our press release.

Portland, Or – The great experiment of the post-modern global age is evolving into practice at this Northeast Portland residence. While committed to radical politics and serious notions, this communal house of five women still indulged in tofutti cuties and Chilean pears as though these treats magically appeared on their doorstep with little effort. After careful consideration, generous thought and fervent discussion, the Ramshackle has decided to try the newest food commitment – all local.

This home will only purchase and consume food that was created or grown in the states of Oregon or Washington for the entire month of August. Five women will be changing their lifestyles and adjusting their impulses; scouring store shelves, adopting farmers markets as their second homes and calling companies to inquire as to their ingredient places of origin. Food must be distributed locally, manufactured locally [if necessary to do such things] and grown locally. Even if Ota tofu makes a mean bean curd in the heart of Portland, those soybeans are grown ‘round the country and trucked to town – that doesn’t fit ‘Total Local’ standards.

One member of the Ramshackle quintet theorized, “Total Local is about remembering that those cherries I eat come from somewhere, someone grew them, picked them and got them to a store for me to buy. If nothing else, I don’t want the process that feeds me to be invisible.”

The newest fashion among the high-politict and the foodie movement is going local. Regaining connection with your primary source of energy, your second biggest expense [after rent] and a critical part of life has become the fad. Discovering regional farms, buddying up with neighborhood farmers and experiencing the wonder of unusual local produce is revolutionizing peoples’ lives. One Ramshackle lady quipped, “I love the process. Scouring, searching, detecting. It’s fantastically complex and bizarrely fun, but more of a time commitment than you ever realized.” Going local has, indeed, become a pastime in itself.

At its heart, Total Local is about having fun, being spry and getting creative. The Ramshackle intends to take full advantage of living in an abundant and ridiculously fruitful place – going to pick their own food when possible, harvest eggs and play in the dirt.

The ladies hope to inspire their community and comrades. The Ramshackle will be recording their adventure for public consumption.