Challenging ...

Last month I was challenged by this . The range, quantity, quality and cost of the food varied so much as did the amount of processed food and packaging used.


I realised that although I try to use home-grown, buy healthy alternatives, avoid plastic bags and excess packaging, buy from growers at markets and support small businesses by refusing to shop at the two big supermarket chains, I really had little idea about the quantity and cost of what our family ate each month.


To find out I decided to photograph the food purchased over the following four weeks with a view to assembling a collage of the total, have a visual record of the packaging, know the total cost and ultimately shop for non-perishables monthly (as I used to do) and cut down on any excess.


My recording time is up and yesterday I totalled the cost. It gave me quite a shock and I'm whispering it here ... $811.00! Our family spoke about it last night over dinner - all underestimating the amount except our delightful son who really had no clue. My darling, although surprised, accepted it as we had made the following choices:-

* to support small businesses: fruit, vegetables, deli items, fish, meat etc. This translates to personal service, better quality, usually higher prices but at least I know what farm the meat comes from!

* to buy/consume organic or free range: once again the quality is higher, the food better for us and the animals/land have been cared for in a more responsible way.

* to avoid processed food: cooking itself is not only enjoyable, the eating of the meal is as well, and we have control over the ingredients. The end product is healthier and cheaper.

* eating wheat-free: once again better for our health. A delicious but a more expensive option.

Although we are on the right track, it is obvious there is room for improvement so I will now endeavour to:-

* shop for non-perishables once a month
* make and use net bags for the fruit and vegetables that need weighing to reduce plastic further.
* bake more fruit loaves myself - I'd started buying expensive but delicious wheat-free ones
* reduce the (necessary?) chocolate purchases
* be more aware of, even stick to, a limit. It is here I'll try and introduce that fearful word - or is it liberating? - 'budget'.

When all this is converted to a healthy, balanced diet which is tasty and nutritious, trying to involve responsible consumerism and costs $7.25 per adult per day, it sounds very positive. I'll see how we go implementing the changes ...

*** The above images are a selection from the recording period. They include home-grown, farmer's market purchases, and items bought at an Asian supermarket as well as our local independent grocery store. I included all packaging in the photos - I'd love to eliminate plastic altogether.

*** An update on Roger - he is making good progress and it looks as if he'll avoid a second operation, for which we are very thankful.

Dogs

The focus of the last few weeks has been dogs, namely Roger who was the victim of a dog attack and Rosy who we have now adopted.

On our normal walk near the cottage a Great Dane/Pit bull looking cross left her property and attacked poor docile Roger and was then joined by a second dog. My darling bravely rescued our little Jack Russell as he was being mauled and tossed about - although I must admit I was concerned for my dear husband's own safety as I don't think he would have had much hope if the two aggressive dogs had turned on him instead.


We carried Roger home and set about to bathe his wounds examining the extent of his injuries and soon realized he needed expert attention. The vet later explained that as well as his deep lacerations, his skin had actually been torn from his body - right down to his elbows - and it was sitting on him like a saddle.

After surgery he was too ill to bring home so he remained at the 'country hospice' for a few days but is now doing quite well and we're hoping he will not have to undergo further surgery.


All the above are discrete images of convalescing Roger.

Now part two of the story ...

As I was settling Roger into his warm bed prior to surgery, I heard a "Ruff - hello" and next to him was another dog attack victim. This friendly little dog was a stray but had been rescued by a passer-by and was being cared for by the vet. As she was homeless her ultimate outlook was bleak which was a shame as she had such a lovely nature. I asked the vet to phone me if a home could not be found for her as I would not like her to be destroyed.


I received the call, so once again made the trip out to the country practice. Rosy was out in the larger run area and when the cage was opened she ran to me, sat at my feet, looked up as if to say, "right, I'm ready, let's go". She is of mixed breed, mainly scruffy terrier, gentle and loving and has settled in very well.

She doesn't like sitting still for her portrait so most photos of her are a bit of a blur.