No Burgers for Us Toninght.

Garlic!!

SO yesterday was busy and I didn't get to update, here I am now, blogging you my day before class.

I'm eating french toast right now which I also had yesterday. For lunch I had a salad with tofu, the same as the previous night. I heavily snacked on local crackers! and cabot cheese. I also had an apple. I got raisin bran that comes from needham! (actually its distributed from there but still) which i had for dinner. Followed by some harpoon beer! (which is made in boston and windsor vermont - 150 miles, average the two and its less that 100, since i have no way of knowing which place it came from)

We went to an artist talk and opening at the list center for class, and for the first time i had the opportunity to drink during class i couldn't, since the wine and beer were not local. My roommates (the same ones that saved me from the cookie) thought i could have some wine since it wasn't food, but im sticking to my morals. But really it sucked standing around while everyone was drinking and snacking. but i made it through! Better get strong when i go to first friday openings tonight!

I might be late for class now so i better go.....

Ice cream fail :(

Day 3

Day three has come and almost finished. I wasn't feeling so hot today, really low energy and pretty hungry, even when I ate. I was missing greens and grains in a big way. I was in class this afternoon and started feeling light headed so i had to each my emergency Kashi granola bar (not local) but I felt it necessary to make through 3 more hours of class. I need to figure out my snack situation.

So after class I went on my second foraging expedition! I found a lot of great food today and I am feeling a bit more optimistic!

Zach turned me on to Sherman Market (22 Union Sq, Somerville, MA) which was so great! The guy who was working was very helpful and whipped out his laptop to help me look up how far away places were. I even got to try a couple cheese samples!

What I got-

- Stoned Wheat Crackers from Hingham, MA- 21 miles

-Flour!!!! from Aurora Mills and farms in Linneus, ME - 368 miles (I was desperate for flour but should have known better)

-Oats from Aurora Mill and Farm in Linneus, ME - 368 miles

-Butter!! from High Lawn Farm in Lee, MA - 121 miles (DAMN i was so pumped on this)

-Mesclun Greens from Red Tire Farms in Granby, MA - 84 miles

-Apples from Lunenburg, MA - 43.7 miles

-Onion from Whately, MA - 107 miles

-Smoked Sea Salt from Maine Salt Company in Marshfield, ME - 326 miles (I figured salt from maine was better than salt from god knows where)

-Baguette of bread from Brookline, MA - 2 miles

-BEANS!!! from Baer's Best in South Hamilton, MA - 22.8 miles

- carrots - I forgot to write down where these were from but the guy looked it up for me.

-Whole Wheat Bread from Nashoba Slow Rise Breads in Concord, MA - 20 miles.

I was surprised at how small the store was at first but everything was local and I found so many good things! That brings me to what I have been thinking about with "local". I think I need to do some more research and thinking into what local is. The guy I was talking to asked me why the arbitrary number on 100 miles? I didn't have a great answer. While 100 miles seems like a lot, it is rather limiting as a lot of "local" food I have found is from vermont and maine. So does it make sense to switch it to 200 to reflect what is actually available, or eat rather restrictively to 100. Does it make sense to buy maine products like oats and sea salt that i haven't found within 100 miles yet instead of really far away products? Also while my bread and chocolate were made locally their ingredients didn't necessarily come locally (no cocoa in MA!) Perhaps bread and chocolate will be my exception? I need to figure this all out and write my manifesto by the end of this week.

I went to the Centre street location of City Feed and Supply on 672 Centre Street, JP

-Chocolate milk from Thatcher Farm in Milton, MA - 14.8 miles

-Mint Chocolate from Equal Exchange Chocolates in West Bridgewater, MA - 35.3

So a lot of good food, which I feel saved me haha. But there was also local food I decided not to buy. I would have loved to get the local Bacon or Gelato I found but at 9 dollars and 8 respectively I decided it was a bit too pricy. A lot of people have been asking me if doing this project is expensive. The answer is YES. I was thinking not going out to eat would equal out the more expensive food, and it might, but I am also dealing with the question of privilege. It is expensive and not everyone could afford to eat this way. I'm not sure how much I can afford it myself. I have to make choices for sure. I had a conversation with the guy at Sherman Market about it. I commented on the prices and asked his opinion. It seems to be a complicated thing, two part situation perhaps. Part is that it cost more to produce good local food of quality that isn't being subsidized by the government. Part is the market. Until there is a change in the main system of mass produced commercial food , local organic won't be able to compete in prices (According to the guy I was talking to) I think this is something I have a general idea about this but it would be worth doing some more research about.

What I ate today:

Breakfast - Yogurt from grass fed cows in Ashfield, MA -115 miles and Vermont Maple syrup from Bristol, Vermont - 208 miles (this is so ironic because I'm from bristol so this would have come from 0 miles away!!!) Also had eggs from Hubbardston, MA - 63.9 miles

Lunch - Left over Beef Tomato Stew thing (Beef from River Rock Farm in Brimfield, MA - 60.9 miles, Onions from Long Plain Farm in Whately, MA - 107 miles, Hydroponic Tomatoes from American Hydroponics in Hopkington, MA - 27.9 miles, also some left over garlic and oregano)

Snack - Kashi TLC Granola bar - La Jolla, CA - 3,019 miles (only ate it in order to not faint in class, but it just goes to show how far our food travels. 300 mils in maine doesn't sound so bag now....)

Dinner - Salad! (Mesclun Greens from Granby, MA - 84 miles, hydroponic tomatoes from Hopkington, MA - 27.9 miles, Tofu from Jamaica Plain 4.2 miles, fried in butter from Lee, MA - 125 miles and flour from Linneus, ME - 368 miles. Also Balsamic Vinaigrette I made myself. Baguette of bread from Brookline MA - 2 miles)

Dessert -Mint Chocolate from West Bridgewater, MA - 35.3

any suggestions or opinions on my manifesto?

If you'll eat wet cat food...

Day 2

Day two is almost done. My body is missing grains and greens.... I need to forage again soon. The great thing so far though is that everyone wants to help me find food! I've gotten a lot of good suggestions of places to go and had some good conversation. Thanks to the blog a lot of people are finding out about and asking me how the project is going, yay!

I decided to move the blog over to blogspot so people can comment. I would really love to hear what people have to say and I think making it more interactive and a conversation could be integral to the project.

Today I got local milk from whole foods which comes from Crescent Ridge Farm in Sharon, MA - 22 miles (I'm actually drinking a glass right now!)

Also got some more Hydroponic Tomatoes from American Hydroponics in Hopkington, MA - 27.9 miles

Today I ate:

Breakfast- finished off my non local yogurt, also had local eggs from The Country Hen Hubbardston, MA - 63.9 miles.

Snack - Apple from Clark Brothers Orchard in Ashfield, MA - 115 miles

Lunch- left over butternut squash soup (squash from Joe Czajkowski Farms Hadley, MA - 115 miles, Apple Cider from Box Mill Farms Stow, MA - 23.7 miles, onion from Long Plain Farm in Whately, MA - 107 miles, Apple from Clark Brothers Orchard in Ashfield, MA - 115 miles, left over milk, Vermont Maple Syrup)

Dinner- Beef and tomatoey stew thing (Beef from River Rock Farm in Brimfield, MA - 60.9 miles, Onions from Long Plain Farm in Whately, MA - 107 miles, Hydroponic Tomatoes from American Hydroponics in Hopkington, MA - 27.9 miles, also some left over garlic and oregano)

Glass of milk from Crescent Ridge Farm in Sharon, MA - 22 miles (Also drank some milk in the car while looking for a parking space on the way home because I was really hungry)

Other than that I am DYING for chocolate chip cookies.....and my tummy hurts from drinking too much milk.

any thoughts?

Day 1!

So day 1 is almost over, and going good so far!

I started out with cherrios for breakfast in efforts to use up the milk i still have. I think in order to not be wasteful I will eat the remaining perishable items I have but I don't have a ton since I haven't gone grocery shopping in about a week. I have left some milk, yogurt, and cheese.

Lunch- See video

Dinner - Butternut Squash Soup with local apples, local onions, local butternut squash, left over milk, and oil (bah! will be making my own butter once i find local cream!)

Here is what I got on my foraging adventure today:

1. City Feed and Supply - 66 Boylston St. Jamaica Plain

- 1 turnip from Enterpise Farm in South Deefield, MA - 97.5 miles

- 1 organic butternut squash from Joe Czajkowski Farms Hadley, MA - 107 miles (I didn't actually know where Haldey was, so my bad)

- Apple Cider from Box Mill Farms Stow, MA - 23.7 miles

-Eggs from The Country Hen Hubbardston, MA - 63.9 miles

- Tofu from 21st Century Foods Inc. in Jamaica Plain, MA - 4.2 miles

2. Don Ottos's (formerly Lionette's) 577 Tremont St. Boston MA

-3 onions from Long Plain Farm in Whately, MA - 107 miles (oops)

-2 pounds ground beef from River Rock Farm in Brimfield, MA - 60.9 miles

3. Foodie's Urban Market- 1421 Washington St. Boston MA

-I went in search of Greathill Diary but alas found none.

4. South and Formaggio's

-Plain Low fat yogurt from grass fed cows in Sidehill Farm Ashfield, MA - 115 miles (better learn my geography)

5. Whole Foods - Brighton MA

3 Apples from Clark Brothers Orchard in Ashfield, MA - 115 miles (it was MA right? guess not close enough)

2 Hydroponic Tomatoes from American Hydroponics in Hopkinton, MA -27.9 miles

So some thoughts about today: I don't know where or how far places are in Mass. I asked and some people were helpful while others were not. They were really great at Don Ottos. In fact I ended up having a great conversation with Erin who's fiance just bought the store last week. When I was inquiring about how far away places are she asked if I was doing a 100 mile diet, so I explained my project. She suggest I read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbra Kingsolver (which i started last night in fact!) and when she found out I had been photographing on local farms she told me they really need art for the store and for advertising and wants to hire me! Good fortune already!

Also- I've never to my knowledge eaten a turnip. Or have any clue how to cook one. But I will try and figure it out! Stay tuned...I feel like I'm on Iron Chef and turnip is my mystery ingredient haha. I wanted to gather more food today but I got really hungry so I had to come home to make some food, and didn't make it out for another round. I have a busy week of school so that should be interesting. But i have a TON of beef to eat :) I also got lost several times. JP and the south end are not my friend yet, but they will be! I hope to improve my navigational skills during this experiment as well.

You might have noticed I have titled the blog (and the project) Performing Local. I have become rather influenced and interested in performance art as of late and I am thinking of this project as partly performative. I really like the ideas of performance art to make art more experiential and employing the body as a site. For me this project is very much about the experiential and will affecting by body in a big way - emotionally and physically. I am interested in the body as a sculptural element. How will the food I eat change my body? So I will be weighing myself weekly on mondays and noting how I am feeling.

So today I started with weighing myself : 151 pounds on day 1 February 1st.

Also I must have been anxious on some level because i bit all my nails off without even realizing it (not a habit I usually have)

About an hour ago I had my first social implication when my roommates went to Darwin's for sandwhiches, which sounded reaaaaly tasty, but I stayed home to cook my butternut squash soup for dinner.