Food (for thought)

Settling down well into a better weekend pattern. Once again, food dominated; although a reverse of the traditional meal scenario. Once upon a time, housewives all over the country cooked a roast joint of some description on Sunday. This then became the basis for the weekly evening meals - e.g. cold on Monday, minced into Shepherd's Pie on Tuesday etc. And so on until Friday. M & I however, cooked our roast on Friday evening. Beef, with roasted potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, onions and some braised cabbage. We then ate cold beef in sandwiches for Saturday and Sunday lunch and finished the weekend with homemade soup, quiche and apple pie.

Attended the Farmers' Market training on Saturday. We had been asked to show up for 8am; we did and found that we were expected to work all morning and afternoon. Although it was an interesting experience, both M and I independently realised that it was not for us. Our real interest is the food; buying fresh, local, seasonal produce on a weekly basis - not running the event for other people. It was a lot of work, for very little pay; not something to look forward to after a week doing my 'day job'. I'm glad that I explored the opportunity however, as so often one doesn't and then always wonders what it may have offered. Am still going to write an article about the market for MarmaLADYa though. Tonight though, when I can think in peace.

And speaking of MarmaLADYa.com; I found this rather interesting article. Written by Elspeth Waters (Deputy Editor of Fresh Produce Journal) it explores some of the issues surrounding fresh fruit & vegetables and the dilemma we face balancing our own health (buy organic) and buying local and in-season (a mixture of both traditional & organic) with supporting the poorer countries (fairtrade) and reducing airmiles. Do we stop buying bananas thereby reducing airmiles, or should we continue to buy them, fairtrade, therefore supporting farmers and tradelinks? I'm not sure that she poses a better answer than the standard response, some of each and what one can afford, but it's worth a look (and some consideration). As is the rest of MarmaLADYa.com.