Saturday, February 16, 2008

On a Clementine box


It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood! Blue sky has been a rare sight here of late. Finally I got a chance to take a picture with some color and light.

Not too long ago, a friend from California told me of a book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. I’m always ready to read a book about gardening, but this was not the book I was expecting. It’s about raising most of your own food, but it’s also about saving oil.

Here’s where I get up on my Clementine box. (I don’t have a soap box.) Eating as much locally produced food as possible is a really good thing! Right from the outset, since I’m wobbling on a little Clementine box, you know I buy some well- traveled produce. In a way I’ve always resented that those cute little orange things have been in Spain and I haven’t, but I never really considered that it takes oil to get them here. This book has given me something to think about. Barbara’s website has great pictures, (Love those Bourbon Red turkeys), recipes and links to information about C.S.A.s and farmer’s markets. Click on the book title to go there. This next growing season, you could make a difference.

Now I can look at my garden with the same satisfied feeling as a person who drives a hybrid looks at their car. We’re both doing a good thing.

1 comment:

Mary said...

I laugh at the image of someone standing on a Clementine box....good to know there is a use for them :-) I understand and agree in principle with what you say....and know I need to change my ways. I do try to buy a lot of local produce in the summer months. The environment means a lot ot me and I hate to see what we do to it with our selfish ways....and I know I'm as much a part of the problem as the next person. Thanks for making me think.