So!
I don't have any of my own pictures to post right now (my camera batteries are dead) but I can assure you that I've been eating quite well!
The Princess and I have challenges for a month beginning... well, a while ago. She has pledged to eat only foods grown and processed within 100 miles of her farm! I am not quite so bold, and have instead occupied myself on a month long vegan diet.
I'm also in the process of moving (only a few blocks away), so my access to a kitchen has been somewhat sketchy. However, I have still had plenty of opportunities for good food, having played around with whatever fresh vegetables I can find at our local fruit stand. I also visited Castlegar's first Farmers Market this last Saturday, but was sadly disappointed by the lack of food and the abundance of sea shells, plants, and jewellery. (Not really my idea of farming!)
I have had the opportunity to sample a few unusual things: the first is Wild Garden Hummus. The Internet had told me nothing but good things about this jarred hummus, and I was excited to try the stuff out. It wasn't cheap- over four dollars for what I didn't consider a very big jar. (I could make a lot more from scratch for that price!) I chose the roasted garlic flavour, figuring I couldn't go too wrong. Unfortunately I was disappointed right when I opened the jar. Rather than the grainy, textured hummus I purposely prepare (and absolutely love at a local coffee shop), this was a smooth paste. I was disappointed again when I dipped a finger in it- not nearly enough garlic, and far too much of what I assumed was lemon juice until I read the label on the 'all natural' dip- citric acid. This must have been to make up for the loss of flavour associated with the fact that this little jar had made it to my local grocery store all the way from Jordan! I couldn't believe how excessive this snack ended up being. I can't wait to unpack my food processor and start making my own again. Even if chickpeas and tahini aren't grown locally, I'm sure I can find a closer source than the Middle East. (And without sacrificing authenticity, since I'm pretty sure traditional hummus makers, like me, left out the citric acid.)

The other thing I've been consuming is books, specifically, books about consuming. The most recent is the classic "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan. This is one of those books that should really be a prerequisite to consuming anything else. Pollan manages to present the facts without coming off as too preachy or self-consumed. My only argument is with how quickly he shrugged off vegetarianism. No, I don't think that vegetarianism is for everyone, nor do I think that 'well-raised' animals have had any harm done to them in their raising. However, the "Vegetarian's Dilemma" of culture versus ethics is one that lasts only slightly longer than he bothered test driving vegetarianism. Thanksgiving is not about turkey; a ballgame is not about hot dogs. Eventually, a person adapts to saying "No thanks, I brought my own ^^" in various social situations, and, for me at least, culture is not injured so long as we do not dwell on something so unconsequential. Besides, most people are willing to adapt. Just last night at a community 'open air theatre' as I put money in the food bank jar and explained why I wasn't taking the popcorn offered 'by donation' (so they would not take offence as they were visibly trying to give away as much of the popcorn as possible), they happily grabbed me a bag off the top of the air popper that had not yet been covered in butter. No harm done to my Indiana-Jones-watching cultural experience.
Does vegetarianism come without its faults? Of course not. There are plenty of qualms with sugar; probably moreso than with honey. There are problems with shipping hummus from Jordan just as there are with eating the endlessly available "Mock Meats" available in stores. No, my dinner (carrot, potato and garlic soup and homemade whole wheat biscuits) was not without harm to the earth, especially since the local fruit stand was unusually devoid of carrots and yes, they were conventionally farmed carrots shipped to my town from far away. However, adding a piece of meat to this meal, no matter how earth-and-animal-friendly the farming conditions, would not have made it any more ethical. I suppose I take offence at being pitied (yes, Pollan made it clear that he pities the tofu-eater). Sure I work hard at making the things I ingest animal-free, but I refuse to suffer. Certainly I enjoy food a lot more than my omnivorous family (who tonight dined, in seperate rooms, on frozen pepperoni pizza. Surely a 'edible foodlike substance.')

Finally, I'm currently working a summer job at Tim Hortons. I had gotten the idea that my vegan experiment would clash with being surrounded with conventional baked goods. Luckily enough, the Tim Hortons website has just assured me that our fat-free muffins (of which at least one variety is usually prepared daily) and our bagels are vegan! This is actually a pretty exciting discovery for me. Tomorrow morning I plan to give the 1-800 number a call and find out if the 'java concentrate' that we mix cream, milk, or chocolate milk with to make our ice capps contains milk. If not, I think I might bring a small bottle of soymilk to work with me on Friday and make myself a custom vegan ice capp! If only we could convince Tim's to start carrying soymilk like Starbucks...

This blog entry has gotten surprisingly long. I hope The Princess decides to post a few pictures of her local eating experience! (Sorry I'm such a nag ^^;)

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Now playing: Nine Inch Nails - Terrible Lie
via FoxyTunes