Food from 100 mile radius

[Another Texan]

There is a challenge tv show on the planet green channel that has families eating only foods grown within 100 miles for 100 days. It got me to thinking what all is produced "locally" around here. The main deficiency seems to be in the area of grains.

Is it realistic to expect to find products from all food groups within a 100 mile radius? Looking back to past generations, many it seems relied to some extent on products brought in from elsewhere, flour and salt especially come to mind.

[PMilam]

and coffee.

[waxwing]

I think it is possible but it would be an austere lifstyle. Flour would have to be made like the natives did, from acorns or arrowroot or cattail roots, etc. Sorghum or honey would be the sugar, no problem there. Can't think of salt substitute. Like this thread AT.

[Another Texan]

I'm not a coffee drinker so I didn't even think of that. Isn't chicory a coffee substitute? But I'm sure not if that could be grown within a 100 miles.

I would hope shows like that and discussion boards such as this might bring about more awareness as to where our food comes from, not just 'eggs are from chickens' kind of knowledge but how far it's traveled, what's in season and what's not. Too many folks are either unconcerned or they just don't know.

[SpikeSilverback]

I'm not a coffee drinker so I didn't even think of that. Isn't chicory a coffee substitute? But I'm sure not if that could be grown within a 100 miles.


See this for chicory in AR. http://www.arhomeandgarden.org/plantoftheweek/articles/chicory.htm

And........
http://plants.usda.gov/java/county?state_name=Arkansas&statefips=05&symbol=CIIN

And for characteristics......
http://plants.usda.gov/java/charProfile?symbol=CIIN

Spike

[DaBee]

I grew amaranth this year - it was used by the indigenous people to make a flour. It grew great, but was covered with beetles and not usable.
I had read about only using 100 mile radius foods and know it's possible and would probably prompt getting to know the natural foods that grow in your radius. Don't know that I have the oomph to start something like that at this point, but would be willing to harvest and eat only what someone else came up with!

[SpikeSilverback]

Check out "Slow Money" in the MN Star Trib. Paydirt. Money where your mouth is. CSAs and local investment. Spike

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/yourmoney/64578927.html?page=2&c=y

[Another Texan]

There are folks that post right here on GF that are participating in CSAs and investing their time and money to bring locally grown produce to the general public. It's hard dirty work and the monetary rewards are well let's just say given the hours involved, minimum wage would be an improvement. And yet they continue...

[andrews]

it seems a common sustainable practice throughout the world is to import rice, flour (grains) and tea and coffee. potatoes and corn are good substitutes for grains. tea and coffee...well I suppose thats why the British thought they should occupy the world - as they couldn't grow tea at home.

[SpikeSilverback]

it seems a common sustainable practice throughout the world is to import rice, flour (grains) and tea and coffee. potatoes and corn are good substitutes for grains. tea and coffee...well I suppose thats why the British thought they should occupy the world - as they couldn't grow tea at home.

Beats me as to why one would go out of their way to buy imported rice when AR an TX are major growers. Likewise wheat in KS. As for corn, we are screwed. 95% of corn in this country is GMO. If it has corn on the label, it's GMO. FN USDA won't force agri biz to label foods GMO. Same with soybeans, canola, cotton and sugar beets. Maybe it is time to have GMO free zones like we did with nuke free zones. When we really start treating food as medicine we'll quit poisoning ourselves and we won't need sick care.

Spike