual growth. I honestly don't know where it will lead, or what it will amount to, but I invite you to share my journey.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Countdown to 100 Mile Diet

Starting tomorrow (with breakfast) and for the next seven days, I have to limit my diet to foods grown, processed, and packaged within 100 miles of my apartment. Why? It's as assignment -- our whole class is doing it. And we're keeping a daily online diary of our local food experience, which I'm hoping will allow for some tips and consolation.

The philosophy behind the 100-mile diet is explained in a book and on the website, http://100milediet.org

The diet is supposedly inspired by Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon, who spent all of 2005 eating nothing but local foods.

I'm partially excited about the challenge, and partially anxious about having enough to eat. We're going shopping at the Detroit Lakes Farmer's Market tomorrow to stock up on locally-grown food, but part of our assignment is to scavenge for other local food sources by talking to neighbors, farmers, or surfing localdirt.com. It's not supposed to be as easy as one-stop shopping... It will take creativity, research, and initiative to scrounge up tasty local meals for an entire week.

The 7 days culminate with a pot-luck celebration, composed entirely of local foods (and local ingredients).

Tonight, I'm having a beer and making cookies... which tomorrow have to go in the freezer.
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