Amanda Woods: Local Challenge … 25km radius

10th April, 2012 —   

Vegie patch

I chose to participate in Local Harvest so I could see how much I could eat within a 25km radius. I live in the North of Melbourne in a rural area and wanted to see how much I could source locally! I grow several types of vegetables and have an orchard and make my own yoghurt weekly. My in-laws provide me with enough preserves to keep us going all year. I added a few businesses to the website to help others find them and encouraged a friend to participate. (I had 4 people knock me back…)

Outcome
It was an easy challenge because I planned my meals prior and got to my target on day 2. I bought some food the week before to keep in the pantry.

What did I learn?
I found a new egg supplier – he is 12 years old and sells at our local Farmers Market.

Over the course of the week I contacted a few butchers and found they buy from an abattoir in Kyneton which is a much cheaper alternative to us than going direct to a farm. We don’t need to shop in supermarkets to get affordable meat!

I found out our local dairy is no longer producing milk and has moved its operations to Warrnambool. This is a big loss to our town although we can still buy their products in 3-4 milkbars.

Did it change my behaviour?
It encouraged me to make bread and ice-cream again and try out some new recipes. I also tasted feijoa for the first time!

I swapped produce and had a meal with my friend who was participating.

 

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Name: Amanda Woods
Suburb: Sunbury
State: VIC
Size: Meal-sized

Amanda Woods's Challenges

  • Don't use the supermarkets this week - shop at local independent grocers, butchers and delis
  • Shop at a farmers' market
  • Source farm-gate produce
  • Source local meat & cheeses
  • Buy cruelty free eggs (laid by happy chooks!)
  • Source free-range or organic meats
  • Harvest and eat food from your own garden
  • Dine at a cafe or restaurant with sustainable features
  • Cook with seasonal produce
  • Cook with local oils or grains
  • Swap sugar for local honey (or stevia)
  • Make yoghurt
  • Make your own ice-cream
  • Compost your kitchen scraps
  • Find out about Urban bee-keeping
  • Join a relevant community network (such as a permaculture group, transition initative, seed savers network, slow food)