localism....

Cherry Tomatoes by C H Paquette


..hardly a month goes by without another urbanite declaring his intention to eat locally in order to save his family and the planet (and write a pastoral memoir and secure a book deal).
Penelope Green (On the Farm; New York Times; 11/1/07)

I'm all for the Buy Local movement... it just makes me wonder how many people (retailers and consumers) are using it as just another way to soothe their eco-conscience. Whole Foods allows a few local vendors to set up farm stands out in the parking lot a couple hours a week so that Mom can manage to buy a few tomatoes from the local farm stand and now everybody feels better...

As we come to the end of this year's growing season, why not start planning to grow your own produce next year. It could be as simple as one tomato plant in a container, or an entire backyard mini farm. It doesn't matter. What does matter is the discovery that the finest tasting veggies are the ones you pick from your own backyard, and that there is no better sense of community than walking across the street to give your neighbor a basket of goodies you just plucked from the soil.

Those of us who are long time vegetable gardeners have always participated in the Buy Local philosophy...

In a healthy town every family can grow vegetables for itself. The time is past to think of this as a hobby for enthusiasts; it is a fundamental part of human life.
Christopher Alexander (A Pattern Language; 1977)