Celebrate Earth Day like a local
This morning on the way to the bus stop, my six-year-old suddenly shouted, with no apparent reason or impetus, at the top of his lungs (as six-year-olds are wont to do), “HAPPY EARTH DAY MOMMA!” Hey, at least he remembered the date’s significance, even if it was a jolt to my eardrums and under-caffeinated senses.
It’s pretty commonly accepted and celebrated that growing and buying local can make a meaningful difference in the health of our bodies, minds, economies, and communities - but how often do you put these theories into practice in your everyday life?
Earth Day (April 22) is a great time to reflect on how our daily choices can impact the health of the planet, and one of the most significant activities where we can do good is in growing and buying local - supporting local farms, farmers, and businesses, either with our time, money, or verbal and social support.
Here’s a round up of a few easy ways you can celebrate Mother Earth locally, along with our recommendations within a 15 mile radius of our farm.
Reduce your carbon footprint by purchasing locally grown produce and products.
We love getting our yogurt and eggs from Willow Marsh Farm on Hop City Road, our salsa, hanging baskets, and ready-to-eat deli salads at Arnold’s Farm Fresh Produce on Sacandaga Road, and gift items for holidays and birthdays at Sugarbush Lane Mercantile on Maple Avenue. Piggyback on visiting local shops by selecting carefully at your local grocery store - look for items grown or produced close by. You’re supporting your local farmers and vendors, no matter where you make your purchase! Finally, consider joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). They allow you to purchase a share of the farm’s output throughout the growing season, and some offer both produce and meat options.
Visit Farmers Markets.
If you don’t have farmstands or CSAs near you, focus your weekly shopping at Farmers Markets, where you can support a variety of local vendors in just one trip. It’s easy to grab lots of seasonally available, fresh produce, dairy and meat without traveling far, and shopping for fresh items each week can help you avoid waste. Our favorite is the Schenectady Greenmarket, held year-round (indoors during winter months and outside, street vendor style, in the warm months) - maybe because they always have some fabulous local cideries and breweries there too, like Nine Pin Cider (Albany) and Weyward Lane Brewing (Schoharie).
Search out ways to reduce waste.
Locally grown produce typically requires less packaging than that found in big stores and shipped long distances, reducing the waste that winds up in landfills. Single use plastics are a big no-no, and easier than ever to avoid - bring your own bags, water bottles, straws and utensils when you’re heading out for the day, or to enjoy your food with after a busy morning at the Farmers Market. It’s easy to forget these items, so make a practice of keeping them in your vehicle or whatever bag you’ll be bringing to the market to help you remember.
Use zero-cost ways to celebrate our planet.
Promoting farming, sustainability, and earth-conscious practices can be a no-spend operation. Follow your favorite local businesses on social media, and engage with their content. Doing so helps their reach and gets them noticed more, at no cost to you but tremendous value to them! Ask about local producers when you’re in stores and restaurants to encourage buyers that their shoppers favor products sourced from small, nearby vendors. Learn more about farmland preservation initiatives by attending their events or watching remotely - they’re usually free and open to the public! - and vote for local candidates who are aligned to these practices. You can also start a small (or large!) home composting operation with food scraps and yard waste to create your own nutrient-rich soil for your garden.
The reality is that Earth Day and planet-conscious practices are competing for space and time in our brains with all the myriad items on our daily to-do lists. If we all committed to just one of these pro-planet activities a week, imagine the cumulative effect we could have!