Green Options » eating local http://greenoptions.com/tag/eating-local Posts tagged 'eating local' Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:48:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en How to Guide for Local, Sustainable, Safe Foods http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/07/31/how-to-guide-for-local-sustainable-safe-foods/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/07/31/how-to-guide-for-local-sustainable-safe-foods/#comments Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:48:09 +0000 Jamie Ervin http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/07/31/how-to-guide-for-local-sustainable-safe-foods/ Confused by all the information regarding natural eating?  You’re not alone!

When you are out at the Farmer’s Market, get to know your farmer.  Ask pointed questions, find out if they have an open door policy (can you tour anytime), are they certified organic or do they go beyond organic (beyond organic is a philosophy that USDA organic isn’t enough).   If you are a meat eater, find local farmers and arrange direct meat purchase (our plan is every 3 months because we have decent storage space).  Some meats we find locally: tuna (which we can ourselves), bison, chicken, beef.  Prices average $3.00-$4.00/lb, so this also encourages us to use less meat.  For our family of 7 + 3 daycare kiddos, we have meat packaged in 1 lb sizes to ensure we don’t get meat crazy. :)  You can probably find local eggs at the farmers market, this usually saves you money and supports small, local farms.

Here are some tips to help you navigate healthier, local eating.

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/07/31/how-to-guide-for-local-sustainable-safe-foods/feed/ Rooftop Farming in Milwaukee http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/04/21/rooftop-farming-in-milwaukee/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/04/21/rooftop-farming-in-milwaukee/#comments Tue, 21 Apr 2009 07:00:37 +0000 Becky Striepe http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/04/21/rooftop-farming-in-milwaukee/ A farmer in Milwaukee is taking the green roof to the next level. Community Growers’ founder Erik Lindberg’s rooftop garden is yeilding enough organic produce to launch a CSA.


[Photo via Community Growers CSA wiki]

It’s really more than a rooftop garden, it’s a rooftop farm! Check out this interview with the farmer, including a little tour of the garden!

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]]> http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/04/21/rooftop-farming-in-milwaukee/feed/ The San Francisco Local Foods Wheel is a Great Resource for Thanksgiving in the Bay Area http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/25/the-san-francisco-local-foods-wheel-is-a-great-resource-for-thanksgiving-in-the-bay-area/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/25/the-san-francisco-local-foods-wheel-is-a-great-resource-for-thanksgiving-in-the-bay-area/#comments Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:19:55 +0000 Lucille Chi http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/25/the-san-francisco-local-foods-wheel-is-a-great-resource-for-thanksgiving-in-the-bay-area/ While we are on the topic of enjoying a local turkey day, I’m reminded of the trusty local foods wheel that was created by three brilliant women to help Bay Area folks decide what’s in season at the grocery store.

Hopefully a local foods wheel will be created for each and every spot in the US, but for now they are focused on the San Francisco Bay Area and New York Metro Area. The concept is simple, just choose the month we’re in, and rotate the wheel to reveal the local foods available. They explain:

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/25/the-san-francisco-local-foods-wheel-is-a-great-resource-for-thanksgiving-in-the-bay-area/feed/ The Lighter Side of Green: Citizen Skein http://wendylaird.greenoptions.com/2007/03/09/the-lighter-side-of-green-citizen-skein/ http://wendylaird.greenoptions.com/2007/03/09/the-lighter-side-of-green-citizen-skein/#comments Fri, 09 Mar 2007 00:41:28 +0000 Wendy Laird http://wendylaird.greenoptions.com/2007/03/09/the-lighter-side-of-green-citizen-skein/ A lot has been written recently about eating "locally." It’s an interesting concept; eating food that doesn’t have to travel too far, thereby saving energy. But once again, the Man has set himself up to feel good about something that actually harms our fragile globorb. These “locavores” eat foods from within 100 miles of where they live, as if a truck driving 100 miles doesn’t spew tons of carbon into our atmosphere.

I’m a skeinavore. I only eat foods from within 100 yards.

Now, let's make one thing clear: I would rather not eat at all. Every time I do, I feel immense guilt about the methane I produce. Did you know that the average person produces 2 liters of gas a day? The shame of it keeps me up at night.

But even a carbon-negative person like me has to take in calories. If I didn't, I wouldn't be here to point out and counteract all the wasteful, thoughtless things you people do.

Since I am forced to ingest biomatter, I’ve developed some easy-to-follow eating guidelines with our habitorb in mind. A Carbon-Negative Diet, if you will. So for those eager to learn the secret to staying thin and green, here, in a nutshell, is my diet:

  • Things that come from my immediate vicinity.
  • Things that died a natural death after a long, happy life.
  • Things that I find.
  • Things that don't produce methane. The following list of gas-generators is completely forbidden:
  • Asparagus
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Corn
  • Cucumbers
  • Kohlrabi
  • Leeks
  • Onions
  • Peas
  • Peppers
  • Radishes
  • Sauerkraut
  • Turnips
  • Carbonated drinks
  • Beer
  • Red wine
  • Sugar substitutes
  • Apples
  • Beans
  • Dairy products
  • Eggs
  • Wheat
  • Melons
  • Apricots
  • Prunes
  • Olestra

This leaves, basically, hemp, soy, some ancient grains, and Chicken McNuggets®, but only if they fall to the ground in front of me. If every American followed my simple plan, obesity would be a thing of the past. We could curtail our methane production, shut down the cattle industry (indeed, all farming as we know it), and save billions in fuel and plus-size clothing. But of course you won’t. You’ll keep driving your Prius to Whole Foods and enjoying your tasty groceries. Fine; more spelt for me.

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