I’ve done a lot of research (in person and online) over the last week and a half to find out about local food and farms in my area. Time is a necessary investment at the outset of any change in habits, but that investment can be as little as a few minutes at a time. Those minutes count! They matter! A few minutes can write new items on a shopping list to avoid forgetting, ask someone where any particular kind of produce is grown,  or find a vegetable, fruit, meat, or egg CSA (Consumer Supported Agriculture) in your area.

In keeping with My Plan for Social Eating Without Losing My Mind, my one take-away change from this challenge is…

Make buying my milk, chicken, and produce from small, local farmers my regular routine.

I often buy milk and produce from a conventional grocery store (and hardly buy chicken at all), but buying it local allows me to get to know the people who grew my food and how they did it. It also tastes better because it was picked at the right time.

To make sure I do this, I’m adding a trip to my farmers market(s) to my weekly calendar. Another way to make my change easy would be to get involved with chicken, veggie, and fruit CSA’s.

About all that other stuff…

I did some research about peanut butter, grains, and beans (the three things I missed the most on the challenge!). I plan to use up what I already have at home, but after that?

Once Again looks like a great place to get nut butters (I’ll get them in bulk to save money) and bulk nuts.

I like Eden Foods for grains, dried fruit, dried beans, and spices. I’d love to get some of those things in bulk if I can learn how to store them properly.

(I am a fan of the ethics of both companies.)

So, that’s it. Maybe a little anti-climactic after a week of eating almost nothing but dairy, meat, and produce.

This social eating thing is not about BIG. SPLASHY changes all at once to save the world. It’s about real, lasting, persistent, and needed changes in ourselves that lead to real, needed changes for others.

Have you made any social eating changes lately? I’d love to hear about them!