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When we go out to eat we avoid large corporate resturaunts and eat at family owned businesses.
The local farmers market is a great place to support small scale farming.
I try to shop local. My local health food store, the small stores around town and the farmers markets. I even try to buy from every kids lemonade stands. Shop local, its worth it.
I try to shop at only locally owned shops of all kinds: groceries, gift shops, restaurants... I also frequent the farmers markets.
It became a big issue here in New Orleans after Katrina, when so many local people and shopowners were suffering the double shot of losing their home and their business base (if not the business itself, too!). So there was a big movement to take care of our own, and it seems like it has stuck. Lukcily, when it comes to food, we know nobody else can do it the way a local can, so that's an easy way for everyone to support local business.
Today I joined my local CSA for the first time. I have been drifting towards eating more healthy for the last year or so and this is a another step on the journey.
After reading Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, we subscribed to a local farming CSA. Organic food, fresh from the farm weekly. Seasonal and local food are so much tastier!
My husband and I buy a share in a CSA farm every year. What produce we don't get that way, we purchase at local farmers markets and at our local health food coop (we are members), which sells many locally grown products. We take care to buy fair-trade products when possible (i.e. bananas, coffee, tea, chocolate, etc.)
I participate in a community-supported agriculture project through my work site; every summer for the last four years we've had access to corn, tomatoes and other great veggies that was grown less than 25 miles away from where I live.
I found a great company that sources and distributes produce from local, organic farms. Every Saturday, I receive a huge bin of very fresh, gorgeous seasonal fruits and veggies from farmers that I can read about online. I get foods I've never even heard of! Fortunately, recipes suggestions are provided as well.
I grow my own food and share with the people around me. Growing up, my mother always grew food, some of which she canned or froze. Now that I am older, I am learning to do the same, and I love it! This practice has expanded into my local community as I have found many friends, family, and neighbors that trade and share their harvest amongst each other. Sharing my garden with others is joyful - and I have met many much more experienced people in my community to teach and guide me.
I support my local community by shopping at the local farmer's market, purchasing locally produced grocery products--including Equal Exchange teas, coffees, WI dried cranberries, snack foods and chocolates--at our community's cooperative grocery (Basics Cooperative, Janesville WI), independently operated restaurants, bookstores, bike shops, etc., and subscribe to a community supported agriculture farm! It's delicious!
Where I live, in the summer months, it is easy to shop locally and organic. There are family-run farms within easy reach and several Saturday markets in the nearby towns where I can buy all the produce I need and goats milk cheeses. I even have the privilege of purchasing raw goats milk and eggs fresh from a small neighborhood farm.
In the winter time I get almost all my grocery items from two main sources: New Season's market where they work hard at keeping as much local produce as possible, and also from a Northwest-based food co-op (Azure Standard). Because of all these wonderful options I very rarely find myself in a main-line super market.
New Season's Market carries many Equal Exchange items. I love the chocolate and coffee!
I support my local farmers by volunteering, when I can, at their farms and ranches, but mostly by keeping the communications flowing. The best thing you can do is talk about the great items available at these farms and ranches and tell people how to get them, or help them get to them.
I also work with a group called Peak to Plains Alliance (www.peaktoplains.com) that promotes Agri-Tourism and farm and ranch experiences. It's a great way to get people at least out to places to see where their food comes from and have a little fun at the same time. The baby pigs are so cute right now!
I live in Altadena, CA. And in June some of my neighbors formed a Coop and Food Exchange for all of us urban gardeners. The idea was that if you had more fruits or veggies from your garden than you could use, trade, sell or give them to a neighbor. It's been a wonderful experience. For example, I have traded my elephan heart plums for donut peaches, locally grown bananas, a bunch of basil and a recipe for pesto with peistachios! I traded my tomatoes for home made honey wheat bread. And I bought eggs from one of my neighbors with chickens. I sold some of my heirlooms to a lady who wanted to take them to her mother-in-law for a present. This way, nothing goes to waste. Everyone eats better and we all support local growers and each other.
I live in Mid-Missouri, and we are lucky to have a very community-focused culture in my town. We have a great store called the Root Cellar that sells about 90% Missouri produced products, and we shop there as often as we can. We also do a CSA and we honestly get more veggies than we can keep up with! We also eat locally when we eat out, get coffee, ice cream or anything else edible. I try to shop locally (like thrift and resale) for furniture and household goods, too. We really only get the things that you can't really source locally (you know, like aspirin, q-tips, etc that come from who knows where) at the bigger stores. And you know, it really doesn't cost that much more - you just have to prioritize.
I buy my dairy/eggs from a very small, local farmer. I plan to join a CSA with that same farm for produce next year. I benefit from my parent's organic garden during summer months, cutting back to nearly no store-bought veggies. If I'm buying organic, I do my best to avoid products shipped from overseas. Eating seasonally is the easiest way to figure out how to eat responsibly.
I participate in a CSA farm (Community Supported Agriculture). This is a program that allows "city dwellers" such as myself, to buy a subscription to a local farm. On a regular basis, I get a box of whatever is in season on the farm. The rest of my produce I buy at the local farmer's market. I am very lucky to live in an area where organic farming is this accessible.
Finally we got an "all-local" farmer's market bi-weekly here in Columbia, SC. I shop there, and also look for "local" signs at my supermarkets and whole foods stores. I actually find more local produce at Walmart than at the more upscale stores! Buying from Walmart sends a powerful message about the market they service, and if Walmart stocks something, it is huge to the suppliers.
I am so fortunate to be surrounded by farmland here in the Midwest. I have a half-share at a local organic farm and get other locally grown and created items/food. With my haf-share I also get organic eggs every other week. Many of my friends have gardens which produce abundantly and they are always giving the excess to those who will use it. Plus twice a week farmer's market within walking distance of my apartment and myriad roadside stands throughout the county. Next year I will again raise cherry/grape tomatoes and jalapeno peppers on my deck.
In the last year, I've made the switch from shopping at Whole Foods across town, to joining a CSA and supplementing that with my local co-op close to my neighborhood. I have switched to a hair stylist that I can ride my bike to, and only eat out at local restaurants instead of chains. For gift-giving, I purchase gift certificates to local businesses in the area of the person receiving the gift. I try to buy gifts that are service oriented to support the people working there, such as massage or restaurant gift certificates. In general I try to buy local products or made in the USA if I can without too much hassle. My vacations are all within my state, including Wisconsin Dells because many businesses are hurting due to the flooding. Amazingly, all of these switches were not hard to do and make me feel more connected to my community.
I write a blog called "Eat Close to Home" that helps people in SE Michigan find local food products, provides recipes for in-season foods, and gives easy-does-it tips for moving to a more sustainable lifestyle (http://eatclosetohome.wordpress.com/).
I'm in central South Dakota and a (mostly) vegetarian in cattle ranching country.
We have a local hydroponic tomatoes grower for our tomatoes; in the summer, tomatoes are from my garden. A local Hutterite Colony provides alot of produce via a weekly farmer's market and also through one of our two family-owned grocery stores. The store also carries other locally grown goods. However, you'd think, being in farmland USA, we'd see more locally grown foods. It's not much variety; but I think what is here is well supported by the rural community.
Farmer's market and CSA, of course! When I have to buy something not made locally, like a kitchen tool, I get it from our little locally-owned kitchen shop instead of the big box store.
I rarely eat out because it's hard to find restaurants that serve locally grown fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be much demand. I live in an apartment but I have a patio I make full use of. I also travel a half mile every Sunday morning to support my local farmers market. How lucky am I? I also shop at a local grocery store called My Organic Market (MOMs) they stock and label locally grown organic produce. Finally I support the local people and even do online business with those within 100 miles from me.
I live in Brooklyn- but here in the middle of NYC, every week my partner and i receive farm-fresh vegetables as members of a CSA. He and i have had to learn many new recipes for all the different veggies we get, and it is so fun and delicious! We have met the farmer, and produce tastes so much better when you know where it comes from, and it hasn't spent days on trucks.
I joined a CSA and try to shop at the Green Market on weekends during green market season.
I live within walking distance of a suburban business district--it's all small shops and restaurants (no chain or retail stores), so we do as much shopping and eating as we can in our back yard. We supplement our CSA with produce we buy at the two farmers' markets our community sponsors. I found a great local tailor and shoe repair guy, so I can extend the life of my clothing. we get all our books at the local library.
The thing I enjoy most about this way of living is that I now know the people I buy from. I could go in a big box store everyday from now until next year and would never deal with the same clerk twice. But shopping locally, I know the shop owners and have developed a relationship. They know me and anticipate my needs. And when I see them out on the street, it's like seeing a dear friend.
We have a garden plot in a community garden and some of our food goes to feed the poor. also we eat food grown locally. We buy things that we don't grow in our garden at a local Saturday tail gate market. That same tailgate market has a little mom's and pop's store where we shop at the rest of the week. We also eat at restruant that use local foods when we eat out. We reycle as much materials as possible and we use our compost for our garden. We carry cloth bags when we shop even if it is to the thrift store!
My friend and I like to go to Regional Market in Syracuse, NY. This is a local farmers' market which has great produce and flowers from area farmers during the spring, summer, and fall months.
Rochester, NY has a great farmer's market that's over 100 years old and has over 300 vendors...it's a great public market!
My husband and I have a CSA box which provides the bulk of our food each week. We go to our farmer's market and co-op for everything else. We also avoid chain restaurants at all costs!
I work about 2 blocks from the big Farmers Market here and walk there once or twice a week to get fresh veggies. We'll go on Saturdays to get locally grown fruit as well. We only go to local restaurants, and are especially fond of those who support local farmers and get most, if not all, of their ingredients local. The Co-Op is great because they are also large local supporters and mark everything that is local so it's easy to shop for!
As the owner of a small restaurant I buy eggs from a local farm and shop at farmers markets for produce. I also buy amazing heirloom tomatoes from a local family farm and feature them in dinner specials.
When we shop and dine out we make a point of avoiding corporate chains.
We have a local farmer's market in the spring, summer and fall, and we buy bread and vegetables and fruit in season there.
I live in BAli where i ran Down To Earth, a coumpany that is all about organic and vegan. We have 2 restaurants, organic shop, and a school for local people who want to learn nutrition and healthy cooking. We support the local farmers by educating them about organic. I also created "the promised land" that is an integrity market. there is alot more to say about my company. check it out
I am a member of a Food Coop, shop at Farmers Markets for my produce, and try to avoid chain restaurants.
My husband and I grow most of our own veggies and fruits, and raise chickens in a Chicken Tractor for eggs. We get so many eggs that we sell them at work and church, encouraging others to eat locally as well. Our latest ventures are into bees and edible landscaping - replacing boxwoods with blueberry bushes. Our kids love to go outside to pick snacks, and we usually have plenty to share with our neighbors too.
We shop at our local Co-op and buy locally grown, mostly organic produce. We also buy local olive oil and eggs and check the labels on most products to try and buy ones that are most local. Lastly, we like to eat chocolate and bananas and so we buy organic or fair trade items even though they are not local.
We have started a 100% plant based, organic fast food restaurant, Nature's Express. We currently are in Yuma AZ, with a new restaurant opening in San Diego in October. We also supply vegan wraps to Whole Foods and other retail outlets in Southern California. Check us out, or even better, come work with us!
We have a small family tea business called Chado-En. We consider ourselves Tea Docents because we work hard to bring awareness of a "tea lifestyle". We are committed to increasing wellness and have printed right on our tea tins "we donate 10% of profits to the wellness gardens a non-profit"
www.chadoen.com www.thewellnessgardens.org
The Co-founders of Chado-En also regularly make contributions. The Wellness Gardens do not yet exist but we are working hard to make that dream a reality. A place where people can go and learn HOW to stay well a prevent some of these "epidemic" like diseases such as cancer and diabetes rather than trying to treat these lifestyles problems with yet more chemicals and toxins. We are not doctors or scientist simply students of tea working to bring awareness to the very ancient yet modern ways in which mankind may live a better life.
My community and I support each other mutually. I'm currently unemployed but that doesn't stop me from getting local organic produce and martial arts lessons. The farmer/owner of Merrick Farm, the local CSA in Monmouth County,NJ made a deal with me for a full share in the CSA for 12 hours of work a week. I get all the organic produce I can pick, plenty of exercise, interaction with the other farm workers which includes on the spot spanish improvement lessons, and an education about farming which is pretty much priceless. I even made a deal to get another share next year in exchange for my spouse designing a website for the farm!
As for the martial arts, I made a New Year's resolution to do more things with my spouse and just generally get interested in the things other people did. So I started going to Wednesday night classes at China Hand Kung Fu school in Brick, NJ. After I lost my job, Shifu Ruggeri allowed me to continue classes in exchange for some light computer work. This way we both benefit! I do work he hates but I don't and he gives me lessons in Hsing Yi Chuan and Pa Kua Chuan every Wednesday night.
Gotta love the barter system!
we belong to a farm co-op, not only do we get to enjoy fresh organic vegetable from may thru october, but we are supporting our local farm community. we are assured that all the produce is organically grown since we are able to participate and volunteer with farming chores and see how they are grown.
After reading so much about CSA farms, I joined an organic CSA near me this season. I have been so pleased with the amazing vegetables I've received, and look forward to participating next year, now that I will be better prepared for the tremendous variety and quantities of veggies I will receive!
I ride my bike to our local farmer's market at least once a week to get my produce for the week straight from the hands of the people growing it. Farmer's markets are a great way to support local(and most often organic) growers.
I do a lot of things, I hope! I operate a local blog on our small-town newspaper website where I share vegetarian recipes, tips and inspiration. I shop whenever possible at local farms and farm markets, and I garden myself and share the bounty.
buy from food co-op, use green shopping bags offered by local grocers, hydroponics for home grown vegies.
I recently moved to a rural community. We purchase most of our vegetables, fruit, dairy, and meat directly from the farmers / growers who are within our area. We try to conduct all business with local vendors. At the grocery store, we shop the "natural" section in search of eco-friendly/fair trade products. With the crashing economy, it's a challenge to continue to spend more for products at the register, but we've agreed that in the great scheme of things the larger price (i.e., costs to environment, costs of human lives/quality of life) of "cheap" products eradicates our short-term savings.
I am trying to educate people about how vegetarian food creates healthy minded children, by trying to get back on the reality TV Show "Wife Swap." Last year I was on it and presented America with a different view, and now I'm in a contest to go back on. To vote for us, visit www.abc.com, click on shows, then wife swap, and vote for the Silver Family in Group 2. To learn more about my family visit http://www.staugustine.com/stories/093008/news_093008_003.shtml