I have everything bought and stored up for Thanksgiving this week, but I am already thinking ahead to next Thanksgiving and my hopes for a meal a little closer to home. In years past I have never really given thought to what we put on the table, only hoping to score the cheapest deal on the biggest turkey. This year our priorities with food have shifted quite a bit. We had hoped to get a heritage breed turkey from the farm that we get our eggs from, but it didnt work out because none of the turkeys would be big enough for our needs. I was very bummed out, but consoled myself by getting a Diestel turkey from New Seasons instead. It was definitely more costly than turkeys I have bought in previous years. Most years I get a frozen turkey for about $10 at the regular grocery store. This years turkey was fresh, enjoyed a free range life with a vegetarian diet with no hormones or antibiotics,on a family ranch in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains. It cost about $40 for 23 pounds, and I think its worth every penny. Most of our veggies are organic and locally grown, and all of our desserts and breads will be made from scratch. So already we have changed a lot from last year...
Still, I want more! Next year, we will make sure to get a farm fresh turkey, hopefully from Linda because I strongly support her commitment to heritage breeds and pasturing all her animals. And I just like her as a person a lot :) I want to go even further though, and try to have the majority of our meal grown from our very backyard. While planning our garden this spring, I am going to make sure we have room, and plant veggies that we can put on the table in November. Brussel sprouts, green beans, corn, potatoes, and pie pumpkins are all on my list. The corn and green beans will probably have to be frozen ahead of time, but I think everything else can be timed right for our feast. It may be weird, but I get really excited thinking about a big Thanksgiving meal that comes entirely from our garden, or surrounding farms. Looking back at where we were a year ago as far as the food we ate, and where we are now gives me comfort that we really are making the changes that I wanted to. We still have a long way to go, and a lot to learn, but we are getting there. Its a lot of fun learning to be responsible for your food, and its a journey I am glad that we are on.
Still, I want more! Next year, we will make sure to get a farm fresh turkey, hopefully from Linda because I strongly support her commitment to heritage breeds and pasturing all her animals. And I just like her as a person a lot :) I want to go even further though, and try to have the majority of our meal grown from our very backyard. While planning our garden this spring, I am going to make sure we have room, and plant veggies that we can put on the table in November. Brussel sprouts, green beans, corn, potatoes, and pie pumpkins are all on my list. The corn and green beans will probably have to be frozen ahead of time, but I think everything else can be timed right for our feast. It may be weird, but I get really excited thinking about a big Thanksgiving meal that comes entirely from our garden, or surrounding farms. Looking back at where we were a year ago as far as the food we ate, and where we are now gives me comfort that we really are making the changes that I wanted to. We still have a long way to go, and a lot to learn, but we are getting there. Its a lot of fun learning to be responsible for your food, and its a journey I am glad that we are on.