[LulaP]

Last month our local U-Pick opened, a hundred acres of garden where we can pick anything, paying $12 for a 5 gallon bucket. Also they have already picked vegetables and fruit available. I was kind of busy all month picking and canning. They also raise their own beef and sell the meat.

My town has a Farmer’s Market every Saturday during the summer, too. I haven’t been in a few years. Maybe next year I can sell my plums there. I’m too old to have a big enough garden to sell anything.

I grew up eating the meat and vegetables we raised and grew. We foraged, too. My parents cooked meat on weekends. During the week we had leftover meat and at least three vegetables every night. With cornbread or rolls.

As an adult I started planning meat with every meal. Then I started canning chicken, beef and pork. I haven’t figured out how to can bacon and ribs yet. It is so easy to make anything without needing to thaw out the meat. Quick, too.

Last night I browned a jar of ground beef with some onion. Added some home canned salsa. Rolled that into bought tortillas. A layer of them in the baking dish with a jar of homemade re-fried beans topped with more salsa. Baked for 20 minutes. Then topped with Mexican cheese. Yummy.

Wheat is not grown locally, but corn is. My family raised and processed the meat we ate. I’m too old to chase down a wandering bull again, but it would be nice to feed scraps to a hog or chickens. If the neighbors didn’t have free range pit bulls. They are why I can’t even raise rabbits now.

So your challenge is basically my every day. It is healthier.