Living Local

Jan 29, 2010 | Water Conservation, Waste Management

Living local-opting for locally grown foods and even locally produced energy-is one of the most effective ways to reduce energy costs, whittle down your carbon footprint, and support the local systems that support you!

The earth-ravaging effects of globalization and an economy based on distant goods are driving interest in "localism." Living local helps preserve what you like about your region: the plants, trees, waters, wild areas as well as the small stores, coffee shops, craftspeople, growers, and service providers who know you. It can strengthen and diversify local economies, bolstering them against economic changes.

You might be relieved to learn you're not entirely dependent on imported stuff. Here are some fun steps to get you started.

Know your infrastructure

• Know your energy sources. Find out where your electricity, natural gas, and oil come from. Your utility will answer that question and you might find these sources on your bills. Consider: If you had no power utility, how could you stay warm or cook food? Use some locally produced power, either by supporting clean power through your utility or by installing a renewable energy system, such as a solar hot water system or a photovoltaic system.

• Draw a solar map over your home site to track where the sun shines on your home and yard at different times of the day.

• Know your water sources. Where does your tap water come from? Where do wastewater and rainwater go when they leave your home's site?

Consume where you are

• Keep your money circulating locally. Seek out local industries and local artisans. Sometimes local products cost more than those from large chain stores; think of this premium as a tariff for maintaining a healthy local economy that supports you. Also consider the cost ot fuel and maintain your vehicle. Buying local can cut transportation costs.

• Make it visible. Carry a basket, not a plastic bag, to showcase your local purchases when shopping and doing local errands. You'll reduce plastic use and have a container that won't crush your goods.

Commune where you are

• Foster society. Sit on your porch and wave at passersby. Put some chairs and a table or a bench near your road where people walk by. Know your neighbors' names. Host a potluck.

• Stay out of your car for one weekend.

• Join your local historical society and watershed association.

• Trade one hour of electronic pastimes (email, TV, music) for a local non-electronic activity. Hang out at a local cafe, go to a Little League game, go to a town committee meeting.

• Do a helpful deed for a neighbor. Shovel the snow around your neighbor's mailbox. Don't wait around for thanks.

• Choose a service project in your neighborhood. Adopt a restoration project such as protecting an old tree or cleaning a river. Teach your neighbors about composting. Trim trees. Host a potluck.

• Attend local arts events. Go to plays and church basement coffeehouses.

• Volunteer with your local river cleanup, trail maintenance crew, recycling pickup day, and so forth. Or be an ongoing volunteer by serving as a scout leader, tutor, serving on a committee (or at least attending meetings), and planting trees.

• Vote.

Remember, the "green" in green living refers to the symbolism of verdant green plants that are the products of healthy ecosystems. Robust ecosystems are complex and have many resources cycling through them without energy wasted. If we all lived a little more local, it would go a long way to strengthening and diversifying local economies, bolstering them against changes in economies and costs. Picture yourself weaving a complex multicolored tapestry every day through your exchanges and interactions with your community, locale, and ecosystem.

Keywords: live local, eat local, local produce, organic, local farming, low-impact lifestyle