Green Ideas
For a healthier planet and a better future
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Tired of carrots and cabbage?
Fresh local produce will soon be hitting the farmers markets and grocery stores. When you buy local, you're doing a good thing for many reasons:
1. You're supporting neighbours and your local economy instead of anonymous, faraway suppliers.
2. You're helping build local food production capacity because the more local food people buy, the more farmers will produce.
3. You'll know where your food comes from, and can have confidence in higher standards of quality and food safety.
4. You'll be doing the environment a favour, because long-distance food has a huge transportation carbon footprint. One article I've read estimates that one third of trucks on the road today are carrying food. The average item on a typical dinner plate has traveled more than most people travel on vacation!
So, if you're getting tired of the limited array of local veggies available, take heart: local produce is on the horizon, and it's a good choice all around!
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In the news
Environment Canada has announced that Canada's warmest winter on record was followed by Canada's warmest spring on record.
Check out this interactive Climate Change Calendar showing by when during 2010 the average Canadian citizen will have produced as much greenhouse gas as a citizen from another country will produce during the whole year. As of today, June 30th, our per capita carbon footprint so far this year equals that of a typical Singaporean for the entire year. (We passed Burundi January 5.)
2010 is the UN's International Year of Biodiversity. Mufasa (from the movie "The Lion King") has some good counsel to share.
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