Join a CSA

2016 is near its end and I have a goal to be greener in 2017.  I would love to say I will grow the food we are going to eat but that is not going to happen this year so I began researching CSAs, community supported agriculture.

What is a CSA?  A CSA is a way to buy local directly from the farmer.  The farmer offers a share, or membership to community members and in return members receive a certain amount of vegetables, fruit, meat, eggs,  and cheese weekly from the farmer.

Why join a CSA?  

1. Buy local in order to support the small farmer.
2. Protect the environment by cutting down on the distance your food travels to reach you.
3. Eat well and be healthy by eating a variety of the freshest food possible.

Questions to ask the farmer?

1. How long have you been doing CSA?
2. What happens if there is a bad season?
3. Can I talk to some of your current or previous members before I make the commitment?
4. What type of farming practices do you use?
5. Are you certified organic?
6. Do you work collaboratively with other farmers in the area?
7. How many members do you have?
8. How long have you been farming?
9. What kind of variety can I expect?

My family and I have found a local CSA that we are going to try for the remainder of the winter/spring season.  So I will let you know how things go.

Here are a few more links to help find and learn more about CSAs:
http://www.localharvest.org/csa/

https://www.biodynamics.com/content/community-supported-agriculture-introduction-csa
http://www.groundworksfarm.com/  This is the one we are joining.

Kicking the Plastic Bag Habit

When I was growing up groceries were packaged in large brown paper bags and then along came the plastic bag.  Every time we went to the store more plastic bags.  When we put away the groceries we added the plastic bags to the mounting collections.  It seemed so great.  We could line the bathroom trashcan with them and use them again.  But.... plastic bags are a major source of pollution.  

According to theworldcounts, 5 trillion plastic bags are used per year!  Plastic bags are produced from fossil fuels in a process that requires a lot of energy and water.  

Reasons why plastic bags are bad for the environment:

1.  Large component of land and sea litter.  Look up Pacific Garbage Patch.
2.  Kill marine life that consume them.
3.  Release dangerous chemicals into landfills that get into the food chain.

To make the burrow greener I am determined to cut my dependence on plastic bags.  I will carry my own reusable bags to package groceries.  I have a couple already but I am eager to make some of my own since I love to sew.  I am still debating what to do about garbage bags.

Links to information about plastic bags -

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/09/0902_030902_plasticbags_2.html

http://www.motherearthnews.com/nature-and-environment/environmental-policy/plastic-bag-problem-ze0z1302zwar

http://www.whoi.edu/science/B/people/kamaral/plasticsarticle.html