Some people go whole-hog and refuse even to drink beverages or use spices that aren't locally produced. I am not so die-hard nor so willing to sacrifice. My aspirations are decidedly smaller, but I'm content with them:

We at Off the Eaten Path will strive to eat something locally produced every day. We also will consume something new from the farmer's market each week in May in order to broaden our horizons about the types of food that are available and that we enjoy. Finally, we also will try a local restaurant this month where we have not eaten before in order to support local food businesses.

1. What's your definition of local for this challenge?

Our local farmers' market defines local as within 150 miles of Washington, D.C., and that seems reasonable to me.

2. What exemptions will you claim?

We reserve the right to take one day off a week (although we'll try not to need to).

3. What is your personal goal for the month?

To find new foods to add to the repertoire. To continue to support local agriculture. To consume what we buy without waste. To try some new recipes. To blog here more often about our experiences in the kitchen and with the local restaurant scene. And most of all I hope to be pleasantly surprised that this will not be a stretch for us taking into consideration that we already buy a large portion of our food locally at the farmers' market.