Eat Local
From WikiForGood
See also Food For Good.
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Eat Local
The Eat Local Movement is gathering steam! Pods of "localvores" are springing up, and businesses such as Whole Foods seem to be getting more serious about offering local foods. What is a localvore? According to Pat McGovern, a New Hampshirite who coined the term, a localvore is a person who is committed to eating and learning about foods grown within the local food shed." Some prefer the slightly stream-lined spelling, locavore. And I believe "locavore" was a Webster's dictionary word of the year, or some such important thing.
Benefits
Localvores are enthusiastic about the following benefits of eating local: it helps local farmers, the local economy, the local and global environment and farm animals. It reduces our dependence on global corporations focused on short term profits, it encourages a variety of foods to be grown and it tastes better because the food is often picked at its peak flavor. It saves energy and reduces our dependence fossil fuels.
General Resources
Article on suburban farming in WSJ. Excerpt: "Since 2006, Mr. Nash, 31, has uprooted his backyard and the front or back yards of eight of his Boulder neighbors, turning them into minifarms growing tomatoes, bok choy, garlic and beets. Between May and September, he gives weekly bagfuls of fresh-picked vegetables and herbs to people here who have bought "shares" of his farming operation. Neighbors who lend their yards to the effort are paid in free produce and yard work."
100milediet.org -- allows you to type in your zip code to see your 100 mile radius and get a feel for your food shed.
Article on The Compact.... "A group of environmentally concerned friends in San Francisco got together on Jan. 1, 2006, and decided to “flee the consumer grid,” vowing not to buy anything new for at least the next 12 months." A reference to the Mayflower Compact (the agreement signed aboard the Mayflower that formed the basis for the new American democracy), this is a modern version with a sustainability theme -- "to go beyond recycling in trying to counteract the negative global environmental and socioeconomic impacts of U.S. consumer culture, to resist global corporatism, and to support local businesses, farms, etc; 2) to reduce clutter and waste in our homes (as in trash Compact-er); 3) to simplify our lives (as in Calm-pact)" That's a quote from The Compact blog. ... or a Compact Blog, not sure if this is the 'official' one.
The Sustainable Table One of the first projects of this group was the super popular short animated film the Meatrix. Now they offer a great overview resources for sustainable eating, including the Eat Well Guide that provides resources by zip code.
Local Harvest "The best organic food is what's grown closest to you. Use our website to find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies."
Green Leaf Market helps small farmers sell their food to local stores, including large supermarkets. It's like Ebay, but for locally grown food. Here is an article explaining the concept and origins of this virtual farmers market.
“The American lawn needs to be eradicated from our society and fast!”... from the New York Times article about replacing yards in LA with vegetable gardens. An idea whose time has come! )What happens when you turn your front yard into a vegetable garden? The neighbors take note, as explained in this article in the New York Times.
San Diego Food Not Lawns is a grassroots group focused on "cultivating an edible future" and working together to offer information, facilitate communication, and otherwise act and effect local change regarding a variety of food and land related issues.
Massachusetts Resources
THe Federation of Massachusetts Farmers Markets includes a list of seven farmers markets around the Boston area and their hours of operation.
The Food Project Since 1991, The Food Project has built a national model of engaging young people in personal and social change through sustainable agriculture. Each year, we work with over a hundred teens and thousands of volunteers to farm on 31 acres in rural Lincoln, MA and on several lots in urban Boston. We consider our hallmark to be our focus on identifying and transforming a new generation of leaders by placing teens in unusually responsible roles, with deeply meaningful work.
Vermont & New Hampshire Resources
You can join the New England Localvore Discussion List for free. Check out Upper Valley Localvores
Rhode Island Resources
Farm Fresh Rhode Island operates 5 farmers markets Providence and also develops searchable web resources for finding seasonal foods, farms and markets in Rhode Island. Farmers can update the information about what they are growing and how they sell. Our FreshLink service lets farmers tell restaurants and food service the quantities, pricing and delivery logistics for what is fresh in their fields that week.
San Francisco Resources
Locavores.com This is not a mispelling. A news article about the Locavores of San Fran apparently motivated Vermont residents to coin the term Localvore.
Cook Here and Now A local and seasonal cooking group.
Studies
A study by Iowa State University researchers calculates how much energy it takes to transport various food items. Worldchanging.org authors, in contemplating the results, ask "why would an apple that was picked days or weeks ago, tossed around in a packing plant, hauled on a truck and retumbled through its delivery to the store seem more appealing than one picked yesterday in the next county over?" You got me!
Books
The Small-Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses Are Beating the Global Competition "In The Small-Mart Revolution, Shuman makes a compelling case for his alternative business model, one in which communities reap the benefits of "going local" in four key spending categories: goods, services, energy, and finance. He argues that despite the endless media coverage of multinational conglomerates, local businesses give more to charity, adapt more easily to rising labor and environmental standards, and produce more wealth for a community. They also spend more locally, thereby increasing community income and creating wealth and jobs. The Small-Mart Revolution presents a visionary yet practical roadmap for everyone concerned with mitigating the worst of globalization."
Ideas To Expand WikiForGood's Eat Local Pages
Gather information about college campuses that are working to provide more locally grown food. Example: Outline for Dartmouth College, -- Current status, -- Groups involved, -- Approaches employed to get college to move, -- List of Upper Valley farmers who benefit, -- Benefits for Dartmouth
