The Penny-Wise Eat Local Challenge

I missed the last few challenges issued by various groups...but this one hits me in the pocketbook:

The Penny-Wise Eat Local Challenge, scheduled for April 23-29, 2008.

The challenge is to eat local for one week on an "average" American budget, keep track of every penny, and report the results. You get to define local. You get to specify (in advance) the exemptions you want. You can use food you already have on hand (lots of local eaters stock up on bulk items, and everyone has staples like oil and spices in their cupboards)--but you have to figure out the current value of those foods and include their cost.

If you want to join me, you can go to eatlocalchallenge.org to sign up.

Here's my statement of goals for the challenge:

1. What's your definition of local for this challenge?

I'm trying to use a 100-mile radius but so far there are many things that I just haven't been able to find (yet)...I'm pretty new to it, and I have to keep a 15-year old boy moderately happy....so I'm going to define local as anything produces within Washington or Oregon (I live in Washington near the border). A lot of produce is also labeled by state, but not city. So I'll say Washington and Oregon (but within 100 miles wherever possible), plus Northern California (because this is how one of the stores I shop in defines local). So it will be a challenge to keep finding new sources....

2. What exemptions will you claim?

Coffee, tea, chocolate, salt, pepper, olive oil, assorted spices, yeast, baking soda, baking powder, dairy products from Organic Valley that are not labeled "Northwest Pastures,"(only their gallon jugs of milk are labeled with a specific coop -- the rest could be from anywhere) and...because I have just ordered it and will want to cook with it....Hopi blue corn (my excuse for this non-local extravagance is that I am evaluating it to include in my garden...and I've been looking for it for a long time and just found it). Also...I'm still looking...I'm down to emailing individual farmers that I find online....hard winter wheat for baking bread.

And because I'm not sure I can get through the week without pacifying my son, chocolate, sodas, assorted "healthy snacks", and flavored waters.

3. Will you be making any changes to our budget goals?

The second person in my family is not, strictly speaking, a wage earner, but does have a small income. So I'm not sure if it's fair to go for the 2 person wager earner level, which is a bit higher. So...

2+ persons in the family, 1 wage earners: $121 a week, plus the $8/week for alcoholic beverages (I occasionally indulge...)

[Note to my blog readers...they had a list of "average" budgets to choose from to fit your family.]

4. Do you have any additional personal goals for the week?

Absolutely no eating out! Eliminating restaurant food and fast food is the biggest challenge in my life.

Keeping track of mileage (at least for stuff I have to buy that week...would be tough to do it for what is already on hand.)