[Raptor235]

Every day, approximately five produce delivery trucks roll through the alleyway past my home. They’re bringing tomatoes from California, bananas from Ecuador, apples, mushrooms, and carrots from the U.S. I live in Ontario, Canada, where farmers produce all of these things and more—with the exception of bananas, of course.

But the point is, if most of these foods are readily available locally, why are they being shipped in from far away? And the issue is not limited to food: almost every single item in my apartment came from somewhere outside of Ontario. There must be a way for us to live without sending so many trucks, ships and planes so many miles back and forth across the globe.

http://www.aboutmyplanet.com/environ...-earthships/1/

[duffystar]

I think a great place to start is just by becoming aware of where our goods come from. The second step, then, is twofold--first learning about your region and what is available in it, and then making a conscious effort to tighten the circle within which you buy goods. In terms of the first part, there is an excellent "watershed awareness quiz" here: http://www.kk.org/helpwanted/archives/001084.php which i think makes us realize how little we know about where we are from. The quiz focuses on your watershed, but I think raises a good point in general, that over time our communities and our families have lost our knowledge of the land. As for the second step, I think an excellent way to begin is to start evaluating what you own that can be bought locally, and slowly make the transition. A great way to begin is with food, because no matter where you live there is always food available locally (you may just have to search for it!). An extreme version is one couple's challenge to themselves to undertake a 100-mile diet, and only eat food produced within 100 miles of their home (http://100milediet.org). While not all of us will go to this extreme, at least it's been proven it can be done!!

[Raptor235]

great points I particularly like going to the local farmers market... I should go more often but you get really good prices... the food is fresh and you're supporting your local farmers... every city I'm sure has one

[duffystar]

I'm addicted to our local farmer's markets--I actually frequent three different ones in our city to make sure I hit up all my favorite vendors (wednesday evenings, saturday am, and sunday am!).

here's a good starting point for finding a farmer's market or farm across the US: http://www.foodroutes.org/localfood/. Although I've found local city websites can be more comprehensive.

[sandybeaches]

I go to our local farmers market every thursdays, I feel they need to open it up to small local charities that help small businesses too.
Like there'll be a mothers group that bakes .It encourages the community to work within their resources and means.
A carpenter who repairs old furnitures and they can have a place to display what they've done.

[dailysun]

It isn't the shipping per se that bothers me -- it's the means used to ship.

I'm certainly in favor of mostly local consumption. I doubt if we need or desire many French apples or potatoes, but some French wine is tre bien (pardon my spelling?). International trade has been a mainstay of civilization and culture since Marco Polo and before.

Imagine for instance that you produce fine wines in Bordeaux, France, for the locals and for export. Wine-lovers here in Oregon want a bottle now and then. And maybe the French will try and like some Oregon wines.

Why couldn't the wine be shipped on non-polluting clipper ships, and then on wind-powered boats/barges, and then for short distances by horse-drawn wagons or solar-electric trains? Yes, it will cost more, but it will taste all that much better knowing that no harm is being done to the planet.

The abundance of diesel freighters and the lack of clipper ships is clearly not a technical problem, its a socio-economic habit -- and how does a society break a bad habit? How does an individual break a harmful habit?

Well, a smoker has to want to quit before he can quit. Once he is determined enough, he'll be able to quit, or switch to something harmless, like clipper ships -- wait make that chewing gum.

So, how does a society become determined to quit? One citizen at a time, until eventually a critical mass, or critical fraction of the society is reached, and then all of sudden, relatively rapid change is possible. Five to 10% might be enough for critical mass, but that's highly debateable and somewhat academic anyway.

There is one little catch. Sorry to take us back to math 101, but here's the catch:

The rate at which existing smokers become non-smokers (Call it N) must well exceed the rate at which new people entering the world grow up to be smokers (Call it S) plus the rate at which ex-smokers revert to being smokers (Call it R). Otherwise, lots of people quit smoking, but the fraction of non-smokers gets smaller.

N must be significantly greater than S + R. If N is only slightly greater than S + R, then it may take to long, and climate change and other disasters may occur before the earth's population gets its act together.

What boosts N and halts (S+R)? In the short run, activism, better leadership, and economic incentives. In the long run, teaching the next generation to love the earth.

So activism and education have a big job to do. Not only in the U.S., but also in China, India, Russia, and around the world.

[Nate Martin]

Well, for individuals interested in sustainable living, I suggest they start by reading Aldo Leapold's, "The Land Ethic". Once this is read, then better disscussions, and practicing can occur.

Nate

[Matc]

The last horse drawn deliveries in the UK were just stopped last month http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/england/suffolk/5313194.stm

[horselover]

It's simple: buy local as much as you can, then you know that you're not personlly contributing to the pollution being caused by the foriegn shipping.

[duffystar]

Thanks for the book recommendation Nate--I look forward to checking it out.

Speaking of books, in this Amazon-infested world, I'm going to make a plug here about libraries. If you think about it, one problem about international trade and shipping is that we are addicted to consumerism. We forget that there are ways to get by without buying everything we need. Libraries are an excellent example--the less books we need to buy the less will need to be produced, and the more resources, both used to make the product itself and ship the product, will be consumed.

So, literally, I look forward to checking this book out.