At Dancing Rabbit, food is a big focus in the daily effort to live more sustainably. Food is, of course, a basic need in our lives and it's something we all consume in cumulatively large quantities. More than that, it's one of the most endearing and important experiences of fun and enjoyment in our lives. I mean, c'mon, it's Food, right? But no one wants their experiences of joy to cause degradation and strife to the environment. Agricultural pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides are a huge part of our nation's problems when it comes to releasing toxins into our lives and knocking our ecosystems out of whack.
What people eat is not regulated in any way at Dancing Rabbit, other than to say that all agriculture on the property must be organic by OCIA standards. Still, there are basic guidelines that help guide much of the Rabbits' food purchasing:
1. Organic: The "savings" that one gets with non-organic food isn't much of a savings when we start to look at the health hazards and the need for environmental clean-up that are starting to announce themselves to the world. Supporting organic farmers maintains the ecosystem and helps great folks who are doing good for the world.
It's getting easier to buy organic in the city, too. Thankfully, organic produce can be found in many grocery stores, and health food markets often specialize in organics.
2. Bioregional: This concept is a big leap for most people these days. It involves trying to primarily eat food that was grown in the region where you live, instead of importing food from (for example) California, Florida, or even South America or Australia. Sometimes this makes people worry about things like getting enough vitamin C, but there are plenty of ways to do this with local foods (like green peppers!). Importing small items such as spices may be OK, but it's good to limit this impact.
Again, this one is easy to accomplish in the city. It's mostly a matter of choosing what to buy and looking into where your food is coming from. If the packaging doesn't tell you, try asking the grocer. The most difficult part about doing this is having the social support to keep up a culture of bioregional living (See last issue's "Eco to Go"). One great way for many city dwellers to pursue bioregional eating is by patronizing farmers markets. These usually feature local farmers and it's great to eliminate the middle salesperson and meet the food growers directly.
3. Seasonal: This is really just an extension of eating bioregionally. The only local tomatoes you're going to get in winter are going to come from a green house, or from a can if you live in the Midwest. This idea is simple enough, but again it's often hard for people to adjust to. Yet, it's also one of the very tenets that I find not to be a hardship, but rather an enhancement in my enjoyment and appreciation of life. It may sound old-fashioned (but what are we conservationists anyway?), but having a few restrictions often makes us really appreciate what we have when we have it. You want the best tasting tomato you've ever eaten? Get a fresh one in season after you haven't eaten a tomato in seven months...this is not deprivation, but the root of appreciation.
4. Minimal packaging: Buying in bulk, reusing containers and buying directly from farmers can be a great way to reduce or eliminate your packaging consumption.
See, living in the city can be plenty eco, when it comes to food.
What if you don't have a farmer's market? Again, health food stores often provide bulk foods and your encouragement can make a big difference in encouraging them to buy from local producers. Furthermore, look for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm, where you purchase a "subscription" at the beginning of the season and get locally grown and in season produce delivered to you each week.
You can also join or help start a community garden, rooftop garden or backyard garden, where you could grow whatever yummies you're not able to find locally.
I hope you find these suggestions thought-provoking. If you have questions or skepticism, I'd be happy to chat. Just mail me care of Dancing Rabbit or email me at jacob@ic.org.
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