A Locavore Chooses
Local Fresh Food

What is a locavore? It's a person who eats food that is locally grown, within a 100 mile radius of their home. The term was coined in 2005 and has since come to represent a local food movement, including farmers markets, home gardens, and urban farms.

In past times when America was more rural, small farms provided much of our food. A lot has changed, and agriculture has become consolidated, industrialized, and BIG. Agribusiness has helped feed the world. But has it gone too far? And is it sustainable?

Locavores point out that agribusiness is not sustainable. Modern agriculture methods use up petroleum in the form of fertilizers and pesticides and to transport food across the country. Also, modern agriculture has caused a loss of plant diversity, as plants are hybridized to accommodate farm equipment and to transport well.

And, monocultures (planting one crop) used by agribusiness are prone to insect attacks so lots of pesticides are used. The loss of diversity and pesticide use may be the reason the bee population is declining. It's time to rethink our agricultural system!

Locavores want to revive the small farms, which are often organic and less energy intensive, and provide fresh, seasonal food.

But it's not just rural areas growing community food. Some farmers are greening the cities. Ecopreneuer Will Allen has created a farm within the Milwaukee city limits, called Growing Power, which raises goats, ducks, chickens, bees and more as well as 159 varieties of food. The farm even has aquaponic tanks to raise fish! Growing Power is also a training center for the community.

Locavores support both urban gardens and rural communities.

FARMERS MARKETS AND LOCAVORES

The easiest way to be a locavore is to find a farm stand or farmers market. They are growing in number around the country. According to the USDA website, there are approximately 4,800 farmers markets in operation in the US.

At a farmers market you may find local honey, produce, flowers, eggs, cheeses, and meats, bakery items, herbs and herbal medicinals, hand made soaps, and more.

To find a farmers market near you, go to localharvest.org.

WHY SHOP AT FARMERS MARKETS?

--The food is really fresh, usually harvested within 24 hours

--The food is in season

--The food is nutritious. With produce, nutrients are slowly lost after the harvest, so the closer to harvest the more nutritious the food.

--The food is safer. The more people handle the food and the farther it travels, the more likely it is to be exposed to e.coli or salmonella. Less handling of food is best.

--Small farmers are more likely to plant heirloom herbs and vegetables, which encourages biodiveristy.

--You help to keep money in the community and help the small farmers survive.

--You help small businesses that offer employment and fulfill dreams of self reliance

--It's fun! You can meet your local farmers and small artisans. They are following their hearts and care about their products.

--You help the environment. Food in the grocery store has traveled on average 1,300 miles to get to the store. At a farm stand, the mileage is more like 30 miles or so. Less gasoline is used to transport food.

--You can find real food. Local whole foods are not likely to be Genetically Modified. what is genetically modified food? Find out here

--Buying local flowers and herbs support the bee population.what's up with the dwindling bee population? Find out here

--Cows are likely to be treated well and grass fed. Grass fed beef has more healthy fats and less saturated fats than commercial beef.

--You may find local cheeses that are fresh and raw.

--You may discover wild foods. In Arizona, a group called Desert Harvesters is bringing back the mesquite tree and creating flour from mesquite pods.

--You can buy produce in season and learn to can or preserve it for winter, like our grandparents did.

I'm happy that a farmers market has just begun in my small town of Dripping Springs, Tx. This past Saturday I went to our farmers market for the first time and bought Armenian cucumbers, pear tomatoes, lambsquarters, edible flowers, and fresh black eyed peas. These ingredients became a big salad for lunch. it was delicious!

SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL

I have always liked with the idea that "small is beautiful!" Small is beautiful is the alternative view to "Bigger is better".

When we get together in big organizations, we tend to develop "group think" and do questionable things we would not do on our own. We justify unhealthy acts as necessary for "making a living." It can be dehumanizing.

Individually we would not abuse an animal, but agribusiness and factory farms do abuse animals, forcing them into crowded and unclean environments. Cows are fed grain and become ill in unnatural environments, and then they are shot up with drugs and hormones!

There is another way. Small farms and artisans are more likely to care for the land, the water, animals and nature. Food is alive, and we have a relationship with nature, it is not just a product. Being a locavore supports nature, farms and communities.

LOCAVORE CHALLENGES

Weather challenges can make the locavore way difficult. What does Wisconsin do for fresh product in winter? The traditional way was probably canning food in the summer to save for the winter. That's a lot of work!

Right now in Central Texas we are in a severe drought! It makes it hard to grow local food. We need to explore many kinds of farming systems that are gentle on the earth and provide for our needs.

One system getting recent attention is permaculture, a philosophy of working in harmony with ecosystems. I am impressed that one of their rain harvesting methods is able to green a desert in the Middle East. You tube has some interesting videos on permaculture. I think it is the way of the future.

Food for Thought: Wisdom of the First Ladies

In l943, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt planted an organic garden on the White House lawn, over the objections of the USDA. Millions of Americans then planted their own victory gardens.

In 2009, First Lady Michelle Obama planted an organic garden on the White House lawn, over the objections of the pesticide companies. Gardening is making a comeback!