On Wednesday I popped into a grocery store on my way home from Calgary to pick up a few supper items. At the checkout, the cashier asked the stock boy to put back what she referred to as "this perfect tomato." By the usual standards, it was pretty "perfect." Huge size, even shape, bright red. It hadn't been purchased because the customer before me refused to pay $4 for once single tomato.
This whole scenario got me thinking for 2 reasons:
1. $4 for ONE tomato??? Are you kidding me? I even said to the cashier "No kidding, he can buy a whole plant for that a get tomatoes all summer!"
2. Our quest for perfection. These days, it seems we are programmed to only want to eat "perfect" food. So much of our produce is genetically modified, and sprayed with pesticides, that we don't see many wormholes, sun spots, or odd shapes in our food. But if you take a look at some heirloom tomatoe varieties, they are "ugly" compared to what we are used to. But the TASTE!
My favourite apples are an organic variety called "Pink Lady." They are sweet, firm, and just the right size. They are also often bruised, or have sun spots.
And is the tradeoff really worth it? A high pesticide load just for how nice it looks?
So my challenge is this-look past how pretty your food is. The ugly food might have a great personality!
Stat counter
May 28, 2010
May 25, 2010
Not long enough weekend!
Ahhh-the sun has finally decided it is here to stay, and although the forecast calls for a few more bouts of frost, I have gotten out into the garden.
Although my heart (and my stomach) would prefer to be in the backyard doing my veggie garden, my front yard looks quite sad beside the well-groomed neighbours. We mow our lawn, but my flower beds have become dry dusty weed beds. After 2 days of digging, weeding, and covering up the front and side beds with mulch (my attempt at weed, bug and cat detterent all in one!), I must say it looks quite nice...despite the lack of flowers. So this weekend, the plants will go in! Then I don't have to look at my dismal front yard in shame every time I pull up to my house.
So the long weekend got gobbled up by asthetics. Today I got into the backyard and madly gardened during my lunch break (working from home has its perks). So now I have put in peas, spaghetti squash and carrots! I also built a lovely cage for my peas to climb out of bamboo stakes and wire! Cost: approx $6. (because I want fresh veggies but I am still cheap)
There is still so much work to be done! Two more beds to dig, prep and plant with lettuce, spinach, brocolli, zuchinni, and sweet peas (ok, they are not food-but sooo pretty!) And I really want to get this done by the end of this weekend-our growing season is short enough without procrastinating!
Happy Gardening!
Although my heart (and my stomach) would prefer to be in the backyard doing my veggie garden, my front yard looks quite sad beside the well-groomed neighbours. We mow our lawn, but my flower beds have become dry dusty weed beds. After 2 days of digging, weeding, and covering up the front and side beds with mulch (my attempt at weed, bug and cat detterent all in one!), I must say it looks quite nice...despite the lack of flowers. So this weekend, the plants will go in! Then I don't have to look at my dismal front yard in shame every time I pull up to my house.
So the long weekend got gobbled up by asthetics. Today I got into the backyard and madly gardened during my lunch break (working from home has its perks). So now I have put in peas, spaghetti squash and carrots! I also built a lovely cage for my peas to climb out of bamboo stakes and wire! Cost: approx $6. (because I want fresh veggies but I am still cheap)
There is still so much work to be done! Two more beds to dig, prep and plant with lettuce, spinach, brocolli, zuchinni, and sweet peas (ok, they are not food-but sooo pretty!) And I really want to get this done by the end of this weekend-our growing season is short enough without procrastinating!
Happy Gardening!
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