Comments for Southwestern Ontario Locavore

Comment on Pumpkins Galore! by Barb

Barb — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:17:25 +0000

I made this recipe tonight, it’s sublime. I used orange zest instead of lemon, and only had one orange so used some bottled lemon juice. I was expecting a pumpkin pie kind of texture, it’s more like a sweet orange-pumpkin pudding. I used about 2 1/4 c. honey and 2 c sugar and I think it’s plenty sweet.
Thanks for sharing your recipe!

Comment on Exploring Elgin County by Todd

Todd — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:22:04 +0000

Hi,

I am wondering if it was you that I saw taking pictures of the surfers at Port Stanley’s Little Beach on Halloween weekend?

If so, I’d really love to see the shots as I was one of the surfers.

If it wasn’t you, thanks for reading anyway. You have some nice shots of Port! Come back anytime.

Comment on The Art of Herding Sheep by diane

diane — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:41:14 +0000

in what months are sheep herded(sorry if i got the lingo wrong, doing a project dont know much)thanks

Comment on The Personal IS Political by 1000ponies

1000ponies — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:45:44 +0000

Your post reminded me of something Slavoj Žižek said. “The moment you flush,” he noted, “you’re in the middle of ideology.”

Comment on A Locavore’s Biggest Challenge by ontariolocavore

ontariolocavore — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:04:30 +0000

The London farmers market only runs two days a week, and is much smaller and less diverse than the Guelph market (which is indeed fantastic!). It also only runs from May-Christmas. There is the indoor market at Covent Gardens, but that is more like a supermarket, although you can get some local produce. Fieldgate Organics is located there, and that indeed is a great resource.

Trying to find a way to get more local/sustainable food into the mainstream is a tremendous challenge. There’s the danger that if we focus too much on convenience and efficiency, we make slow food fast, and end up right back where we started (after all, isn’t that how we got here in the first place?) . Changing our mindset and priorities I think is easily as important – if not more so – than increasing access and convenience. But certainly the latter is needed too.

Comment on A Locavore’s Biggest Challenge by RobT

RobT — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:09:18 +0000

Personally, health effects are not a concern for me, but I appreciate that you and others do have concerns. I really only use it for reheating, not for any proper cooking. This time of year I love putting someing in the oven to cool low and slow (last night it was baked beans) — it wams the house and the soul.

I am in Guelph and envious of your London Market — our (fabulous) market only runs Sat. Which in it’s own way is good as a place and time connect with frieds each week, but does not provide the convienice needed to really move local/sustainable food into the mainstream.

Happy halloween!

Comment on A Locavore’s Biggest Challenge by ontariolocavore

ontariolocavore — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:47:47 +0000

Oh, about the microwave oven… Sometimes things only appear efficient because we don’t take into consideration all the variables in the equation. In my opinion, microwaves fall into this category. What we gain in reduced electricity consumption, we lose in nutrition and perhaps unknown environmental impact.

Briefly I got rid of it for three reasons. First, it was taking up about half the prep space in my kitchen. Second, I have read enough studies that show that cooking food in a microwave significantly reduces it’s nutritional value.

Third, as a student of both physics and homeopathy, I am acutely aware of how water holds energy patterns that are imposed on it. Microwaves heat by agitating water molecules. I don’t know that we understand enough about how that affects us, and decided I didn’t want to keep eating food heated that way. We have a lot of electromagnetic radiation going through us all the time and I don’t want more. The fact that my computer screen got all wonky when the microwave in the next room is running was freaking me out!

Finally, as a result of not having a microwave, I tend to eat most things cold and raw in the summer. So I don’t think I use that much more energy without it. And this time of year, with our barely working furnace, I welcome how nicely our (gas) stove heats the house!

Comment on A Locavore’s Biggest Challenge by ontariolocavore

ontariolocavore — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:39:20 +0000

Hi Kristy,
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the post.

I really loved that book, despite it’s bleak message. I just got her latest book “The Year of the Flood” which takes place in the same setting as Orxy & Crake, only from within the Plebelands. Apparently a very dark story, but I am looking forward to reading it…

Comment on A Locavore’s Biggest Challenge by ontariolocavore

ontariolocavore — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:36:37 +0000

Hi Rob – yes, it is a lot of work! That was exactly what I was talking about, and it is tough to find the time (and energy) to do it all. I commend you on your efforts and aspire to grow more of my own and get some chickens! Finding healty, fresh eggs is a constant challenge.

I agree that one of the problems for many people is the lack of easier access. Some communities are working hard to bring in neighbourhood markets, and I think that is one potentially good solution to reducing how much people have to drive. If a few farmers come to each neighbourhood, and everyone else can walk to the market, that drastically reduces oil consumption.

That said, the outdoor producer-only farmers market in London – which sells a lot of organic and “no-spray” produce – is very centrally located for walking, biking and taking the bus. There’s also plenty of free parking. Yet people just don’t come. What really needs to happen is a change of mindset. People don’t just want proximity, they want total convenience. They want (often need) to be able to shop at 10pm at night on Sunday, and get everything in one place. They are too busy bringing kids to soccer etc. or working part-time job #3. Our society does not prioritize food anymore and as a result, most either don’t wish to, or are unable to rearrange their schedules to fit market times, even for Saturday mornings. I see this as our biggest problem, even beyond logistics

Comment on A Locavore’s Biggest Challenge by RobT

RobT — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:39:40 +0000

The only problem I have with your post is the effort involved to achieve your goals. I too grow much of what I eat, keep chickens for eggs, can and freeze, and buy local what I can (including grass feed beed). While I enjoy this lifestyle (it is a lot of “work”) it does require a level of effort that many cannot commit to (or enjoy, as clearly both you and I do).

What we need as consumers is opportunity to buy sustainable products through a sustainable delivery system. In otherwords, without having to drive. Otherwise the benfits of supporting sustaianble production are lost in the exhust fumes of the cars that we good intentioned customers use to drive to farm gate sellers. Sustainablity extends not only to the way the products are produces, but also to the delivery channels.

For example, which is least impactful: driving 30 km both ways to get organic apples, or buying minimal-spray apples from a local farmers market that can be reached by bicycle? There is no end of similar choices: is it better to get Niagara wine from the lcbo or drive 20 min to our local winery?

PS: Why did you get rid of your microwave? Microwave ovens are the most energy efficient means to heat/reheat food and IMHO a good way to reduce enegy use (unless it is winter when the ineffiency of ovens and stoves is a benefit to heating the house),