Thoughts on Living Sustainably: Buying Local

I fear that this may be the hardest post EVER for me to write. Mostly because I have no idea what I am talking about. This is a whole new subject for me.

I am hopeful that I can look back on that first paragraph in six months or a year and laugh, because I will have progressed so amazingly far!

Probably, though, this will go like all the other things I am working on - baby steps. That seems to be the most sustainable (ha ha) path of change for me.

My path to living with less had been motivated by saving money and being organized, and along the way (thanks to bloggers like Michelle and Heather), it has turned into an awareness of our planet and a desire to leave less of an impact behind. The sheer volume of trash, energy, time, etc. that we go through is astounding. I have become increasingly aware of it as I have worked to use less in an effort to save money. More and more often, I am working to use less in an effort to just consume less, throw away less, ship less, etc.

As I was blog hopping, I wandered onto the APLS site and decided to join up. Not because I am proficient at living sustainably, but because I am not. I have a lot to learn. And I am willing and eager to learn. I am well outside of my comfort zone, which is a good sign that I am about to learn some things. Hopefully everyone at APLS will take pity on me and bear with me as I make some of the more basic changes. And offer advice and resources - lots of it!

I figure that I cannot be the only one more or less starting out in this goal, so hopefully others can learn from me. Or feel good about how advanced they are compared to me - whatever - at least I can spread some positive feelings :>)

APLS hosts various carnivals, and this go 'round, the APLS carnival is about buying local during the holiday season.

I get the feeling that doesn't mean at the local mall.

Having just become aware of the buying local movement, I have to say that I love the idea. The reality of implementing it has been much harder. I called several local CSA participants - no openings. I looked up several farmer's markets - over 20 miles away or held during the day when I am working, now closed for the season anyway. I clicked on a button at a fellow APLS blogger's site that lead me to a site that had links to local foods in my area - not a single link worked.

And so it seems to go on this journey of mine. BUT, I am persistent and this desire to buy more locally is growing within me, so I am confident I will figure it out eventually. And once I do, I will wonder why it was so hard to get started. I already have some plans to start looking earlier next year for a CSA and to commit to working in a weekly farmer's market stop in my schedule.

Until then, here is how I am doing so far. We purchase our beef for a local cattle farmer. The animals are grass fed and only given antibiotics when they are ill and never within a certain time of being processed. We drive 35 minutes away two to three times a year to pick up our beef (all for about than $2 a pound, including great cuts like Porterhouse steaks).

We have a garden in our backyard, and are prepping to get into full swing next year, by adding herbs, plants to make tea and many vegetables that we can store in our root cellar. I make my own household cleaners and I use baking soda and vinegar as shampoo and conditioner.

This holiday season, I am baking a lot of cookies, bars and treats to give to our relatives, teachers, coaches, etc. While the ingredients won't be mostly local, at least I am making things locally and not buying stuff just for the purpose of buying stuff, adding to clutter and waste.

So, I guess I know a tiny bit about the subject. But, I am eager to learn and very excited to read the other posts on buying locally. Check the other posts, hosted by Burbanmom at Green Phone Booth starting November 15th.

This post also participates in Keeper of the Home's Living Simply Saturday.