Local food

Great article! Anyone else trying to do this? How is it working for you? I am fascinated by this whole dilemma and I am also not sure how to respond. It is really complicated.

I shop farmers markets...and I read labels on produce to see where it originated, and I try to buy from my region of the country. I also try to eat "somewhat" seasonally...but that is a bigger challenge because I live in New England and our growing season is SHORT. But I wonder about impact. Am I doing the equivalent of using energy saver lightbulbs and running the air conditioner?

What do you do? What do you think?

Link

Mon. Jul 23, 10:11am

I'm in the 'thinking about it' stage right now. Although when shopping, I find myself looking for things that are local or in season. I'm in New England, too, so I know what you mean about the short growing season.
I'm hoping to get to some farmers markets and maybe plan a real vegetable garden for next year. Currently reading Barbara Kingsolver's book "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" and finding it inspirational.

As for whether it helps, if it makes you feel better (and it does, me) it helps. I like the idea of being more in touch with my food and where it comes from, at the very least.

Monday, July 23, 2007, 4:44 PM

I just joined a Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) project in an effort to support the last remaining bits of local farms. Basically, you pay a membership fee in the late winter/early spring and then all summer you get weekly supplies of local produce. It's a terrific bargain compared to farmer's markets or organic supermarket prices. It's also helping me learn what is seasonal. Since I'm in Alaska I still have to fill in some things--like most fruit--since our growing season is so unusual. We also got a cookbook to know how to cook all the new veggies I've been getting but have never tried before. Knowing who grew the produce and how much work went into it also keeps me from wasting too much (letting it rot in the fridge while I eat out, etc.). AND, I'm eating so much more healthfully that I'm finally losing weight again!

Link

Monday, July 23, 2007, 7:05 PM

OP here. 4:44...love your thought about knowing where your food comes from. That was not stressed in the article and I agree it is a piece we have lost sight of human beings in this part of the world. It isn't strictly a petroleum footprint issue.

I LOVED Animal, Vegetable, Miracle too. What a thoughtful book.

And 7:05, I am so impressed that there are CSA's in Alaska. You give me great hope. We really can make a difference. I guess I need to focus in a variety of ways as I consider these questions.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007, 9:51 AM

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