Resolutions for 2010
Happy New Year, my dears! It’s resolution time, and a great many resolutions have to do with food. I’m taking the advice of two of my favorite bloggers, and making sure my resolutions are concrete — things that can be clearly separated into done or not done.
I have a generic resolution to eat local. To transform that into concrete plans, I will: join a CSA, shop at Fair Food once a week, and remember local pastas, cheeses and other prepared foods (hello, Green Aisle!) when buying.
If you are thinking that 2010 will be the year you join a CSA (what is a csa, anyway?), now is actually a great time to start your research. Most CSAs start accepting signups in March, and they can fill up fast. If you wait until the first strawberries hit the stands in May to think CSA, you may find yourself out of luck for the year.
Local blogs are a great resource for potential first time CSA members. I documented my own experience with Greensgrow’s CSA at length. Farm to Philly tracked Blooming Glen Farm, Lancaster Farm Fresh, Red Earth Farm and Dancing Hen Farm. Shana Lee photographed Keystone Farm’s 2009 offerings, though not for her blog. Metro farming documented Pennypack Farm’s 2009 CSA. Someone out there is taking pictures of nearly any CSA you might want to join.
Back to the resolutions! I also want to keep better track of food I try. I have a terrible habit of trying a wine, cheese or beer, but remembering nothing about it except that I have tried it. It ends with me either re-buying something it turns out I didn’t like, or just sticking with my old standards, because I can remember I do like them.
Concrete plan: photograph everything with my iPhone, stick it in Evernote, tag it “like”, “dislike” or “neutral”. If I’m feeling really ambitious, I might even write my thoughts, but let’s not push it. I’m using Evernote just because I’ve used it in the past. If you’re tracking wines, etc. in some handy way, share it in the comments!
And, because I love a good secret resolution, here is mine: improve my photo composition. (What’s a secret resolution? One I don’t feel guilty about not keeping, which usually means it has a higher success rate than my “real” resolutions.) I probably take 50 shots for every one I post here. In Japan, I didn’t have a way to offload the photos on my SD card, so I had to shoot more mindfully.
In 2010, I shall channel the spirit of Henri Cartier-Bresson, and focus on the decisive moment. Or something. Take fewer pictures. Make more of them good ones. That is, spend more time thinking, less time clicking. I’d love some tips on making this concrete, though. I’ve been looking for a photography class without a darkroom component for a while now. Let me know if you’re aware of a good one!
Will you be making any food resolutions this year? Cook at home more? Eat more colorful foods? (I thought about that one.) Cook your way through a cookbook? (hee….) Stop eating so many g-d burgers you keep reading about on the Internet? Tell us in the comments!
