As I write this I am one full day away from the start of the Home Grown Food Challenge on October 1. This is Karen writing and as you folks may remember I did not completely participate in the challenge last year because I was 9 months pregnant. I wanted to eat ice cream and pretty much what ever else I saw that looked appetizing. But this year I did sign up for the challenge and it just dawned on me how soon it will be here. In some ways I feel prepared. I always eat food from the farm. I eat a scramble of veggies and eggs on almost every morning with a slice of toast from a loaf of bread I baked my self. I might have a granola bar or a piece of chocolate some time during the day but most of our dinners revolve around whatever looks good in the garden that day. So what do I need to do to prepare? I need to define my rules. Luke is going even more hardcore this year than last. I’m not so sure. I may include my home baked bread, local yogurt and cheese, and surely coffee. Also, I need to remember that rules were made to be broken and when I’m a guest at those two weddings I have the pleasure of attending this October I will be hitting up the buffet. For me it isn’t about restricting myself and feeling deprived, it is about celebrating all our hard work this season, eating satisfying healthy meals, getting crafty in the kitchen by making do with what I have, and learning new recipes which may become family favorites. So as my daughter sleeps tonight I will be going through our cabinets to put away the chocolate and the trail mix and the granola bars and fill them up with homegrown food.

fresh figs…yum!

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