I am very excited about all the local eating movements.  Very excited.  It’s something I’ve been thinking a lot about recently, now that the warmer weather is here and the options for local produce are much better.

Could I eat only foods produced from Ontario?  Well, I do support local farmers but I’m not sure if my diet could be 100% local.  It doesn’t mean I’m not considering the shift, it just means I’m looking closely at how practical this lifestyle is for my family.  Yes, I will always buy Ontario peppers before ones from outside of Canada.  If I have the choice between fresh, Ontario asparagus or greens from somewhere in the US, well… it’s asparagus for dinner (even if it’s the third time this week).  But giving up juicy oranges from Florida, amazing sea salts and fresh ground pepper… I’m not sure if it’s a shift I should be making. Or is it?

As better alternatives to my pantry’s essential items become available, of course I’ll consider the switch!  I certainly believe in supporting Ontario workers and the amazing foods we produce here - so if it grows in Ontario, I will make a commitment to purchase the foods available here.  Will I shy away from all other products and eat 100% local? No, not yet.

I read the 100-mile diet book (Disclaimer - Fiance worked on this website) and have been really inspired to be conscious about where my food comes from and think closely about how many food miles my tomatoes have traveled from their farm to my table.  (Speaking of tomatoes, having grown my own successfully last summer, I am a true believer in food TASTING SO MUCH BETTER when it doesn’t have to be ripened on a truck).  It just makes sense that food grown closer to home tastes better.

The 100-mile book was great and the message is inspiring; take a step back and consider what you’re eating and how it got to your table.  Appreciate the work that goes into prepared foods, and if you really want an eye-opening experience (as these writers had), start jarring your own foods to prepare for winter (sounded fun, but ultimately painful).

A small story: Spending the day with my Dad, he leaned over and asked about the “diet” book I was reading (it’s not a weight loss book, but it is about our diets).  I explained that I want to be a better locavore and make an effort to eat more local foods.  His response to my commitment?

Well duh, isn’t that common sense?

Interesting. It seems earlier generations get that this concept of local eating is a simple, easy thing to do.  Why did his comments seem so off-putting?  Maybe it’s because I live in a fast food nation, or maybe it’s because being in the city means being far away from the farms… but is it really common sense to eat local?  For my Dad, it is.

It would be wonderful though, to just eat local, organic foods… but I must acknowledge that the local lifestyle comes at a higher grocery price tag.  Better in the long run, and healthier for you maybe, but paying more for groceries in this economy can be a hard sell for some.

The bottom line:  Eat locally and support local farmers as best you can.  I don’t think it’s reasonable to ask every Canadian family to make a shift to 100% local, but I value the gesture and admire those who live that way.  It’s better for you, it’s better for our community and our environment.  After all, being a locavore “just makes sense”. I’m going to make an effort to do better.  Enjoy your asparagus folks - strawberry season is up next!

Foodie, Media Eating locally, Foodie, locavore

I find it so interesting that we are now fully immersed in an age of personalization. I’ve had many long conversations with friends about “the tech future” and how success seems to rest upon a company’s ability to offer customized and personalized services for each client. The age of personalization is great: Personal Video Recorders that design a program schedule based only on shows you like to watch, iTunes playlists smart enough to earn that “genius” title, and endless social media sites that provide an opportunity to establish an online space that is really just.for.you. So then, can I ask, why are my cell phone options so limited?

Yes, there are many, many more features in most cell phones than most of us really need. However, wouldn’t it be REALLY cool if there was a service that allowed you to completely design your own mobile device? Don’t want a phone that has a camera and MP3 player? Don’t add those options! Really want a pink phone with indigo lining and a full QWERTY keyboard? Not a problem! Craving a design that looks nothing like the one your rival just purchased? You see where I’m headed….

Picture this: A flash program that lets you add elements (like building an avatar), select colours and features, then forward your design to your carrier of choice, where that service provider will then send your completely customized phone to the address you’ve selected.

And just like that, I’ve created a true myPhone.

What would YOUR customized mobile device look like?

Media Cool Tools, Dreaming, Media

There have been so many positive reactions to President-Elect Obama’s win on Tuesday.  I certainly have felt the energized buzz all day Wednesday, starting with the kind Starbucks man who sang my change out to me “Here is your THREE SEVVEENNTTTY FIVVVVVVVEE!”.  While reflecting about the success of Obama’s campaign, there have been quite a few who have highlighted the internet as a driving force behind the high voter turnout, and to the historic win.

I’m wondering though, did Obama mobilize youth using the internet, or did we all spread the message of hope and change through our preferred medium?  I think it was a combination of a well executed online plan, and a strong leader who inspired youth to carry a message. Part of the brilliance of using the internet as a major election medium is that it empowers audiences to seek out their own information in order to make an informed decision. The web allows us to select the videos, websites, twitter feeds, and message boards that appeal to us, then dissect the message and go from there. If you’re not sure about the information you read on someone’s Facebook wall, you could easily browse Twitter’s election feed, check out Obama’s page, or of course, watch some of the infamous YouTube videos.  I don’t think it was any one online tool that helped define this election as the “internet election”, but instead it was the examples of so many tools used authentically.

It is worth taking note of how successfully Obama used the internet during his 2008 presidential campaign. He didn’t just have an online presence, but he has an online presence that made sense.  How great is it that within 48 hours of being elected president, he launched a new site; yet another example of Obama keeping up with the pace of the 24/7 news world. This is finally an election that promotes conversation – in the same way social media encourages community discussion.  We can come together, in whatever online / mobile form we chose, and we can participate / be informed.  As I read on Twitter today, “the 21st’ Century started on November 4th 2008 at 11pm”: we finally are in the digital age, and we (The U.S directly and the global “we” that feels the effects of Obama’s leadership) have a leader that gets it.

It’s also important to remember my favorite words from Shel Holtz: “It’s not about the tool - it’s about the conversation”. The conversation that happened online was powerful enough to win and election and change history. There were some great examples of internet election produced by celebrities and “regular Joe citizens” who used the mass medium to carry their message. The ubiquity of Obama’s messages online, and the humor in a lot of the online tools, also helped to define this election.  Yes, Obama had advisors prepared with the latest applications and social media communication methods, but we also used the tool to influence our peers, which is something the TV or Radio election eras did not provide for us.

Although my non-American status prevented me from voting, it didn’t stop me from paying very close attention to the Web 2.0 election tools. Some of my favorite Web 2.Obama examples were:

YouTube videos:

• Yes We Can
• I’ve Got a Crush…On Obama
  

The Great Schlep
Twitter
iGoogle Homepage

Media, Web 2.0 Change, Obama, Web 2.0, YouTube