Dougsgiving Guide
Very happy holiday season fellow Cascadians!
During this time of year, we want to celebrate what our bioregion gives us, the wonderful people living here in a seasonal and sustainable way. Choosing even one of the following steps can be a great way to have a more bioregionally friendly, inclusive meal. For many this is a time of giving, of thanks, and of being near friends and loved ones. We’d like to take a moment and share some easy steps to make any family gathering or meal a bioregional one.
1) DOUG-IFY YOUR RECIPES:
Include a traditional indigenous dish in your feast – ideally as the centerpiece meal.
Replace non-regional ingredients in your traditional meals with bioregionally and locally grown ingredients.
Use fresh, seasonal, and sustainable foods and ingredients
Buy from local grocers and farmers’ market
For food that you buy from out of bioregion, is there a way to buy organic, or fair trade and ethical from which you can trace it from it’s source?
2) REDUCE YOUR IMPACT:
Try and reduce waste (especially plastic waste) by buying in bulk, or opting for items not wrapped in plastic. If you’re having an outdoor event, use reusable or compostable cups and silverware.
Transport homecooked meals in paper bags, not plastic or Styrofoam. Compostable containers if you’re taking leftovers home!
Rideshare, Take a Bus or Bike if possible. Carpool with other attendees (family or friends) going to the same location.
This year, keep it COVID safe. #Cascadia is rocking it with the lowest percentages of people leaving their house for the holidays this year, which will save countless lives. This is a hard time for many, so zoom, call - check in with friends and family to make sure they are doing mentally and physically doing okay.
3) OPEN YOUR MEAL/EVENT WITH INDIGENOUS LAND RECOGNITION
Do some research on the indigenous people whose land traditionally you are on. If you look around, you’ll notice… they’re still here! Great opportunity to learn and share some really cool new and interesting facts, cultural opportunities and learning as well.
If you live in Cascadia, you can follow our guide for how to do a “Klahowya Tillicum” https://deptofbioregion.org/department-of-bioregion/klahowya-tilikum-how-to-open-meetings-and-events-in-cascadia
Is there a Native-led organization or group in your area that you can support, either financially, sharing their info, or volunteering?
4) THINK OF YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FELLOW CASCADIANS – ESPECIALLY THOSE IN NEED
If you have extra leftovers, find somebody who might need a meal.
Think about giving as part of a local food drive or volunteering your time for folks in need.
Socks, soap, blankets and warm clothes are often always needed as well.
5) SPEND TIME OUTDOORS TOGETHER, APPRECIATING NATURE
Go outside, go get cold, get drizzled on, and enjoy the ever encroaching darkness of the season that defines our black and bitter souls.
Then have a nice fire outside, find a beautiful hike, or take some time to ponder a tree with friends.
Most importantly……
‘Tis the Season….for Bioregional Feasting! Enjoy!
What ingredients are local?
Seasonal veggies:
Vegetable Season Chart (PDF)
Tilth Growing Guide for Maritime Cascadia
Foraging guide:
https://www.chefs-resources.com/produce/seasonal-foraging-chart-washingtion-state/
Some example of awesome indigenous cuisine:
Tlingit foods: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tlingit_cuisine
Duwamish foods:https://www.duwamishtribe.org/culture-today
GREENS & VEGGIES:
Sprouts, roots, nuts, wild berries, crabapple, fiddleheads, quinoa, oats, mushrooms, kale, tomatoes, potatoes, buckwheat, barley, wheat, walnuts, lentils, flax, hazelnuts, sea vegetables (kelp), broccoli, cauliflower, beets, carrots, spinach, lettuce, onions, garlic, shallots, fresh herbs, sweet potatoes, chestnuts, celery, edamame, grapes, brussel sprouts, squashes, leeks
MEATS:
Salmon, fish, shellfish, ducks, squid, geoduck, locally grown pork, beef, chicken, goats, saltwater animals. Other sources of meat were deer, elk, rabbit
