Your Green Footprint……
Add comment May 8th, 2009
Spring has arrived, and the excitement of a new season surrounds us. Our farm is brimming with little seedlings that are anxiously waiting to be planted. We are busily preparing our planting beds to accommodate them, spreading compost, mulching, pulling the weeds that do no belong — all to assure a bountiful season.
In recent years, there has been a renaissance of small, local farms, many of which are following organic or sustainable farming methods, or using alternate means to produce food for local markets. Farmers sell their products at local farmers markets, through community supported agriculture (CSAs), local grocers, and local restaurants. Customers can meet the person who is responsible for growing the food that they enjoy, and can develop a relationship with that farmer. It is important to know who grows your food, to be able to understand how the food was grown.
Lately, the “green” concept has been everywhere around us. This is wonderful to see, but it can be overwhelming for many people. Sometimes it seems that one must change many things in one’s life to make a difference: buy organic, buy local, go green for everything one does, or not at all. But people can make a huge impact by changing just one thing, one day a week, for themselves and the environment. For example, if you use a to-go mug for your coffee instead of a disposable paper cup four mornings each week, this will save 208 cups over the course of one year.
Or, consider dedicating one meal a week to local and/or organic products. It may not seem like much, but it could have a significant impact on the local food system by providing a market for area farmers. After a while, you can try expanding to two or even three meals per week. The secret to changing anything in one’s life is to start small. Each month, or sometimes each week, we would try something different. A different grocer, a different type of food, organic instead of conventional, local instead of industrial. At first it was a struggle, and took a lot of planning and time to make these changes. However, it was a great adventure to learn how to cook again with basic ingredients, and discover local businesses.
At the end of the day, I think all of us can learn something from the “Go Green” campaign. Even if you feel that it is not for you, or you do not want to make those changes in your life, go out and enjoy some of the events throughout the summer that are part of this movement. Visit a farmer’s market, a farm tour, or a local restaurant that serves local produce. Enjoy the bounty of the harvest, and meet the people behind the food. After tasting a delicious heirloom tomato or an artisan loaf of bread, you just might be swayed into the romance of enjoying the harvest in the end.
