Changing the World

Those of you who read my blog fairly regularly know that I also write for Natural News as a Citizen Journalist.  Recently, I wrote an article about Biointensive Gardening.  In January, I went to a local workshop on this method of mini-farming here in my community and I got excited.  Why?  Because it appears to be a way to sustain the planet.  The method focuses on sustainable agriculture, and it mainly focuses on mini-farms, that is, backyard gardens that you and I can grow ourselves.  What excited me about this method is that we can use less space and less water, yet grow more in a sustainable, healthier environment.  I plan to begin gardening this way this year, and I have, in fact, started my compost pile (not the way I used to but following the method I learned in the workshop).  I have since purchased organic seeds and planned my entire season; I will begin growing seeds indoors in about two weeks.  Since Vegi Lover deals on occasion with our impact on the environment, I thought this might be a good forum in which to share this info.  If time permits, I will probably also be blogging about my ventures in this new realm.  I think it promises to be fun!

If you'd like to read the article on Natural News (which provides more information about Biointensive gardening), you can click on this link: 

Biointensive Agriculture Could Save the Planet

Buying Local

So yesterday I talked about why organic is good for your body.  But I didn't mention why it's good for the environment too.  Let's face it...when we're not using abundant chemicals, we're doing something good for the planet. 

So how does buying local fit in?  Well, think about it--where did your dinner tonight come from?  Was it shipped from halfway across the country?  Imported from another country?  From somewhere in your state?  Or from a farmer outside of town?  Not only does buying from farther away use up energy and resources, but it also means your food isn't as fresh as it could be.  Now don't get me wrong.  I like lemons and they don't grow in my state.  And I get a hankering for bananas and pineapples. That's the beauty of living in our global community.  We can and do have constant access to good, healthy, fresh food anytime.

But what if a majority of your foods were purchased from local farmers?  Farmer's Markets or local farms where you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables direct.  Or what about your health food store?  Do they have any local foods?  I maintain a small garden in the summer and buy from Farmer's Markets.  Yes, part of it is I feel better doing it, but I have to say, the food tastes better too.  And at a Farmer's Market, if you have any questions about the produce, you can ask the grower.  I can't think of any better reasons to buy local when I can.  It also makes me feel great to support my local economy.