Our Food Guidelines

Here at Full Circle Family we do our best to eat by certain guidelines that we feel create better health for us and greater health for the planet.

Lettuce and cabbage from our garden

We estimate that we grow as much as 50% of our own food. In the summers this takes the form of fresh produce out of our extensive gardens. Everything is grown organically -- with no pesticides or herbicides. In August and September we 'can' 150 to 200 quarts of fruits, vegetables, sauce and juices. Our two dehydrators are filled almost non-stop with fruits, tomatoes, onions and other foods we've grown or gathered (including Chanterelle mushrooms and hazelnuts - both of which thrive in our area.) Winter squash, onions, carrots, beets and potatoes fill our pantry and carry us far into the spring months. We dry most of our own beans as well.

Almost all the food we buy is organic. We have an excellent food co-op in Corvallis  and they have very good prices on produce and bulk foods. We also have a regular grocery store (Winco) that has a lot of organic options. Basically, if it's available organic, that's what we buy.

Our commitment to eating "local" isn't as strong as our choice to eat "organic". We do tend to eat fresh produce in season and always choose the most local product when there is a choice. But we like our coffee and bananas. And there are some bulk items we enjoy that don't grow around here: peanuts, coconut and dates.

We live 25 minutes from Corvallis and about 45 minutes from Eugene. These are the two closest cities that have  high-quality food-stores. Because of the distance, we usually only shop 2-3 times a month and buy many things by the case, or in large enough quantities to last us a long time. We have extensive pantry storage, and two refrigerators.

Home-grown berries!

All food is shared communally. No-one has a private shelf in the fridge, or cupboard. If you lived with us, you would share in the shopping, the gardening, food preparation, clean-up and food preservation. All the food we have would be available for your enjoyment. As is outlined in Steps to Membership, initially you would chip in money to the common purse to cover your share of food and utilities, but once you are a Full Member, you would no longer do so. All your living expenses would be covered. You would also begin receiving a monthly stipend which you are free to spend however you choose. This could be on specialty food items that the rest of the group doesn't wish to buy themselves, or  to go out to restaurants as well.

We feel that attitude towards what you're eating is as important as what you eat. The stories we tell ourselves transform the food into nourishment or poison. Even healthy food eaten with a sense of guilt or fear can create toxic conditions in the body. We are not "purists" about the food we eat. We have a strong tendency to eat foods that are  healthy for us: natural, organic and minimally processed; but if we have a craving for a chocolate bar (even an un-organic one) or an order of fries, or a pizza now and then, we don't beat ourselves up over it. We bless it and enjoy it fully, and return to eating our regular diet the next day.

We must be doing something right! Neither of us, the founders, has any chronic health conditions or food sensitivities; nor are we on any medications. We can't remember the last time we went to a doctor. We live active lives, pain-free and joyfully anticipate the continuation of this state of health. Would you like to join us?

Llyn and Chris at one of our favorite beaches.