Since our move to this house almost a year ago, I’m still working to get a garden growing. Without the garden, I don’t have my usual stash of preserved foods so it’s quite a bit more difficult for me to produce a completely homegrown meal. We’re working on it, but we’re not there yet. Instead of feeling unsuccessful at our attempts in better self-sufficiency, I’ve set a goal of including at least one ingredient from our yard/garden in every dinner I prepare. If that’s just not possible, I try to include something that’s been grown locally. It’s a small step, but one worth taking. My family has come to expect my dinnertime report: Taco night: “The green onions and avocados came from the garden, the tomatoes are from the farmers market, and the beef is local and grass fed.” Pizza night: “The arugula, green onions, and basil came from the garden. The mushrooms are locally grown, from the farmers market.” Breakfast for dinner night: “The eggs are from our chickens and the sweet bread for the French toast is from Punalu‘u Bake Shop.” It’s casual, not a boardroom style report, but it’s enough to make my family think regularly...
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