Sustainable Food How to reduce your food footprint! Why Reduce Your Food Footprint? • What you eat, and where it comes from has a huge impact on the planet. The carbon emissions associated with production, processing and transportation for one kilogram of beef can be 13.3 kilograms of CO2. This is equivalent to 6 liters of petroleum. • What can you do about this? The answer: Eat Local and Organic Foods • On average food travels two weeks before getting to a grocery store so local food is also fresher and more nutritious. Think of how much gas you could be saving by buying local produce compared to produce you might buy trucked from California. • Organic farmers use zero pesticides so you are not subjecting yourself or your children to unhealthy chemicals. Also the fertilizers used in factory farms damage water and air quality and their farming practices increase runoff and erosion. Where can I get local/organic foods? - Organic Foods: Trader Joes David’s Natural Market Root’s Market MOM’s Organic Market Local Foods: - Farmers’ Markets - Community Supported Agriculture (CSA’s) Visit: http://marylandsbest.net/ to find local products near you! • • • • • Howard County Farmers' Market at Howard County Library - East Columbia Library 6600 Cradlerock Way Thursday: 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. May 6 - November 21 Contact: Howard County Economic Development Authority 410-313-6500 FMNP Checks (WIC & Senior) & FVC Accepted Howard County Farmers' Market - Ellicott City (new market) St. John's Episcopal Church, 9120 Frederick Road Wednesday 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. June 2 - October 27 Contact: Howard County Economic Development Authority 410-313-6500 FMNP Checks (WIC & Senior) & FVC Accepted Howard County Farmers' Market at Howard County Library - Glenwood Branch Cooksville: 2350 State Rt. 97 Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. May 8 - October 31 Contact: Howard County Economic Development Authority 410-313-6500 FMNP Checks (WIC & Senior) & FVC Accepted Howard County Farmers' Market at Oakland Mills Village Center Columbia: Oakland Mills Community Association , 5851 Robert Oliver Place Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. May 9 - November 7 Contact: Howard County Economic Development Authority 410-313-6500 FMNP Checks (WIC & Senior) & FVC Accepted Howard County Farmers' Market at Howard County General Hospital (new market) 5575 Cedar Lane, Columbia Friday: 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. June 4 - October 29 Contact: Howard County Economic Development Authority 410-313-6500 Howard County 2011 Farmers’ Markets! Join a CSA • CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. • In early spring a person buys a share in a local farm. Then every week (June-November) they pick up fresh vegetables at a local pickup site. • Local CSAs: - One Straw Farm - Breezy Willow Farm - Shaw Farm, Columbia Maryland - Martin Herb Farms, Centennial Grow Your Own Food! • A cheap and easy way to eat organic foods is to start a garden in your own back yard. This will ensure that your foods will be fresh and pesticide free. • Start with a small plot in your backyard. Stop using weed killers or pesticides. Then cover the ground area with organic material (leaves, dried grass) and put compost on top. Then start planting! • For more information visit this site… http://www.verdant.net/food.htm University of Maryland Extension Howard County Master Gardeners • Having trouble with your home garden? The Master Gardeners can help. • Their programs and services are free to all Howard County groups and individuals. • Their mission statement is educate residents about safe and effective horticultural practices to build healthy gardens and communities. • Their programs include: Green School, Composting and Bay Wise. • Visit their website for more information http://mastergardener.umd.edu/local/Howard/Aboutus.cf m Want to get informed on eating more environmentally friendly food? Read a book! Michael Pollan: - Has written popular books on sustainable food such as In Defense of Food, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, and Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual. Eliot Coleman: - In the Winter Harvest Handbook, Coleman discusses organic vegetable production techniques to last the whole year. He is a strong proponent for small sustainable farming practices. Watch a Movie! King Corn (2007) Food,Inc. (2008) Nominated for Best Documentary, this sobering film takes a look into corporate farming practices and their environmental ramifications. Examines the journey of two friends who move to Iowa in order to farm an acre of corn. It shows the increased importance of corn in the farm industry. Other titles: - The Real Dirt on Farmer John - The Future of Food - Ingredients Join the CCIHC discussion circle Menu for the Future • • An important action of the Climate Change Initiative of Howard County is sponsoring discussion circles. One of the discussion books available is Menu for the Future which discusses food systems and the politics of food, factory farms, sustainable farming practices, responsible food consumerism and eating healthier foods for ourselves and the planet. Want more tips on eating more sustainable food? • Eat one meatless meal a week. For more information visit www.meatlessmonday.com • Go to Chipotle. They are now featuring grass fed beef and organic produce. • Buy organic/grass fed beef! • Choose natural food companies like Eden foods who support sustainable farming practices. • Try to buy products that do not contain Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)