James and Alisa alternate in telling the story of a challenging year they spent eating only food that grew within a 100-mile radius of their Vancouver apartment. I first heard about them while the experiment was still in progress as they submitted monthly updates to The Tyee, an online magazine. It was exciting and inspiring to hear what new challenges they were facing with the changing seasons.
The book provides even more encouragement for the value of eating locally and seasonally. Both commented on how much healthier they felt eating simpler meals, usually prepared from scratch, since the long list of (imported) ingredients in commercially prepared foods removed them from consideration.
Made possible because the world is so electronically connected, the “100-mile diet” is an idea that has become recognized in households around the world. 100-mile meals and events are changing the way many of us look at food. A website continues to provide inspiration and help for others looking to connect more closely with their food.
James MacKinnon visited Whitehorse on November 18, 2007. The book is available for sale at Mac’s Fireweed Books or can be borrowed from the EMR library or the Yukon Public Libraries.
Alisa Smith & J.B. MacKinnon
