So just the other day, while making fresh pickles, I realized I hadn't visited been to the supermarket in over a month. It's not that I dislike the place, strictly speaking-until recently I'd frequented it often. Rather, I'd just not had a need or a desire, and with the exception of my lovechild, Sour Cream, I had little reason to visit. You see, I, very recently, became a bit enamored with the concept of 'local' and 'fresh' food, and the supermarket just doesn't cut it anymore. I started visiting my local farmers' market, and then traveling even farther for a bigger and better one where I met local pseudo-celebrities and was introduced to surprisingly amazing corn and predictably humdrum kale. That's not to say I'd even tasted kale or ever enjoyed corn before visiting a farmers' market, but I digress...
In any case, amid my pickle-making I marveled at the fact that hardly a year ago I was just another American, shopping at the local Safeway or Ralph's or Genaurdi's, blissfully oblivious to the world of diversity and flavor to be found in locally grown and homemade produce and foods. And yet now, a year hence, I visit the supermarket for Sour Cream; and Gatorade; and maybe some sunscreen, and that's about it. And so I decided, while trying (in vain, of course) not to drip boiling water on my flip-flop'd toes, to spread the word, and advice, and more on how to live a local and self-sufficient life to anyone who might be interested in spite of the convenience of the modern supermarket. With that I give you Supermarket Snub-the story(ies) of how one 20-something shrugged off the trappings of Western, American food culture in favor of a local, fresh, and home-grown approach. What will likely follow over the next few weeks and months will be tales, stories, recipes, and guidelines necessary to banish the grocery store from your life as well, or at least vastly diminish its siren's song. Until next time, then-good bye, good day, and good eating!
