I’ve done the couponing thing. I’ve done the only-shop-at-Costco thing. I’ve done the no spend thing. I’ve done the live-off-an-emergency-food-supply thing. I’ve done {and am still striving for} the $100 a month thing. So what’s my next challenge? {If you’ve been a follower for any length of time, you know they’ll be a new challenge!} 😉
30 Days of Nothing But Local!
I think I’m more excited about this challenge than any other one I’ve done. I love eating local, I love healthy foods and I love fresh produce so much anyway, so I’m way excited about this. The plan is to eat local only and try to do all my grocery shopping at the local farmer’s market, co-op or roadside stands for the next 30 days. I’ve never done this before, I have no idea how much it will cost or if I can pull it off, but I think it will be fun to try.
Now before you start to worry that the HH and Monkey Boy will not survive on kale and fresh broccoli alone, remember that before I left town I fully stocked their pantry with all of their favorite foods. They will have plenty to live off of until I get home, so this challenge is boy-free! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Each week I’ll head out to the farmer’s market, load up on delicious local food, and then work on coming up with some new recipes that incorporate all that fresh local yumminess. That might be a bit of a challenge at first because it’s such a different way to shop and eat. I’ll have to adjust my weekly menus.
Of course I already have the basics in my east coast pantry – rice, beans, pasta, flour, sugar, spices, etc, {as well as a ham and some bacon that I brought along in the cooler} but aside from that, if I can’t find it at the farmer’s market, co-op or a roadside stand, it’s not getting purchased.
Often buying local is more expensive, so I might find myself a little {or a lot} over budget for the month. Or I might find that I can get a majority of my groceries at a reduced rate at a farmer’s market. I’ve seen it go both ways, but I’m prepared to bust my budget just for this month to give this challenge a try. I’ll not only feel great knowing I’m supporting local people and businesses, but I think I’ll also feel great buying and preparing such healthy food all month. I think my body is going to thank me for this challenge!
Like always, I’ll track all of my spending and all of my meals, and report back in my weekly grocery shopping update.
What do you think? Great idea? Do you think I’ll end up spending more and going over my usual budget? Do you have any great recipes to share to kickstart my 30 Days of Eating Local month? Do you see another no spend month on the horizon to even my grocery budget out of the year? 😉
~Mavis
Total Spent Buying Local This Week $30.24 {Wowza!}
Onions $5, Spinach $3, Sweet potatoes $5, Beets $7 – all from the farmer’s market
Homemade Bread $3.85 – from a local scratch bakery
Milk $3.39 – from the Co-op
Free Range Eggs $6.00- from a girl down the road {$3 per dozen}
Rhubarb Free – from a neighbor
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