Having wondered where my food dollars go, specifically local fresh fruits and vegetables, I decided to log a year’s worth of purchases—from the farmers market, local produce at stores and non-local at stores. Starting with April, at the end of each month I’ll post a new log, and plan to include information on how I used what I bought.
Numbers on a page don’t appeal to me the way visuals do, so I decided to do a visual log. I have no goal other than to see if I put my money where my mouth is. As a big supporter of our local farmers markets and as a volunteer at Portland Farmers Market, I want a better idea of how my food dollars shake out.
For the sake of simplicity, I’m only logging fresh produce even though bread, eggs, grains, dried beans and nuts can be purchased at the farmers market. Maybe next year! I will log expenses on seed packets and plant starts because what comes out of the vegetable garden is a reflection of what I eat. I might track what I reap from the garden, but I anticipate that tracking every sprig of thyme will be a challenge. As my garden is organic, so will this process be.
April was the month for buying seeds, consuming lots of greens, enjoying the long-awaited asparagus, and the tang of rhubarb. Download a Rosemary Rhubarb Galette (rustic tart) recipe. One of my favorite things to do with asparagus is make risotto. There are endless combinations but here is an Asparagus Shiitake Risotto recipe.
You can download April as a high-res PDF. I expect future months to be a bit more colorful!
>> Go to May
I’m completely intrigued by this! I can’t wait to see the results each month. (LOVE the graphic!)
Thank you! I feel more compelled to keep going if someone is reading : )
I find it very interesting to look at this visually. what an unusual a wonderful idea. It makes one think….to see what you’ve consumed and spent your money on in pictures! Keep up the good work!
hey, traffic…
: )
It really is gorgeous, Jane. I’m also kind of envious of the prices….
You’re reading closely! Envious, huh? I might have to be more clear about per lb cost
and how much I actually bought.
I LOVE your plan here – look forward to seeing the results – AND being fully inspired by it!
Thank you. I hope I don’t disappoint. I’d love to make it interactive and be able to click on a vegetable and get a recipe or nutrition info. Ha. In all my spare time.
Wow! I think you should produce (heh, heh) posters with these gorgeous drawings!
You bought Miner’s Lettuce? I thought only people starving in the wilderness ate that!
JK, this is really neat.
You aren’t the first person who pointed out I bought a weed. I had it in a salad once. It’s very pretty. Now the leaves are getting their little “miner’s light.” Honestly, it doesn’t taste like anything.
You aren’t the first person who pointed out I bought a weed. I had it in a salad once. It’s very pretty.
Now the leaves are getting their little “miner’s light.” Honestly, it doesn’t taste like anything.