The 100 Mile Diet

I realize this post may come with a bit of a somber tone. 
And I fully expect criticism from  it. 


On that note, I'm half way through Alisa Smith and James MacKinnon's 100 Mile Diet. My interest was first sparked when I saw the Food Network's series based on the book. 


The series was intriguing. The food looked amazing! 
The one problem with applying it to my life? I live in Southwestern Ontario. 


Not exactly British Columbia. Not exactly horn of plenty when it comes to fresh local food. Especially in the winter! 


It's not impossible, but in this case I think (for the time being atleast) its best to do what you can to eat off the land that once was rich with Aboriginal tribes fishing, hunting, growing corn and plenty of other long lost fruits and vegetables. 


A story published in the Brantford Expositor reveals that the challenge has been attempted in our little city. 


The 100 Mile Diet- Branford Edition

And while it may be nearly impossible to go 100% local, there are incredible resources available in Branford. The Buy Local, Buy Fresh initiative ignited a few years ago sparking an interest in locals who were seeking the goods but didn't know where to find them. 


My Chiropractor, Shaelyn Osborn is a huge advocate for organic eating and constantly has information regarding it in her office. Her recommendation is Oakridge Acres farm just outside of Ayr, Ontario. From what I've eaten so far their food, meats, and baking are heavenly! Oakridge Acres has a website where you can peruse the goods and their contact info for where to find them! 


So my parting note to you is, think about what you eat. An apple is sweeter fresh off the tree than it is out of the grocery store. We are surrounded by an abundance of fresh things to eat, and people who harvest them for us. Why not support our local farmers, producers and manufacturers instead of taking the easy way out and piling our cart high with highly processed, highly modified food from the grocery store. 

What's A Little Rain in Your Bucket?

There are umpteen ways to save the planet and be green as illustrated in a wonderful book I managed to lose a few weeks ago in the Dominican Republic.

Vanessa Farquharson's amazing book available on her blog... http://greenasathistle.com/sleeping-naked-is-green/

I hadn't had the chance to read it all yet before it got swept into the abyss that is Excellence Resort. However she did an amazing green challenge for a year, one change per day for a year.


I'm not able to do quite that. Though I have frequented the Big Carrot to check it out and witnessed in person that Vegan Dental Floss does actually exist.


However my green post for today has to do with the sky.
Sure its pretty, gives us our dose of vitamin D, if we get out enough.
However, the easiest green change you can do is collect what the sky gives you.


I'm talking about rain barrels!


This is a cost effective and earth effective change that doesn't really take a lot of work.

You buy it (well unless you want to make one, which is possible too but takes a bit more work), place it under one of the drain pipes around your house and voila!


Rain water watered just about 75% of our gardens last year. Which if you think about saves a lot of water to be used for other things! Like lemonade :)