How much does eating locally-produced food help the climate problem? What are the other potential environmental and social benefits of eating locally-grown/produced food? Do you have a food garden in your school or at home? If not, do you want one?
Home Grown >
Start a Garden
When people decide that they want to reduce their carbon footprint, they immediately think “cut back”, “reuse”, or “recycle.” However many people don’t think of doing something extra, like growing food in your own backyard! Foods are processed, shipped, and stored. This uses a lot of energy for something that you could get just a few feet away. Ever think of starting your own home garden? A few years ago, I started a vegetable garden, and grew lots of different and delicious foods. However, the majority of it has died since then. The main reason being it was a lot of work to take care of the garden. After learning about how big of a difference this can make and after reading all about it, I am motivated to start up my garden again! Here is an organization trying to spread the word: http://www.wdsu.com/news/local-news/new … s/29131020
jkelley, starting a garden to reduce your carbon footprint is great idea! While it is much less convenient then eating store bought fruits and veggies, growing them out of your backyard would reduce energy used to ship produce internationally and also reduce the unnecessary packaging around the food. One way you could solve the inconvenience issue is trying to visit your local farmers market once a week to buy produce, and try to avoid buying fruits and veggies from grocery stores like Safeway or Trader Joe’s. The produce from markets will come from your immediate area, meaning it will take a lot less to get it to you. Less shipping. Less packaging. Less waste!
I definitely agree with your idea of starting a home garden because it does save money and can sustain carbon in many ways. Planting your own garden reduces the need for people to drive to grocery markets, and food processing factories release a lot of carbon dioxide. Maintaining a home garden can be hard, but scientist have discovered new easier ways to grow an indoor or outdoor garden. For example, NASA developed a compact eco-friendly system that has self irrigation. The system includes coco fiber inside to nurture the plants and water and a small lamp that requires only a little light. ( http://futuristicnews.com/rotary-hydrop … r-indoors/ ) Beginning a home garden can become a hobby, and will give people time away from their electronics, and can also reduce the amount of carbon produced.