Saturday I decided to work a little harder on my Go Local Challenge.  The local farmers’ markets have been up and running for a month or so and the quantity of produce is increasing.  I thought it would be a great way to stock up for a few days.

I left Mission Hills just after 6am on my bike and took a tour down Executive and then out Paisano and McNutt to Santa Teresa before riding back to Ardovino’s Desert Crossing for the 7:30am opening of the market.

Since I was on a bicycle I had to be careful how much I purchased.  I had a small pack on the back rack and a messenger bag to fill.  I filled them well with 3/4 lb of purple beans, 2 yellow squash, 2 green squash, 5 peaches, a brick of cheddar goat cheese, a jar of chipotle goat cheese spread, AND a dozen eggs and a whole frozen chicken!

Some of it was organic, some was hormone free and it all looked great!  El Paso’s roads are not very bike friendly, so the ride home was pretty rough.  I was happy to see that my huevos were intact when I got them home (and so was my wife!).

The big breakfast burrito that I had before I left the market got me home and the yellow squash, sauteed with onions and garlic were the best part of lunch.  Later in the week I’ll tell you how the rest of the food turned out.

I also saw some friends at the market and one offered to take my purchases home in her car so I didn’t have to carry them all the way.  It sounded like cheating.  The sense of community that comes from seeing friends and civically active neighbors at the market are also a great benefit of going local.

I’m starting my official week today.  I can’t report many purchases since I’m also a part time minimalist.  I ate all three meals at home – produce from JR’s and meat from the grass-fed, hormone free 1/2 cow in my freezer. He may not be local but he is from near Carizzozo – we get one every year.

I did stop in 2 local businesses:  a visit to Little Diner in Canutillo to say hi to the owner and get a glass of tea to go – it’s hot.  And, for later, BEER!  I went to the Cowtown Liquors on N. Mesa. I looked at the prices on the everyday stuff – Budweiser and Lone Star and I’m pretty sure they beat anyone else’s price.

A beer and a buck saved – what could be better.  I promise to spend more money tomorrow!

I do a lot of work around the airport. After visiting clients for a few hours sometimes nature calls. Today I used my standard operating procedure: I used a restroom at one of the major chain hotels. Mind you, I didn’t BUY anything, I just peed and got back in the car. That’s not breaking my oath is it? I think it may even be a practice that should be encouraged!

Since we’re not in the full-blown challenge yet I’ll give a quick report from the weekend and Monday. Well, there’s not much to report. On Sunday I fell off the wagon once – being the degenerate that I am I wanted to go see the movie “The Hangover”. Obviously the movie theaters in town aren’t local – during the real challenge I know I can go to Fellini Film Cafe on Cincinnati Street.
We did go listen to a local band at our neighborhood park on Sunday night. What a great way to build community: free local music and a visit with friends.
On Monday we went looking for local groceries. JR Produce at 4818 Montana. It’s a small store but the produce was good and so were the prices. One guy with us stocked up on gallons of milk at WAY less than the price at the big guys.

I can see there’s a step from MY behavior to HOUSEHOLD behavior.  

Today, my first purchase came when I found I wouldn’t have time to get home for lunch and, as I drive by a “forbidden monster”, Sunland Park Mall, I decided to grab something to eat.  There’s actually lots of local in there, but it’s hard to see past the big, national anchors (who are all struggling).  I parked outside and enjoyed the air conditioned interior of Sears on my way to the Greenery Market.  I picked up a turkey and swiss sandwich and a bag of chips and headed for the office.  Even on Sunland Park Drive, in the land of the big box, I succeeded in Going Local!

That was my only purchase of the day, BUT we were short a few things for dinner and my daughter picked them up on her way home… at the neighborhood Albertson’s.  I can see that menu planning is going to be important if we don’t want to travel too far from home at the last minute to eat.