Why a Locavore Contest?

My Motivations:

1. 7vs7 needed a new contest.
Remi started  the first 7vs7 last year based on a contest he read about. Bob Barker was once my hero. I love contests and like to challenge myself.  I am not competitive.  I like to participate and I like others to participate with me, hence my party planning leading to a marathon for my friend’s bachelorette party. I grew up having to prepare meals for the family once a week starting at 10 years old.  I also grew up with a bicyclist father who organized rides under the slogan “we are not responsible” and that is how I like to deal with my contests too.

2. To pursue avenues of knowledge that had not previously occurred to me.
I was a vegetarian for 17 years. In first grade, I found out the meat on my plate could have come from the farm I visited earlier that day, I lost all interest in where meat/seafood products came from and never ate it again. I ate a piece of meat about 1.5 years ago and wanted to know where the meat on my plate came from.

3. A bottomless curiosity about nearly all things finite and infinite.
My curiosity about where food comes from and the relation to my environment grew even more once I had that bite of meat.  The media in all formats helped fuel my curiosity about where food comes from, especially the Meatless Monday’s Movement and vegans going locavore on those days.

4. A fascination for the way people live and learning by experiencing.
(Some of you have heard this) I went to Bamyian, AF in May a few years ago. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. The town is so high up in the mountains that there was still snow on the ground.  Kids would babysit each other while the parents would pack cow pies to dry and burn for fuel in their mud brick houses.  There was very little to eat in the town, potatoes, eggs, onions, that was it.  They were coming out of the winter season.  At the time i was vegetarian but rich people could also eat chicken, and lamb meat but even that was rare.  So, I guess in another way of looking at the 100 mile challenge, it is a lifestyle many are forced to live across the globe. What the challenge can really show, which many forget about, is that local products could not be what they are today without a global influence.  Support local but never forget this is a global market and we do all work together.

5. The “S” Word.
The use of the word sustainable has exploded in recent years.  Many think of this word in relation to the environment.  However it can be used in many ways as long as the message conveys what is it that someone wants to sustain.  So from the strict view, what would it take to only consume pure local products.

… & there you have it, a brief explanation of my motivations behind 7vs7 Locavore: The 100 Mile Challenge Round 1. Round 2 certainly has more to add especially when talking about the “s” word.

The outcome? I would like to create a locavore style  “Annual Manual” of all the local vendors, restaurants, products, farms, etc. in our 100 mile radius to help others and myself learn more about what’s going on with our food and where we can buy it.  Please send suggestions etc. for this free for everyone to access directory.