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Finale: The Meaning of Life

Posted at 6:03 AM on December 29, 2008 by Donna McClurkan (6 Comments)

A few years ago, I realized our daughter was more comfortable talking while she was a passenger in the back seat of our car than just about anywhere else. Apparently, this isn't unusual; several friends say their kids are chattier while being ferried to and fro seated behind Mom or Dad.

Anna and I have some of our best conversations while driving, and we talk about many things. "Tell me about your day" is a mutual sharing of the previous 8 or so hours. Sometimes we talk about books we've read. Occasionally, our conversations lean toward more weighty topics. Once, when Anna was nine, we ruminated about the meaning of life. Anna's contribution from the backseat: "Eat well and use your usefulness."

Isn't this profound? For me, it sums up just about everything that really matters.

In the spirit of Anna's insight, I wish to thank everyone that participated, directly or otherwise, in our project this year. 80% + of my family's food comes from Michigan, within 100 miles of Kalamazoo. We ate well, thanks to so many, including:

Blue Dog Greens, Eater's Guild, the People's Food Co-op, the Kalamazoo Farmers' Market, Carrie and Kathy (eggs), Jennings Brothers Grains, Victorian Bakery, Valley Elk Farm, Young Earth Farm, Scobey's Produce, AppleSchram Organic Orchard, Young Herb Produce, Sweetwater Local Foods Market, Food Dance Café, Bauer Raspberries, Elizabeth's root veggie recipes, A Food Affair Café, Kalamazoo Granola, Green Gardens Farm, Patch and Pasture, Mi Milk Maidens, KalCarbon Acres, Bourner's Orchard, Sawall Health Food, Kismet Organics, Fenn Valley Winery, Bell's Brewery, Suzanne's goat cheese, Sarkozy Bakery, generous donations of canned, preserved, home processed meat and fruit.

Thanks also to the following folks who made it possible for me to use my usefulness:
* Lynne and everyone at The Splendid Table for inviting me to participate in this year of eating locally and write about it. It was an honor and a privilege. It changed my life.
* The 14 other bloggers across the country from whom I learned much.
* Lori, for answering all my questions, past and future.
* Everyone that commented on my blogs, publicly and privately, especially Molly, Mike, Vicki, Linda, Julie and M & D. The commitment kept me going; knowing you were reading helped me focus. More than you could ever know.
* The farmers, processors and growers - with their open barn-door policy - who welcomed Anna and me always.
* Rose, who strives to help me understand farming is a way of life (not an occupation).
* Ron, for providing space where I'm comfortable in my own (new) skin, and for believing/trusting I'm not too old to "intern."
* Carrie, gleaner extraordinaire, my chicken-school mentor, friend and canning buddy; I still covet your Chicken Farmer T-shirt.
* Matt for an unforgettable lesson on nitrogen.
* Linda and the instructors at Michigan State University's Master Gardener program for laying the foundation for me to learn to grow my own food.
* Mark for weekly teachings in the dirt, the occasional pop quiz and making the Master Gardener classroom material real.
* Leatta and Josephine for cooking tips and nutrition wisdom.
* Bruce for cheerleading and sharing infinite resources, especially early on when I was clueless about the rich and diverse agricultural bounty we have close to home.
* Fair Food Matters board and staff for knowing, years ago, about the need for a regional food system; you were there for me post-Omnivore's Dilemma.
* Melanie for help in starting our new farmers' market, past and future.
* Jill for writing and delivering the sermon Hope for the Commons.
* The Gazette, Encore, WKZO, churches and other venues where I spoke, for forums in which to tell my local food stories.
* Everyone who keeps me mindful of this: it's a luxury to be able think about where our food comes from.
* All active members on the EatLocalSWMich Yahoo Group with whom I agree and disagree; you help me frame my thinking.

And with deep gratitude to ...

... Mac, for helping me find my voice;

... Karen, for unvarnished guidance in fine-tuning it;

... and Anna, farm visit companion, gardening buddy, family philosopher and local food recipe tester. My reason for being a locavore.

Comments (6)

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Donna,
Thank you for having been on the journey. I hope we can all keep in touch and continue the conversation.
Peace,
Paulette

Posted by P. Thompson | December 29, 2008 2:38 PM

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Donna,
When I started my locavore journey last Jan. I was thrilled to find a person from MI involved in the Locavore Nation Project. Little did I know what an excellent resource you would be. Following your well-written posts here and on the Eatlocal SW MI listserv were encouraging and informative. As I mentioned before, once you start searching for info one thing leads to another, but you were the best person to make contact with initially.

Thank YOU for laboring over your posts and I hope all your thoughts and scribbles that hit the cutting room floor find their way into a book.

Julie

Posted by Julie | December 29, 2008 8:14 PM

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Donna as well as the other bloggers. Thanks so much! I greatly enjoyed reading your posts. Have read almost every day.
Donna, I met you last year I think at the Organic Conference at MSU. Will really miss being able to read your posts. Always entertaining. I've been doing the same thing (eating locally) but haven't had/gotten to write about it.
I grew up near K-zoo and am jealous that they have such a good food network in that area. I now live in Jackson, which is OK but not as good as what you have. Working on it though!
Thanks again.
Lisa Brown
Paradise Farms

Posted by Lisa Brown | December 29, 2008 8:34 PM

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Donna,
Thank you for inspiring me throughout the year with your thoughtful and thought-provoking posts. It was great to meet you and Anna (wise far beyond her years), and I do hope our paths will cross again someday. May your new year be the best yet!
Cheers,
Autumn

Posted by Autumn Long | December 30, 2008 9:10 AM

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Donna,

Thank you for letting me be a part of your quest. I'm more than happy to share anything I have or know with you and your family. It has been fun exchanging ideas and thoughts with you and Mac and Anna. This is not the end, only the bright beginning of a huge movement to invite everyone the enjoy a meal at a local table. I've been enlightened to just how many people really are interested in eating a better meal from a better and local sorce.
Looking forward to the food future.
Carrie

Posted by Carrie | December 31, 2008 12:16 PM

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Donna,

I would like to present you the unofficial at-a girl award. I hope that doesn't sound to politically incorrect. You and your fellow (fella ?) participants have inspired me to reconsider many things that I had lost track of in the fray, and a lot of new ideas to me as well. I have poured over most of the posts on a regular almost daily basis. Thank you all for the time that has gone into sharing a portion of your experiences.

Mike

Posted by mike | January 11, 2009 4:49 PM