Frugal Green Mom

I checked out the Edmonds farmers market last Saturday and it was much better than the Mountlake Terrace market. I learned that the MLT market is still fairly young so that explains its small size. I’m having so much fun researching, exploring, and learning so many new things! There is a whole other world out there of healthy living and I’m just beginning to get a glimpse of it. I’m becoming more familiar with the local organic farms, the ones I am seeing over and over are Klesick, Full Circle, and Garden Treasures. I’m still tossing around the idea of ordering a weekly CSA (community supported agriculture = produce delivered directly from the farm) box, even though I tried it once before and didn’t like it at all. I received a random mix last time and found it very challenging to use everything before it went bad. I think I might like it better if I was able to pick what went into my box instead of the random selection.

As for the markets, I think I’ll check out the Lake Forest Park market next

I went to the Mountlake Terrace Farmers Market today, totally stoked and ready to get my farm on! I was so disappointed to get there and find about 15 booths total, most of them not even produce! Of the two or three produce booths only one was organic, and he had a very small selection of actual produce (mostly potted plants, which is sweet except I already finished my planting for the season). I think this market may improve as we get more into summer, it is still the beginning of the season after all and the weather has been really crappy. I’m planning to hit up all the local markets in the area and do a little write up on each one. Here is a list of the markets I’m going to start with -

Mountlake Terrace
Edmonds
Bothell
Everett
Snohomish
Mukilteo
Lake Stevens
Lake Forest Park
Arlington

There are also a toooooon in Seattle, but that’s another can of worms. I think I’ll tackle the north end first.

I’m so excited about starting my journey and learning about what our local farms have to offer!

I’d like to open this blog with a little information about my reasons for starting it, my goals and intentions, etc.

Our world is going through some crazy sh*t right now. The more we pollute our planet and poison our bodies the more we learn about just how bad it all is. There is new information coming almost daily it seems about some new toxin lurking in an everyday product that we consume or use. It has gotten so ridiculous that my husband and I feel like we would be complete idiots to ignore the information available to us. We want to make some big changes for our family but we know it’s going to be a long and challenging process. So I decided to document the whole thing (fun, right?!). I want our experiences to encourage and inspire others who are wanting or currently making the same changes.

So here’s my goal:

I want our family to live on a modified paleo diet, all local and organic. No processed foods, no grains (bread, pasta, rice – all out) and very little sugars. Our diet will consist of meat, eggs, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. No dairy. I want to find local sources for everything we consume. Being in the pacific northwest there is so much available to us if we just look, and ideally get it all within the state of Washington. Since we wont be eating anything pre-packaged we will be 100% diy. This will mean learning some new skills and possibly buying some new food prep equipment.

As for a timeline of this goal, I’m thinking 5 years. I just turned 25 a couple weeks ago so this would make my goal date my 30th birthday. As of right now we are on a strict $100/week grocery budget which doesn’t allow for much local or organic (since they almost always cost more). I know if we want to eat the way we want without sacrificing flavor (or turning into vegetarians) then we will need to spend more on groceries. I am totally fine with spending more money on food because I firmly believe that you are what you eat. We just have to pay off some debts to free up some cash flow each month.

Things we need to pay off include – two cars (one ends in 18 mos, one ends in less than 3 years), hospitals bills from September when Kaden was born (two accounts, both will be paid off in less than a year), and two small credit cards.

So for now I am trying to make small changes, form new habits, and work toward the big picture. I am also doing lots of research. Trying to figure out what we’re going to eat on the “new diet” and what kinds of things I need to avoid in the meantime. I’m also researching and planning the logistics of living locally. We will need to invest in some appliances and tools to preserve the summer harvest since the winter months can be very limiting for produce. I want to learn how to can, use a dehydrator, I want a FoodSaver and a bulk freezer, and I want a juicer and a new blender. I also want to expand my garden (which I am only trying for the first time this year) and grow most of our produce myself.

I will also be compiling some of the information I read regarding toxins and consumer awareness. I want to help educate others so that you can make informed choices about the products you buy and the foods you eat. Vote with your wallet! My hope is that this blog can act as a guide to those “normal people” like me who want to go green/raw/organic/whatever without turning into a complete hippie (not that there’s is anything wrong with that! it’s just not for everyone).