This blog is devoted to chronicling the twists, turns and back flips of going off the grocery grid. Right now, I am in an “up” period, having just finished my first week of my Sunflower Fields farm share. But first, a few words (OK, maybe a hair more) about how I got here.
A few months ago, I just sort of dropped off what I call the "grocery grid." That is, your typical big-box grocery store. Where I live in Cedar Falls, this happens to be Hy-Vee. (We won’t even get into the Wal-mart discussion here, but this is another “grocery” outlet in our community.)
This wasn’t a crusade per se. Rather, it grew naturally out of my love for Roots, a small locally owned "health food" store within walking distance of my house. The experience of shopping at Roots, versus shopping at Hy-Vee, is starkly different. And I think it demonstrates the natural shift taking place as the general public becomes more and more aware of how our eating habits are, well, quite unnatural.
My typical Roots experience starts with a brief walk through my neighborhood. It only takes about 10 minutes to get from my door to theirs, but it is one of the most relaxing 10 minutes of my weekend – a time to breathe easy, take in the finer details of the neighborhood and just not think.
When I get to the store I am greeted by the welcoming scents of fresh brewed coffee, homemade soup and, yes, a hint of patchouli. (For my husband, Chris, the patchouli part is not-so-very welcoming!) I am also greeted by the familiar faces of the staff, who often seem like they’re hanging out rather than working. This is partly because they can wear whatever they want (and I do mean whatever) and partly because they just seem to be having an awesome time chilling out with all the fresh goodness of the place.
Of course, the actual grocery shopping part of the trip is also a treat. I love taking my tiny shopping cart down the narrow aisles because I can grab several veggies and fruits all at once while only taking a few steps. The best thing, though, is the selection. The produce, meat and dairy in the store is carefully labeled, so I actually know where all of those foods come from (some local, some not, depending on season). Roots also participates in the Buy Fresh Buy Local program, so I can see – at a glance – those items such as maple syrup and honey, that are also made by local producers.
Now, you might be thinking, sure Roots is homey and cool, but how much does all of this hominess and coolness cost? The truth is, as food prices started to climb everywhere, the Roots prices stayed virtually the same. And because I try to stick to the perimeter of the store -- produce, dairy, bulk -- my bill is actually slightly less than it was at Hy-Vee because I am buying fewer packaged foods. (And lowering that pesky carbon footprint in the process.)
So, there you have it. I’m pretty much off the grid, although Chris still shops at either Fareway or Hy-Vee for some of his staples (Cheerios, Triscuits, kettle chips and some meats). But with the start of my new Sunflower Fields farm share, food-wise we’ll be even closer to the natural order of food than ever before. In the next few posts, I will share my experiences with that.
