7 Benefits of Buying Local Products

There are almost 2 million farms in the US, 80% of which are small farms and most of those are family owned. These are parents, neighbors, PTA members, and soccer coaches.

Support Community and Strengthen Local Economy

Buying local produce and food products is simply the concept of buying food grown or raised as close to your home as possible, while supporting the people of your community and strengthening your local economy.

Fresher and More Nutritious 

There are many benefits of buying local produce other than supporting local farmers, ensuring jobs for them and income for their families. Local produce is also fresher. Local farm food was most likely picked one or two days from the time of purchase, ensuring optimal freshness and taste. Food also looses its nutrients the longer it takes to get to your home and into your diet.

Environmentally Friendly and Chemical Free

Local produce is also better for the environment and for your body. Local food doesn't travel far. Food from large producers travels about 2,00 miles on average from farm to table. This transportation and storage is energy intensive and pollutes both the air and table. Buying produce straight from the grower is the best way to know what goes into the soil and on your food. Small farms reduce the amount of chemicals, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, etc. You can ask the farmer about their process and treatment, face-to-face. Isn't that a wonderful way to protect your family?

Easy to Find Every Day of the Week

Buying local products is easy. Visit http://www.localharvest.org/organic-farms/ and enter in your zip code for a list of farmers markets in your area. Then get shopping! Don't forget to bring your reusable bags!



Sources
http://www.localharvest.org/organic-farms/
http://www.buylocalvirginia.org/index.cfm/1,3,0,0,html/Why-Buy-Local
http://sdfarmbureau.org/BuyLocal/Buy-Local.php

World Oceans Day: June 8

The Earth's dry land covers just 30% of the planet. Conversely, the ocean covers 71% and is home to 99% of the world's inhabitants. One mouthful of ocean water can contain millions of bacterial cells, hundreds of thousands of phytoplankton and tends of thousands of zooplankton. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on Earth and the blue whale is bigger than any dinosaur that ever walked on land.

Why you should help protect the ocean:
-generates most of the oxygen we breathe
-provides fish and other seafood to feed us
-regulates climate by absorbing carbon dioxide
-naturally recycles and cleans water; 86% of the water we drink comes from the ocean
-offers potential medicine

In honor of World Oceans Day next Saturday, June 8, we encourage you to get involved, and get educated about our ocean!

What you can do to help protect the ocean:
Use reusable grocery bags and always choose paper over plastic. The United Nations Environmental Programme estimated in 2006 that every square mile of ocean contains 46,000 pieces of floating plastic. Plastic debris causes deaths to over a million seabird and 100,000 marine mammals every year.

Global climate change has an impact on the oceans. Curve energy consumption by turning off lights when your not in the room, unplugging electronics when not in use, riding your bike or walking when you can (fun fact: 40% of car rides are less than 2 miles!), take the stairs, switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, and open windows or bundle up instead of oversetting the thermostat.

Respect the Beach and clean up after yourself when you go. Don't interfere with wildlife, or remove rocks and coral. And participate in beach clean ups in your area! They're fun, only a few hours, and you can't beat the view!
**Click here to view events in your area. Events happen all year round!

Make safe, sustainable seafood choices. Some fish species are being overexploited due to demand, habitat loss and fishing practices. Know which fish are good to order and shop for. Eat lower on the food chain
**For help on what seafood is best to eat, and which to avoid go to this Seafood Decision Guide here.

And most importantly, educate yourself about the ocean and it's marine wildlife. The more you know, the more you will want to help protect it because after all, which ocean do you prefer?

Curbing Light Pollution

Most of us live in urban areas, comprised of streets, homes, offices, parking lots and other buildings. We use artificial light to brighten our homes and path ways in the dark. Rarely do we see stars. Maybe only a handful of them, and they seem to be few and far between. We plan vacations around being in the openness of the desert, mountains and valleys to soak up the beauty of the world's natural nighttime light.

As civilizations arise into industrial societies, artificial light is necessary to live, work and play. However most of the lights are being used improperly, compromising both the night sky as well as other inhabitants of the wild. Birds rely on night for proper mating and hunting, and turtles are distracted by artificial light and don't hatch eggs properly. While the necessity and use of lights are not in question, their design most certainly is.

All cities have ordinances preventing the incorrect use and design of lights. However, we've still tried to find a house for the first time and the porch lights are illuminating the garage or a tree instead of the address. We've all had to squint from the glare produced by lights to see if someone was on the other side of the door, car, or tree because drastic shadows were preventing us from seeing someone instead of allowing us to see that person.

There is a solution to light pollution, angle lights down towards the path you wish to illuminate, and create shields from preventing the light shining on the sky.

The International Dark Sky Association is the only non-profit created to preserve and protect the nighttime skies through environmentally responsible outdoor lighting. It has created a program for communities, parks and reserves to aspire to be included in, for all who achieve this association are exceptional in their efforts of limiting light pollution.

For practical products and tips:

Guideline for Residencial Lighting.

Search approved fixtures.