The Live Local (as possible) Challenge Begins

We have had quite the time trying to decide what to call this challenge. After many discussions, we didn't want to focus solely on food, thought food is a MAJOR player. There are so many other little things that go into the way we eat, like growing our food, how we clean our dishes, how to teach our children the way of life we have grown to love. We also didn't want to call ourselves a "real" food challenge or "traditional" food challenge, as we don't totally or exclusively subscribe to the ideas of Nourishing Traditions, or Dr. Mercola or The Maker's Diet, or any number of eat-this-way manuals out there. What we have a is a hybrid of food that we aim to eat as our main diet, based on whether it used to live and breathe. That's it, for the most part. Foods that we can see in their whole form before preparing them. Foods that rarely come out of a box. A lifestyle that is based on common sense, frugality, simplicity and traditions of families and cultures dating back too many years to recount.
Also, we will be the first to say that we do not eat only local foods. I love my olive oil. Olives don't grow in this ag state, so we get ours from California when possible, Italy when necessary. Also see the previous post on this blog about nobody being perfect. This is a slow change, and only as much of a change as you and your family feel comfortable with, but definitely one worth pursuing.
We are taking all of this slowly-changing the way you live should happen that way. Feel free to use each suggestion when you get a chance. This is only the beginning, and most likely we will check in weekly with another piece to the puzzle.
The first thing we want to you to think about is what your goals are-healthier eating, simpler life, lower grocery bill, eventual homesteading?
The posts for this won't be solely contributed from one person or blog. We have a group of people helping, as a community is a useful tool that has gotten lost somewhere as our nation has evolved. That means you may come up to a post that is simply a brief explanation and link to another blog. There is some wonderful advice out there, and there is no reason to continually reinvent the wheel when such great ones are already rolling.

***Step one will be to look at the food in your home and find what wasn't once breathing...decide how important that food is to your family, and whether this will be the last month you buy it. If it is, don't feel like you have to just throw it out. Make a point to eat it the rest the way throughout the month, and watch for later posts as we talk about replacement options. Feel free to post what you are getting rid of or questions on how to replace/make your own of items. We will work to include answers to those questions in later posts. (Note: plants breathe... :)  )