Why am I dedicating myself to a local food diet? I am not very active, I don't live on particularly arable ground, I live in the middle of Interior Alaska, I really dig chocolate and beef, I never stick to anything, my kitchen is almost always too messy to cook, I've never canned a thing in my life, I don't like salad and water, and a thousand more reasons why this is going to be extremely difficult.
And yet...
Winter is coming to a close here in Fairbanks, it has been thawing steadily for a week now and though it's snowing now, it isn't sticking. It gets above freezing every day now, the birch buds are thawing and my driveway is so slushy I can barely make it back to the cabin. This kind of weather kicks off a yearning in most Alaskans I know, a yearning for warmth and sunlight, fresh air and good company, physical intimacy, and for me fresh foods.
I grew up, partially, in western North Carolina, absolutely spoiled by having a farm and a produce stand right across the street. My best friend's family owned it and I spent many many lazy summer days hanging out down at the stand with Travis and Charles and then bringing home fresh corn, or green beans or tomatoes. I didn't appreciate it then.
Eating locally in Fairbanks is going to be hard. I am expanding my "100 Miles" to "120 Miles" because Northern Lights Dairy is 105 miles from my house and I know those cows are pasture fed. So far I am eating completely local milk and eggs...and that's it. But I have joined a CSA (Basically Basil, at Pearl Creek Farm) so I should be getting produce in mid-june.
Alaska Feed Co. is a great resource. I fully intend to get all my milk and eggs there. They also have a large selection of "Alaska Made" foods, unfortunately most are not Alaska Grown. If I find out that I can get flour from the valley, or rice, or corn meal my circle is going to expand further.
