I have to admit that I'm getting cold feet about this project already, and asking myself if I am truly crazy. September may seem like a really easy month to go local, especially for someone like me who is on a first name basis with many of the farmers in the area, but there are definite challenges that I will have to deal with.
The two biggest problems are grains and oils. As far as I know there is no olive or vegetable oil produced in Humboldt County. I'll be using butter and other animal fats exclusively. I was hopeless on the grains front too, but by a stroke of luck I learned of a farmer who trialed a few acres of wheat this year and it sounds like he may be willing to part with some wheat berries for me to grind into flour. The wheat still has to be cleaned, and as it's the busiest time of the farmer's year right now, I'm not certain when I'll get it. For now my starches will come in the form of potatoes, beans, and winter squash.
I bought a bunch of local produce, dairy, and meat at the co-op today after work:
- A gallon of milk from Humboldt Creamery to make into yogurt
- Cheddar cheese from Lolita
- Chevre from Cyprus Grove
- 6 beautiful tomatoes, 2 zucchini, 2 humongous green bell peppers, and an eggplant from Orleans
- Broccoli, spinach, and a watermelon from Blue Lake
- Spring mix from Bayside
- Italian Prune plums from Shivley
- 2 Humboldt grass fed steaks thinly cut for grilling
- 1lb of Humboldt grass fed ground beef
- 2 large salmon fillets
