Buy Local in the New Year!

“Buy Local” is becoming a bit of a buzz term. Still, given the state of the economy, climate change and related energy issues, and food safety concerns connected to our globalized, industrial food system, it does make economic sense, in my view, to spend the majority of your dollars with your neighbours.

I’m very lucky. Besides what I manage to grow, my community in Atlantic Canada has a farmer’s market in the summer/fall, and within walking and biking distance I have farmers from whom I can buy locally produced meat, fruit, vegetables. Then, there is the mom and pop shop where I can get the fish caught off our coast; within a couple miles, bread bakers, jam-makers, and juice-producers, and those making sweets and pickles galore.

But are they staying in business from what I and others are paying them for these wonderful wares? Which brings us to the discussion topic of “cheap food policy” and some buy local research...to be taken up another day....

a blizzard threatens, and more firewood, perhaps, should be carried in.....

But, first: Happy New Year. Indeed! Hallelujah!

A new President in the White House in the U.S. of A, on January 20th; a Coalition Government, perhaps, in Canada, if the Conservatives forget again that they’re in a Minority situation. More and more people realizing the ecological and economical connections of food, farming, and frugality....but much still to be done to help those in need on the planet, especially in Zimbabwe, the Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gaza, elsewhere. Happy New Year.

Peace/Paix,
Deborah