Eat Local Challenge
In November we encourage everyone to reflect even more deeply how much the sustainability and security of our communities comes down to how strongly we can reinforce the ties that bind us to this locale. For a Co-op like ours, we recognize the value and importance of the farmers and producers around us.
To emphasize this interdependence, enliven discussion and enjoin participation, we are continuing into Winter our Eat Local Challenge. Here are ideas for actually participating in creating a world that is more sustainable , therefore more peaceful and less fear-filled. We invite you to participate in any of a number of ways.
Start by just taking a look at what's in your pantry or on the table tonight for supper. Where did it all come from? What is available now, in this season, from local farmers and producers? For the holidays, where will your gifts come from, where will they be made?
Listed here are some of the events and resources you can discover as you and your family embark of this discovery of new possibilities.
Some other sites with information about eating local - the hows and whys.....
Find other Maine and national resources right here......
So join in. Saving the planet together, carrot by carrot....
"Every aspect of our lives is, in a sense, a vote for the kind of world we want to live in."
- Frances Moore Lappé
Why Eat Local?
It’s healthier. Fresher foods retain more nutrients, taste better and help promote a healthier environment than foods shipped from thousands of miles away.
It’s eco-friendly. The average American dinner travels 1,500 miles before reaching the plate. Shipping food long distances requires large amounts of natural resources, such as oil, and contributes to the build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and climate change.
It helps family farmers and the economy. Eating locally sourced food creates a strong local food system. A dollar spent locally generates income for and supports the sustainability of the local economy.
Check out the FAQ on the Eat Local Challenge.
See the news, photos and kudos from the Harvest Potluck in 2008
And, of course, our regular and changing feature here -- the profile of a local farmer or producer.
And check out some delicious recipes, using mostly local products, put together by the Co-op's Eat Local Committee.
For more information on how you and your family can participate, please contact Eileen at the Co-op, 374-2165 or by e-mail.
