My views on food have been morphing since we started this locavore project in our household. My first 'views' were pretty shallow-feelings of panic. I thought we were pretty good about buying local foods, but as I started examining our purchases, we weren't as good as I thought we were. I was also worried we would feel deprived of favorite foods, like orange juice, fresh fruit and vegetables; and that I would be spending a lot of time in the kitchen cooking and the kids would not be happy.

Well, two months in, the kids have not noticed a thing; worries about not being able to get certain items are mute, and I haven't noticed any difference in the amount of cooking. Going to the grocery store is easy, if it isn't local, we go through a rationalization as to how important an item is for us to purchase it. If it is a processed food, it doesn't happen, unless it is Cheerios or Ovaltine. Our orange juice has been replaced by grape juice from my in-laws grapes; I have figured out a stove top, all local macaroni and cheese that is quick; we now make our own ice cream bars using ginger snap cookies and home made ice cream, and we have branched out and are trying local foods which we would not have tried previously. The most recent of which is burdock root (any recommended recipes from anyone?).

So how have my views on food changed in these last two months? I have a much greater respect for food in general, and the efforts needed to grow and preserve food. I feel very irresponsible having to depend on my in-laws for grape juice, grape jelly, canned tomatoes, and many other items which they took great efforts to grow and preserve. I actually feel much like the grasshopper in the ant and the grasshopper fable. Last summer, I was gone for three weeks at my mom's lake cabin and let the garden go.

I also am acutely aware of the energy needed to grow, package, store and distribute food. I look at a lot of food we purchase and think, we should either grow and preserve this ourselves, or make an effort when the item is in season locally to collect and preserve it. It would take a lot less energy and less garbage would be generated. For example, my husband has been suggesting that we grow our own mushrooms for quite awhile. I always rolled my eyes at this idea, but the other day I was evaluating the packaging that came along with the locally grown mushrooms we had purchased, and I thought, he does have a point. We are ordering a mushroom kit and giving it a go.