Local Foods Pot Luck Challenge

Local Foods Pot Luck Challenge is a creative themed party idea shared by Carin of Burlington, VT.

Nothing speaks of home pride and patriotic values like a good ol' American BBQ. Summer is a great time to get out and dig in the dirt or meet people at the farmer's market.

Challenge your friends to a cook-off. Guests can make any dish they like, but they have to put their creative juices to work using local ingredients (you can set the regional perimeters - sourced within 100 miles or within State, etc). You may be surprised by the number of local breweries, vineyards, butchers, and veggies you find! - but they won't be around long if we don't support them!

With issues like climate change highlighting the environmental issues rife in our current economic system, it's a great time to reconsider what changes you can make in your daily life that impact the community and environment around you. By purchasing grass fed beef, free range chickens, and local veggies, you significantly reduce the amount of energy needed (and CO2 emitted) to raise and process the food for consumption. Just choosing local food will really improve your carbon footprint!

Check out the local farmer's market around you and substitute transit-tired veggies for something really special. By supporting local farmers and businesses, you make it possible for them to exist. Many small farmers don't benefit from subsidies, which is why they need your help to stay afloat.

Make it a book discussion, if you like! Here are some folks who may inspire you:

• Barbara Kingsolver - Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
• Bill McKibben - Deep Economy, Earth
• Ben Hewitt - The Town that Food Saved
• Eliot Coleman - Four Season Farm
• Woody Tasch - Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money
• Gary Hirshberg - Stirring it up

• Find your Local Farmer's Markets - http://www.localharvest.org/
• link to Slow Foods USA - http://www.slowfoodusa.org/
• Sustainable Table - http://www.sustainabletable.org/shop/eatseasonal/
• Films: Food Inc, Fresh, Big River, King Corn

and many, many more!

Enjoy Good Food and Do Good by it!

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