This past week my fridge passed away. It had a good life, filled with fresh veggies, uneaten leftovers and I am sure some of the finest food that I have ever created ( It was there through my culinary school years.) Although I am sad that it is gone and living with out a fridge is unbearable, I am ready for a new start and a new plan.
This morning our new fridge showed up all clean and shiny, with extra shelves for the loads of condiments that I can’t live without. I thought that this is the time that we start out fresh. Stop relying on the shops to do the work that I am trained to do. So from this point on I am going to chronicle my progress at becoming as self reliant and local as possible. (And taking my poor fiancee with me.)
There are things that I can’t give up, I realize this. Tim Horton’s Coffee, Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint soap, and this wonderful tea from Seattle. I will try to only use them as necessary (everyday- well the coffee anyway.)
We had made a start to do this even before the fridge died, we started a CSA. It was our first, and as ashamed as I am to say that, but I was working at a country club before getting my new job at the school, and I had no time. Not even just time to cook, I mean no time at all. So with my new found weekends, and blissful summers off, I am ready to begin.
So here is the idea. I will buy local. I will bake my own bread and make my own pasta. I will no longer haunt the deli and meat counter of my local supermarket, I will no longer try to eat berries in January and I will grow some of my own food.
I have a sea-foam green thumb. sometimes it is green and other times it is blue-meaning- I have a love-hate relationship with plants, but I went to the library today and took out two books on gardening. The Burpee Complete Gardener, and Garden Basics, hopefully this will give me some help as I erect my tiny greenhouse and cross my fingers.
I will irritatingly update you with information, recipes and pictures amongst the school food information.
So lets mark the date and wish the best for us. This will be a fun year of growing, canning, baking and to top it all of I am getting married.
I am ready for the new plan.
