Up until today’s Local Perspective, our Guests have written about their experiences eating locally where they live. For today’s post, however, I am very pleased to introduce you to Emily from The Urban Ecolife who is going mix it up a little and talk about her experiences eating locally while traveling! Yes, Emily has been traveling Central & South America WWOOFing and working on grassroots Permaculture Projects for the past few months and documenting it all on her blog. My favorite post so far is The Homesteading Life in Guatemala
So, sit back, relax, and enjoy hearing a bit about Emily’s experiences eating local right where she is, where ever she is, on her journey!
xoxo,
M
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The beauty of local eating is that you can spend a lifetime travelling from place to place and encounter a completely different experience each time. Local eating is a joyous part of the travelling experience but at the same time, challenging in its own right.
When I embarked on the journey of the Local Bite Challenge, the fact that I would not be home for the challenge somehow slipped my mind. For those who don’t know, I’ve spent the last few months gallivanting around Central and soon to be, South America; an experience I’m so fortunate to have but far remote from my humble roots in Brisbane, Australia.
When it comes to local eating in Brisbane, I’m spoiled for choice. Organic fruit and vegetables are easily attainable within a 100 mile radius and there really is no season where variety is lacking, thanks to the sub-tropical and sunny climate. Then there’s the amazing pasture raised lamb, beef, chicken and pig; thanks to the abundance of grazing land. Yep, I’m one lucky gal. The harder part of the equation is most certainly being able to afford these offerings, as I’ve come to realize the cost of living in Australia sure puts our wealth into perspective as compared to buying and eating food in Central America.
It’s not all sunshine, plump peaches and butterflies back home though. A large portion, and by large I mean a freaking big chunk of the pie, of the food system resembles that to what you are probably witnessing in the US. The food system, by in large, is sick and completely unsustainable. Factory farms are all too common, chemical laden monocrop dominate the landscape and large corporations monopolize the markets. A sick system that consequently, contributes to a sick planet and a sick population.
So what would possess me to travel abroad and leave this foodie heaven *cough cough*?
The opportunity to experience a life outside of that which I know of course. Central America has been beckoning me for a very long time and I am setting out on a journey to assist in the grass-roots movement of growing local and organic food that’s calling out for help here.
During this time, I’ve come to appreciate the local eating trail on a whole new level.
You see, it’s not just about eating the food that locals eat as many would have you believe. Sure, I most certainly love to indulge in this as part of the cultural experience but the more important part, as I’m sure you’d hopefully agree with, is trying to understand what portion of that food on your plate has actually been sourced locally and responding accordingly. With the added language barrier and the food being something my taste buds, nor my belly, are entirely accustomed too, well, let’s say I’ve had some rather interesting meals.
So I’ve come to witness first hand how contrasting the story in Central America is from mine back home. Responsible for a large portion of the world’s banana, coffee, sugar, fruit and vegetable exports, the region is still ravaged by poverty and not seeing the benefits from international trade as some would have you believe. The increasing trickle of foreign imports are undermining the local agricultural scene. Something that I, and many others, are most certainly not happy about. The Central American region has so much to offer in regards to agricultural biodiversity, cultural tradition and unique food experiences, it’s simply a disgrace for a system to exist that otherwise encourages the exact opposite.
While only 2% of the United State’s GDP is based on agriculture, a staggering 17% of the GDP in Central America (averaged) is attributed to agriculture. Furthermore, 36% of the labor force in Central America is employed in agricultural activities (Source). Local agriculture is a significant part of their economy (as should it be in all economies)!
Of particular concern to me is the impact of GMO corn in the region, both in health, on the environment and economically. Sadly, for a region so dependant on corn as a basic building block of their local cuisine, it’s disheartening to hear the likes of Monsanto and GMO crops sneaking their way into the food system. For as long as the rulings within the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) remain, and no matter what bans are enforced on Biotech companies planting GM crops, imports of cheap and nasty GMOs will continue to flow in and flood the local markets, undermining the livelihood of small farmers.
There is hope though, as communities rally together to support local farmers and a growing organic movement spreads. One of my favourite pastimes has been scouting out the farmer’s markets in each town I visit. This is where all the action takes place and it’s often the most fascinating place to people watch and interact with locals. Using the produce I buy, I’ll try and take advantage of this opportunity to then prepare a meal at my hostel if the facilities permit.
So what has my local eating plate looked like over the last few weeks?
I would like to think that at least 80% of what I’ve been eating has been local, although it’s hard to say at times.
In saying all this, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to a slight twinge of homesickness for some creature comforts. Oh how I crave my mom’s lamb roast (and the joy of sharing this with my family!) Home sick much?
So why is local eating important to me, even when I travel?
When you buy from local (and hopefully as much as possible, organic) farmers, you are bringing meaning to their cause which, in turn, is our collective cause. You’re supporting them both morally and financially in continue to pursue more sustainable farming practices that are earth regenerating, rather than degenerating. You are directly contributing to the strength of a movement that’s working to create a better world for ALL its people rather than just serving the interests of a select group.
For me, I live and breathe the sustainable living movement with a particular focus on our urban lifestyles and for me, local eating is a HUGE part of this. What can I say, this girl loves her food. Travelling has enabled me to meet people who have left me awe-inspired and opened doors for me to learn from traditional cultures who are doing things differently to anything I could have imagined back home. It’s brought purpose to my own cause and one that I’m all the more excited to pursue whole-heartedly. Our cities are cultural hubs where the intensity of food offerings can be overwhelming at the best of times. Regardless, maintaining this kind of food culture relies on the strengthening of the local food movement. Otherwise, what we have will simply cease to exist.
Emily is a self-coined urban hippie who’s here to hack the high life of sustainable living & make this lifestyle more accessible to her fellow urban dwellers who are ‘hippies’ at heart (no dreadlocks required). Her blog, The Urban Ecolife is more than just learning how to recycle…it’s a full lifestyle makeover – of the mind, the home, the food, the habits… nothing is safe! Emily can also be found on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.
