Please, let's not confuse the issue with stupid studies like the one from New Zealand.

There is consensus that we must cut 90% of our GHG emissions by 2050. Other scientists say we must cut 100% much sooner (Hansen, Weaver). If we do not cut emissions, we will drastically change the climate and cause the death of millions or billions of people and half the species on the planet.

In the face of this, it does not matter if NZ meat has lower emissions, we can't eat either. We cannot use GHG intensive fertilizers and we can't use GHG intensive transport.

Eat local, organic and in season. Unless you want your kids to die young.

"A tremendous amount of fossil fuel is used to transport foods long distances."

Yes, but the same can be said of transporting children on a big dirty diesel school bus instead of a Prius....except that after the economy of scale is factored in, the school bus burns less fuel per child-mile.

The same thing applies here, if there is no close "local food" market -- if 200 cars drive to a local market 15 miles away to buy local food, and then drive to the supermarket to buy canned food, the total CO2 emission may be greater than if a truck brought all those meats and veggies to their local supermarket from a farm 1000 miles away, and the cars only made one stop.

If you can walk or ride your bike to your local farmer's market, or get the supermarket to carry local food, or find a farmer's market on the way to your supermarket -- GREAT. But if it is a separate trip for you and your neighbors -- then sure, buy local to avoid pesticides, E.Coli, animal cruelty, ripened-in-truck flavorless hard tomatoes, etc (good and yummy reasons!) -- but realize you're probably not reducing CO2 emissions at all.

I live in PA. Are there any good books or websites with receipts on how to cook with all local food?

**Author's comments**

Hi Jan,

I'd recommend checking out buylocalpa.org as a good resource to start with.

Thanks for reading!

-CD

Great reminder Collin of the importance of eating local. My girlfriend and I travel quite a bit producing environmental programming and we always seek out the local farmer's markets. Last summer, for the first time, we shared in a local garden and also grew some food in pots on our deck here in Colorado. Though our growing season is short we had an amazing bounty of some of the best veggies I have ever eaten! There is truly nothing like picking a tomato from a vine and eating it immediately. I would encourage everyone to grow one veggie in a pot on your deck or in a corner in your home. It introduces you to the beauty/simplicity of growing your own food, how delicious fresh picked food can be and how it gives you a tremendous appreciation for where food comes from. I would love to see every school have a small garden to introduce and educate kids to growing food as well. It would change their world! This summer we are going to be planting some fruit trees, and we will be working towards installing a greenhouse. Can't wait for the fresh veggies!

If you have a yard that gets some sun invest a little time planning, and a little work, and you can have the ultimate in local food -- right out your back door. Take some care and grow organic -- then you will also reduce your waste stream by feeding your compost bin. I have recently read "Four-Season Harvest" and "Food Not Lawns." I am just getting started, though I had some greens growing all winter, and now I am getting ready for Spring!

I'm surprised to see resistance to eating locally. The study in NZ shows us that local food production may be more polluting than imported foods. This doesn't mean eat NZ foods over local, it means the locals need to shape up. If such an important lesson is "stupid" then I guess so are the billions that will die in Ruben's fantasy doom world.

If you don't have local food ... move. That's just ridiculous. Or try a garden/greenhouse. You can't live off complaining no matter how hard you try.

The point is to live smartly. It's the same thing we've been doing throughout human history, until the last century.

Love your idea GreenTV! All schools should have greenhouses, since the kids are primarily out of school during growing season. How beneficial it would be to have actual food in their lunchrooms. I would also like to know more about the school lunch program featured on "Supersize Me." Now that I think about it, the documentary only touched on the horrible state of affairs regarding public school lunches. Wouldn't it be nice for our children if they could eat farm fresh local foods like the one featured in the documentary, in Wisconsin was it?

Evo

exclt ! Pinching this to post and back link on My Urban Farm.com
from London following the US example of GYO ... in cities across states

Thx
Anne

Since I made the commitment to only eat local, I feel fitter and healthier. The benefits of eating fresh food over processed and packaged foods far outweigh convenience marketing. We are at the point that local responsibility and personal intentions are going to be the tantamount drivers of change.