While $400 can seem steep, it’s also a lot of food – ours is enough that we split it with the neighbors across the hall (which also means we only have to pick it up every other week, too). $400 for fresh local produce for two couples for 6-7 months isn’t bad – and every week, you’re getting whatever’s perfect for picking that week.

@Dy: I’ve wondered about investing in Whole Foods myself many times, but… I just can’t bring myself to do it. I just don’t *like* the place! And the eat local thing is a good example of why – if you go to at least the whole foods near me, it’s a minority of the produce that’s labeled with country of origin (at least as of last I checked – if anyone goes there regularly, feel free to correct me!); even for those that are labeled, often there are no local options, even when I KNOW that crop is in season locally and being sold in abundance at the local farmers’ markets. And there is a surprising emphasis on prepared foods – like Trader Joe’s, it can be amazingly difficult to find all of the basic materials to make, say, a loaf of bread (and what’s more basic to the average US diet than that?) yourself; it’s easier to find pre-marianated, pre-cooked fish or pre-wrapped sushi. It’s just not catering to the kind of lifestyle being discussed here.

That’s one of the big differences between Europe and here. Everything is fresh and local – even the meat is usually butchered locally – and you can tell the difference in the taste. I’m not a big meat eater but the meat I’ve had while traveling has a much better flavor than stuff I get over here (unless I buy from a local farmer).

Also when you can’t get fresh canned/frozen products are just as good, often better when you realize most produce is picked green where as frozen is picked at the hight of ripeness.

Trent would love more ideas of how to replace instant foods with home cooked.

Blogs like TSD and people like Trent are among those spearheading a grassroots movement of going back to the basics. People are more aware now of green living, but even if you buy post-consumer goods, recycle, and use CFLs in your house, much of the food we buy from the grocery store is still a health hazard—whether it be short term or long. It’s so important that we as citizens reduce our impact on the environment, and that includes not buying from factory farms or producers who provide genetically modified veggies. Growing your own is one of the best ways to do it, and you don’t have to worry about what’s in your food because you raised it.

So: more power to ya, Trent. Always inspiring to read stuff like this. When I get a house, I’ll be following in your footsteps–growing my own and buying local where possible.