10 Steps to Eating Local – Part 1
January 1st, 2010

So you’ve made a commitment to eating more foods that are locally grown or you’ve at least been thinking about it… but it’s a big change, you’re a little overwhelmed and you don’t exactly know how to start? Never fear…

You’re 10 simple steps away from kicking the mangoes-in-maine supermarket habit.

  1. Identify the WHY. With all new undertakings, it’s important to know and remember WHY you’re taking this new step. Are you primarily concerned with eating as healthy as you can? (Note: Remember that local doesn’t necessarily mean organic, so pay attention. But often organic items produced locally are fresher and less expensive than those from afar.) Are you hoping to benefit your neighbors and the local economy? Are you concerned about the fate of small farmers? Are you wanting to lighten your footstep on the planet? All of these are valid whys and yours may be a combination of several or all of them. Your why may be something else entirely. Just keep your why(s) in mind as you embark on all of the subsequent steps.

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  2. Start a garden. There’s nothing more local than your own backyard. Dorothy’s enlightenment that “There’s no place like home” applies to food as much to anything else. No matter where you live you can grow at least some food. If you don’t already have a garden, there’s no shortage of information on how to start one and you don’t know what you’re missing until you try it. Maybe you’re just into growing tomatoes and leaving the rest to someone with more time or inclination. That’s ok. Grow something. This allows you to be part of the local food chain in the most personal way. If you’re a complete gardening newbie or convinced you have a black thumb, start with a pot of herbs in a sunny window. Your first leaf of homegrown basil can be such a simple and profound pleasure it may inspire to rethink food altogether. I recommend starting the seeds yourself so that you can experience the entire life cycle of your plant(s) and begin to gain an understanding of what goes into producing food on a larger scale for the planet. This is also a great activity to do with kids.

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  3. Identify your gardening neighbors. Does anyone in your ‘hood have a garden? Chat them up. Let them know you’re embarking on eating as locally as possible. Discuss your why(s). Finding out who grows what can give you a sense of the variety of food that’s being grown – literally – all around you! This step is important because you’ll discover a whole community of like-minded folks you may not have been aware of. Don’t overlook community gardens. Many schools, for example, now have food gardens. Go take a peek at what’s growing.
Part 2 >>

 

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