Locavores in Rhode Island

This post has been submitted by Ingrid, a Slow Food Rhode Island board member. Look for more on Ingrid and Josh's 100 Mile Diet challenge through August and September, and feel free to add your comments if you're participating in a similar challenge or are a locavore.

My husband, Josh, and I are taking the 100 Mile Diet challenge . . . again. Last year was our first try and we did July and August. This year, Josh and I chose to do it during August and September. Yes, yes, yes – we did choose easier months but no matter what months we choose, we still can’t have chocolate or coffee!

One of our big inspirations last year (and continues to be) was the book Plenty – One Man, One Woman, and a Raucous Year of Eating Locally by Elisa Smith and JB McKinnon. Elisa and JB did the 100 Mile Diet for a whole year living in Canada. Very impressive! In addition to Plenty, the great experience we had last year and the ever-increasing amount local products available to us now has continued to inspire us this year. We are regulars at the Farmers Markets at Goddard State Park, Hope Street at Lippitt Park, and the relatively new one in East Greenwich so our choices are quite varied.

We are just coming to the end of our first week and we have been enjoying blueberries from Schartners Farm, greens, tomatoes, country style ribs and a whole chicken from Pat’s Pastured, peaches, apples, eggplant, onions, and . . . the list goes on. We also planted two small gardens at our house – one is for veggies and one is for herbs. Right now our parsley is going crazy! Soon we’ll try a modified version of Fergus Henderson’s parsley salad from his cookbook The Whole Beast. The best part is there will be even more local foods to gobble up in the coming weeks. We’ll be posting a few entries on Slow Food Rhode Island throughout August and September so stay tuned!

posted by Ingrid