Eating Local and Organic Foods is Good for the Environment
Two aspects of the industrialized food production system create excessive carbon emissions: the use of fertilizers and pesticides to grow food crops, and the use of fossil fuels to transport food products. Buying local and organic fruits and vegetables can help limit these activities. When demand for local produce is high, it cuts down on food transportation costs, benefitting the local farmer and the environment. In addition, local organic farmers practice techniques that focus on conserving soil and water. They also grow foods that are free of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. Eating local, organic food is a healthy choice because it is free of the harmful chemicals that are in traditional pesticides and fertilizers. It also provides consumers with the freshest produce available.
Organic and Grass-Fed Meat are Environmentally Friendly
Meat production takes an incredible toll on the environment. Animals raised on feed lots require feed shipments. Their manure releases toxins in the air and piles up, stressing the local land and water supplies. Food guru Michael Pollan, author of Omnivore's Dilemma, proposes a meatless Monday as one way to reduce your carbon footprint and enhance your health.
Purchasing locally grown foods cuts down on the fossil fuels required to transport the food, and also cuts down on the energy needed for refrigeration during the transportation process. The term "Food miles" refer to the distance a food item travels from the farm to your home. The food miles for items in the grocery store are, on average, 27 times higher than the food miles for goods bought from local sources. In the U.S., the average grocery store's produce travels nearly 1,500 miles between the farm where it was grown and your refrigerator. About 40% of our fruit is produced overseas and, even though broccoli is grown all over the country, the broccoli we buy at the supermarket travels an average of 1,800 miles to get there. Notably, nine percent of our red meat comes from foreign countries, some as far away as Australia and New Zealand. Our food is trucked across the country, hauled in freighter ships over oceans, and flown around the world. A tremendous amount of fossil fuel is burned to transport foods such long distances, releasing carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter and other pollutants that contribute to global climate change, acid rain, smog and air and sea pollution. The refrigeration required to keep our fruits, vegetables, dairy products and meats from spoiling during their long journeys burn up even more fossil fuel. In contrast, local and regional food systems produce 17 times less CO2.
The Modern Local Food Movement: A Timeline
The modern local food movement gained notoriety in 2005 when four women invited community members to pledge only to eat foods grown within the San Francisco Bay foodshed. These women coined themselves as “locavores,” and take credit for starting the grassroots local food movement. In 2006 Michael Pollans, The Omnivore's Delimma hit the NY Times Best seller list. Followed shortly after by Barbara Kingsolvers top selling Animal Vegetable Miracle. A couple years later, Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon challenged themselves only to eat foods grown within 100 miles of their home in British Columbia. They coined their experiment “The 100 Mile Diet” and launched a book and a website that discuss their experiments and invites other people to also take the local challenge. Today its almost impossible to pick up a magazine or newspaper that doesn't contain an article or a section devoted to eating locally!
There are number of things you could do to celebrate. Whether its something big like planting a tree, to something simple like unplugging small appliances when not in use or by eating local, please take time out TODAY to do something to make it happen! DO IT NOW!
2) Reduce junk mail. Save paper and aggravation by reducing the amount of junk mail landing in your box. Visit stopjunkmail.org for a free, downloadable Stop Junk Mail Kit.
Get a Tankless Water Heater! They can be 24% to 34% more energy-efficient. Plus you never run out of hot water.
Plant drought tolerant native plants in your garden. Commit to planting a tree in your yard or neighborhood each year. A properly placed tree can reduce your cooling costs in the summer and improve the overall health, aesthetic, and value of your home. Work with a local landscape specialist to assist you with finding the right plants for your needs!
