No Grocery Store For a Year: Austin Woman's 2010 Challenge

I recently interviewed Carla to see how it was going.  You can follow Carla and her daily updates on her "No Grocery Store Challenge" on her blog. 

AF2T: Why did you decide to start the "Year with No Grocery Store Challenge?"

Carla Crownover:  I was inspired to start the No Grocery Store Challenge for a Year, after seeing the movie "Food, Inc." It was quite an eye opening look into our food supply and it disgusted me. I already had a substantial garden and shopped at Farmers Markets, but not exclusively. I'm learning every day how much I relied on the grocery stores for more than I realized.

AF2T: If you aren't shopping at the grocery store, where are you shopping?

Carla Crownover: I am shopping at Farmers Markets and occasionally Boggy Creek Farm. I have relied heavily on Richardson Farms for beef, pork and chicken; Kocurek Family Charcuterie for prepared sausages and bacon, and Countryside Farms for duck eggs.  I'm looking forward to the opening of Antonelli's Cheese Shop so that I can get Pure Luck Cheese there, since they aren't at the farmer's markets. [Note: Antonelli's opened on Thursday, February 11, 2010.]

AF2T: Are you growing any of your own food and, if so, what?

Carla Crownover: Currently in the garden I am growing broccoli, several varieties of lettuce, carrots, onions, fennel, garlic, shallots, strawberries and watermelon radishes. I also have a most of the herbs growing in pots in the greenhouse.

AF2T: What do you do about essentials like toilet paper, shampoo and soap?

Carla Crownover: I have always bought shampoo from my hair salon. I get soap at Tarrytown Pharmacy when I pick up my prescriptions, and toilet paper, toothpaste, and actually some spices at CVS. Home Depot has toilet paper and cleaning supplies as well. I get Mrs. Meyer's cleaning supplies at Breed and Company.

AF2T: You've made it through the first full month, what has been the biggest challenge so far?  Are there any foods that you miss?

Carla Crownover: The biggest challenge is planning ahead. I'm learning to think several meals ahead, when before I would just pick something up. I'm learning to plan ahead more in the garden as well, so that it can be more productive all year round. 

 

I miss lots of things: avocados, canned beans, canned tuna, rice, the tarragon chicken salad at Whole Foods, salmon, fresh jalapenos, garlic, already made tortillas, and Costco coffee, because it is good and so much cheaper. I loved the deli sandwiches at the Fresh Plus on West Lynn. I still eat out, so I'm not really deprived.

AF2T: Have you had any surprises or revelations in your first month?

Carla Crownover: I didn't realize how often I went to the grocery store, and sometimes several different ones in one day for different things. I also did not realize how often I'm not in the mood for what I've got planned for dinner, so I would run out and pick something else up.

AF2T: Have you been tempted to go in a grocery store?