Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Toxin Tuesday - Dig In Manitoba Challenge

Weird, usually I know exactly what I'm going to blog about all day and can't wait to get to the computer to write. Today - blank. I actually have ideas and recipes to share but I said Tuesdays would be all about toxins (and I'm so literal & Type A that I can't veer off course too far). They aren't toxic recipes they are squeaky clean so I will save them for another day.

Maybe I am liking PINTEREST too much. Are you on PINTEREST? Get on there and follow me (see upper left hand corner). Its fun. And it really is quite addicting. I actually just want to look at modern white kitchens (drool) all evening. I have a modern white kitchen that I just redid that I love - why am I still obsessed with kitchens. Oh - maybe its because I am obsessed with food.  And I am a bit obsessed with making my food clean and non-toxic. Okay - I'm getting back on track here.

So I found a website called Dig In Manitoba that has a Dig In Challenge going on right now. I'm going to challenge all of my readers (ha, ha - hopefully there is more than one of you) to take a look at the pledge activities. You don't need to sign up but there are lots of great ideas on things you can do to eat closer to home, learn new food skills and take action for fair food. You don't need to do all of these but  its a great way to get yourself thinking about where you want to make changes in the way your family shops and eats. I plan to go back there once a week or so to try to keep some of these ideas top of mind.

I'm especially interested in the section on learning new food skills. Fresh veggies and fruit have obviously taken a much more prominent place in our weekly shopping list so I've all the sudden developed a strong desire to plant a garden and preserve food for the winter (all non-toxic and organic of course). I'm also really keen on learning how to properly compost. So with spring approaching this is the time for me to start really putting "legs on my dreams" and figuring out how and if I am actually going to do this. It might not logistically be possible to plant any significant garden in my yard, but there are other ideas like joining a community garden, regularly getting to a farmers market, buying local at the grocery store or taking part in a fruit share. The options are there I just need to take action. I'll be sure to let you know how I do.

So you don't have to take the challenge but you can read through the list of pledge activities and really think about whether there is something that interests you. A way to make your food choices less harmful to the environment (by eating local and organic) and less toxic to your body. And for those of you that live in Manitoba there are lots of links to helpful resources close to home for some of the activities you might be interested in.

Finally, I've had a few people (okay - I know I have more than one faithful reader - thanks for tuning in) wondering how my local meat purchase went. The payment went through on my credit card properly, I met the unmarked van in the parking lot of a local community center (I felt like such a bad ass) and I got my meat. It was all nicely packaged and ready to go. After months of thinking about ordering local grass fed, antibiotic and hormone free meat I actually did it. It wasn't difficult. Just an example of the changes we can make if we take action. It can be hard to change habits that are ingrained in us from years of doing things a certain way (i.e. buying meat at Safeway) but it can be done. I haven't tried anything yet but I will be sure update you on the taste aspect of the transaction.

So I challenge you to take action.................you will be happy you did! And I will be doing a lot less blogging if I end up a gardener this summer. Just an FYI!

No comments:

Post a Comment