Unfortunately, more time means more ideas! Hence the inspiration to resurrect my blog. But first, a little background. One of the most incredible things I did last year was sign up to be part of a CSA. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this terminology, CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Basically, throughout the summer and early fall, I receive a box - or "share" - of veggies once a week from a local farm. I signed up for a small share, as I do enjoy making food and eating lots of vegetables, but I am only one person. However, I quickly realized I had quite a bit of food on my hands! Especially while in the midst of completing my master's degree. I froze a good deal of food - both prepared and unprepared - so I wouldn't waste my precious veggies. I enjoyed my CSA experience so much, I decided to do a winter CSA, as well. I continued to get a box of veggies every other week from the end of October through February. Along with the veggies, I also received a carton of eggs every two weeks.
Needless to say, it was a lot of work to keep up with my food preparation! It was fun - and just the challenge I was looking for to help me stay on track with eating healthy. However, I realized I have a bit of a dilemma: the start of my summer CSA is quickly approaching (mid June) and I still have LOADS of food in my fridge, freezer, and pantry. I have been working hard this past month to use my veggies and pantry items, but I still have so much food! I jokingly decided last week that I would see how long I could go without buying food. Less than a week after making that statement, I found myself using my trip downstate to purchase raw honey and stop by the Amish bulk food store. I only spent $50, but I came away with a lot of food! Among other things, I was excited to find a 5 lb. bag of steel cut oats for $4.95!
So, this is where you enter the story. I decided I needed a little more accountability in my new venture. I have a pantry, two overflow pantry shelves, a fridge full of food, a freezer, and a small second freezer (about the size of a dorm refrigerator). My goal is to reduce the amount of food so it all fits into my regular pantry, and clean out my fridge and freezers so I am ready for my 2nd CSA summer. Along with that, I decided to give myself a little challenge. I don't know about you, but I tend to need a challenge to make life interesting. So, I decided to see how long I can go without buying food. To make my challenge slightly more sustainable, I decided to give myself $5 a week for groceries. That way, I can purchase key ingredients; however, I will still have to be strategic in how I spend my money. At some point, I will have to decide between coffee creamer and peanut butter. Or even if I should forego coffee, itself. I did make a quick stop at the grocery store today, to grab a few essentials: coffee, coffee creamer, coconut milk, flour, bananas, asparagus (this was before I decided on a $5 allowance, and I didn't want to miss asparagus in season), and a box of lavender chamomile tea (my most favorite, once-a-month indulgence). Aside from today and my stop at the Amish bulk food store yesterday, I have not purchased any other food. In fact, I have purchased very little food for the past month, as I was already trying to use up as much food as possible. I did buy some fruit and a few items for a friend's visit, but most of the food in my house has been here for quite some time.
Will you join me on my food journey? Initially, it may not seem too different from my everyday life, but I am thinking it will get more interesting as the weeks go on. Depending on how well I do, I could continue even as I begin my summer CSA. I will share pictures and recipes as I am allowed to do so. I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas, too. Also, if you are inspired to make food or be creative with your ingredients, feel free to share your experiences and pictures in the comments!
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