This is the first day of my 30 day challenge. The first thing I did this morning was to make myself a cup of green tea. Then I realized that the tea was from China! Oops!! Not a great start to my Challenge. After I put aside the tea, and all the negative thoughts that were flooding my mind about this challenge, I went into the garden to find breakfast. I emerged from the garden with a smile and a bounty- many types of greens, a cuke, a tomato and blackberries. The kids wanted more than salad. Local peaches and organic whole wheat pancakes made with local eggs and blackberries went over well for the kids. I don't think this challenge is going to be easy. I spent quite a bit of time over the last few days wondering how I will manage for a whole month. No almonds, or avocados? Sea salt or pepper? Am I crazy? What kind of oil can I use for salads and cooking? Are there any grains that are local? Can I really do this? Why did I even propose this crazy idea?
We were invited to my brother's house for dinner so I stopped at a local farm on the way. Peaches, lettuce, tomatoes, scallions, peppers, local apples and honey! I made a great salad for us. They served a nice watermelon for dessert. The kids ate nonlocal stuff at their house. I didn't push it. After all, I am not doing this to torture my family. I want this to be a great learning experience for us all. And it already has been.

“Food consists not just in piles of chemicals; it also comprises a set of social and ecological relationships, reaching back to the land and outward to other people.” - Michael Pollan, In Defense of Food.