The Eat Local Movement and Energy Conservation

The challenges of energy conservation, preserving our earth, and reversing the damage that we have done, encompasses all aspects of our society. To fully understand the issue we must understand that it is an issue involving the economy, science, politics, philosophy, morals, ethics, public health, and virtually every moment of your existence. The problem has many aspects, but that means with creativity and ingenuity there is the possibility for even more solutions.

The best solutions are those in which every person can help with. "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the same results" is a famous saying credited to Albert Einstein. If we wish to change humanities effects and attitude toward our planet, we must change our collective behavior.


The eat local movement which has flourished in the pacific northwest is a perfect example of a solution of this kind. Not only does it reduce the negative impact we have on the planet, but it also has a POSITIVE IMPACT. It has created an awareness of the connection between farmer and consumer, as well as how much waste is produced, how expensive, and how much excess energy is used in industrial large scale global farming. From field to fork the average meal travels 1,500 miles (Pirog, Rich. Food, Fuel, and Freeways: An Iowa perspective on how far food travels, fuel usage, and greenhouse gas emissions. Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Ames, Iowa. June 2001). Another study in Iowa found that a regional diet consumed 17 times less oil and gas than a typical diet based on food shipped across the country. Eating local and buying produce grown in your area saves energy, vitalizes the local economy, gives you the freshest and healthiest possible produce, and gives the consumer a personal connection to what sustains them. I have chosen to highlight this lifestyle change first because I have a personal connection to it.

This summer I decided to work at Calypso Farms in Ester, AK and volunteer at the local school garden at Pearl Creek Elementary where I get work with middle schoolers and help them learn about agriculture, ecology, and gardening. Calypso Farms is dedicated to producing locally grown organic produce and educating the community about the benefits of eating local.


above: me and several of the kids I work with in the garden washing harvested salad greens

The main operation is a Community Shared Agriculture (CSA). People buy shares of produce at the beginning of the year and then every week they get a portion of various vegetables harvested. The five school gardens are an extension of calypso and they run CSA's and this year they began selling produce at the farmers market. I had the opportunity to sell some of the produce at the farmers market. Not only are people buying veggies harvested that day, but they also get to meet the people that grew the veggies. This gives them vital social connection to their food and it's definitely a fun experience.


People are proud to buy locally produced food because the money goes directly to the school gardens, Calypso, and the gardeners, so that they can continue producing the highest quality organic food with the least amount of impact on the earth. Buy buying locally grown organic food you can be assured that the least amount of energy is used, no harmful pesticides or chemicals are used, the people that grew the food love what they do and put their heart and souls into growing, and that you are helping vitalize your local economy. Though it may be cheaper NOW to buy food at a grocery store that was grown on an industrial farm thousands of miles away, it will not be cheaper later when you have to pay for the negative impact on ourselves and the planet.

If you really want to save energy in getting food from the field and onto your table you can try growing your own garden. No fossil fuels are used to get the food into your stomach and to give you energy and life. I have small garden where I grow potatoes, zucchini, carrots, a variety of lettuce and greens, celery, and a variety of herbs. It can be hard work, but it is extremely satisfying knowing that the food you are eating was grown by you and not only didn't harm the planet, but improved it.

Farmers markets and personal gardens are not just for vegetarian hippies. If everyone in the community made a commitment to buy locally, there would be more cash flow in the local economy and thus everyone, from businesses to schools to government, would benefit. As inhabitants of the earth there is also a moral obligation to understand how everyone is connected and to appreciate how we use the land to sustain us.

In Alaska it is difficult to find a large variety of local produce, but eating locally can be expanded to mean buying apples from California instead of New Zealand. Every mile that the food doesn't have to travel is gas that isn't used to transport it and thus carbon that is not emitted into the atmosphere.

WHY EAT LOCAL:

-more money in local economy
-food travels shorter distances and therefore less energy is used, less carbon emitted
-better for air quality and reduction in pollution
-tastes better, fresher, no chemicals
-keeps you in touch with the seasons
-gives you a vital social/community connection to your food, you know who grew it
-reassurance that the food was grown with heart and soul
-explore a different aspect of your home
-discover new flavors
-be healthy

A list of farmer's markets in Alaska where you can buy local produce and goods


Also Calypso Farm has a little store on cafepress where you can buy merchandise on ecofriendly products with various eat local and calypso logos on it. check it out!