Why Buy Local and How to do it!

This is a picture of the inside of my fridge...

It's? slightly disorganized at the moment...but you know what? It's FULL!

After almost 2 years of local eating I think I have gotten a handle at managing my purchases and ensuring that we always have enough food to eat. It was a process of baby steps but we eventually got there. I'd say that we currently purchase about 85% of our foods locally at this point. I feel so good knowing that by doing this we are supporting so many local farmers, producers, and businesses. My friends and family think that I'm totally crazy. But right afterwards they ask me how they could do the same or how/where to start. They tell me that they're so overwhelmed and just don't know how to go about it.

If you're one of those people, I think a great place to start is the library and online. If you've found my blog then that's a great start! There are many great blogs out there who profile local farmers and have many seasonal recipes that you may end up wanting to try. Another way to get inspired it to read about others' journeys with local eating. A great book to read is "The Locavore Way" by Amy Cotler. The book, which can be described as a how-to guide, covers everything you'd need to know about becoming a locavore. Cotler gives reasons why a person would choose to eat locally, where to find local foods and how to source them out (and on a budget), what questions to ask a the farmer's market, and even how to grow your own food and preserve the harvest. She writes about farmers markets, farm stands and u-pick farms, CSA's (Community Supported Agriculture), eating simply and seasonally at home and at restaurants, and how to become a local food advocate. The book is an easy read (perfect for the beach) and is is just plain cute.

Here are her reasons to eat locally and the best ways to go about it:

10 Reasons to Eat Locally Produced Foods

For the sheer pleasure of it

To connect with people, farmers and nature

For the health and safety of your family and yourself

For the health of our planet

To boost the local economy, community and region

For an open, working landscape

To maintain biodiversity

To support neighbouring farms and farmers

To preserve our culinary heritage

To give yourself a just choice

15 Ways to Become a Locavore

Eat local foods in season

Get out to a farm

Buy fresh food directly from the farm

Become a bounty hunter and track down new foods

Feast on local food at home

Have a party and make local food the focal point

Engage the next generation

Eat local food at restaurants

Grow your own

Start a farmer's market

Boost access to local food for all

Eat more veggies and less meat

Give local food gifts

Become an agritourist

Advocate for a just, sustainable, and equitable food system

How about you start this weekend? Visit you local farmer's market and pick up some asparagus and rhubarb. Next week, buy some cheese and some local beef. Eventually you'll get to know many of the farmers and going to the market may become a weekly routine. Then, you may get inclined to visit the farms themselves and pick your own fruits and vegetables. Who knows! You may actually be crazier than I am one day!