As Americans, we live in a society bred by the glamour of convenience. We are accustomed to getting what we want, when we want it. Waiting is something akin to a deadly sin. We need it right here, right now, because our time is important. Gotta have time for Netflix, I guess. We buy our meals from fast food restaurants, we buy any type of produce at anytime of year, seasons or regions be damned. Transportation costs and under ripe produce are no concern to us. I say this ever so slightly tongue-in-cheek, but perhaps even one day we will buy food pre-chewed, to save the time and inconvenience of actually eating our food. This social norm is what has prompted my family to grow a significant portion of our own food. We eat what is is season and what comes from our gardens. When we do by produce, we strive to buy what is locally grown. Our protein sources are either hunted or fished by myself, or bought from local farms as well. It is certainly not cheaper, but it is a much more socially and ethically responsible choice.

By choosing to act as “locavores” my family and I are actively contributing to a sustainable food consumption model. It is truly not that difficult to do, even here in the pacific northwest. It takes no more effort to shop at a farmers market or co-op as it does to shop at the local mega-mart. Not only is the food you purchase pesticide and herbicide free (in a majority of cases), but it is picked closer to its peak ripeness, imparting more beneficial vitamins and minerals in the food itself. Additionally, this locally grown food is not being trucked across the nation or world, reducing the cost of excess greenhouse gasses passed off through vehicle emissions as well as the cost of the fuel the vehicles consume delivering the produce. By choosing to consume locally grown, seasonal foods we can substantially reduce our carbon footprint while at the same time stimulating our local economies and improving the quality of the food we consume.