Gina, in the interest of full disclosure I should say that this wouldn’t be so easy or enjoyable if I still had a big commute for work. Right now I work 5 miles from my home and the farmer’s markets (there are 3) are all within 10 miles. Add that to the fact that I’m usually headed out of the office at 5pm and Mike gets home around 4:30 and we’re really pretty spoiled with after work time for this type of thing and the normal chores. Wow, run-on sentence anyone?

All that to say - last summer I might have been able to do this, but the summer before, no way. I could barely make dinner after my hour and half commute, and definitely couldn’t have made it to the farmers market after work.

I fully support the idea of eating local and do often/usually buy local food when I can find it. I shop nearly exclusively at our local co-op, but can’t get the farmer’s market due to work schedules and driving distances.

I have been watching the OLS phenomenon mostly from the outside, and have been trying to figure out why seeing so many posts from people on the subject is actually a bit tiresome for me. I feel like a traitor: I think the idea is wonderful, just am not an enthusiastic participant.

I do work full-time outside the home, and while we don’t have kids either, I often feel overwhelmed with the commute to our rural home, chores, outside committments, etc. I love eating local, but just can’t find the time to really research, prepare lovely meals, and then photograph and document them right now. Perhaps I’m jealous of those who do? I know others don’t want to make me feel guilty, but I do feel a bit wierd for not having the ooomph to join in. Someday?

Hmmm, I should probably take this to my own blog. Thanks for listening!

I am the sole breadwinner for my family yet I still do all the cooking, bill paying, canning, cheesemaking, breadmaking etc. My darling husband does the laundry, vacuuming, trash duty and we share the bathrooms. He does the lionshare of the gardening right now as I work outside the home. We don’t have children or television which is our explanation of how we get “so much” done.

I find myself as I get older changing my idols from Oprah or Martha to women like Tasha Tudor, Helen Nearing or frankly, bloggers like you.

While I don’t intend to make other’s feel guilty for their choices I won’t apologize for mine and I celebrate all that I do for the joy and satisfaction it brings me.