Friday
12Feb2010

Why Eat Local?

The Care of Creation Seed Group will be offering an opportunity to purchase
some locally produced food items; ie;  beans, lentils, etc.  Many of us
have taken advantage of some of the initiatives that GOW'ers have provided
to purchase food - chickens, eggs, beef - direct from local farmers.
VISIT THIS PAGE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT IS
AVAILABLE AND HOW TO ORDER.


Why eat local?  Here are a few very good reasons.

1.  Support the local economy
Eating local means more for the local economy.  A dollar spent locally
generates twice as much income for the local economy as a dollar spent at
the supermarket.

2.  Eat healthier

Locally grown food is less processed, is fresher and is allowed to ripen
naturally so it is at it's nutritional peak.

3.  Taste the difference

Local food just tastes better because it is allowed to ripen and come to
it's full flavour rather than being picked weeks or months before it
reaches the supermarket.

4.  Protect our Earth

A regional diet consumes far less oil and gas than a diet based on food
shipped across the country.

5.  Get in touch with the seasons
Buying local food keeps us in touch with the seasons.  By eating with the
seasons, we are eating foods when they are at their peak taste, are the
most abundant and the least expensive.

6.  Know what you are eating
It is easier to get answers about how your food is grown; Is it organic or
pesticide free?  Is the chicken free range?  Was the cattle grass fed?  If
in doubt you can probably check with the farmer directly.

7.  Support responsible land development
Supporting the local farmers by buying their produce provides and economic
reason to keep their land open and undeveloped.