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  1. Supporting local farmers & local food diversity will be increasingly important in an economic crisis, as energy prices rise, as our climate continues to change, and as our food supply continues to become threatened by a loss of biodiversity.
  2. Eating local food also allows you to have more power as a consumer to monitor where your food comes from, and how it is grown and raised. 
  3. If you eat seasonally, you will reduce the amount of energy used to store your food.
  4. If you eat organically, you will reduce the amount of energy, pesticides, and herbicides used in growing your food. This has benefits for your health as well as the climate, our food and water supplies, and the natural environment.
  5. If you eat locally, you will reduce the amount of energy it takes to transport your food.
  6. The flavors and nutrients of local and seasonal food are generally much richer and more complex. Which has health benefits, and also just makes eating much more pleasurable!
  7. If you grow your own or you purchase from local farmers, you may discover many varieties of different vegetables and fruits you’ve never heard of.
  8. When you buy from local farmers and grocers, your money remains within our local economy. Generally, your money will remain within our local economy much longer as it passes from that farmer to the local hardware store or the local feed store, and beyond. Whereas when you buy from a national or international chain, generally your money leaves our local economy as soon as it leaves your hands. In addition, more of your money goes directly to local farmers, so that they receive more of a living wage.
  9. A relationship with local food producers and sellers makes your family more resilient and adaptable in an economic crisis. Maybe one week you won’t have the money to pay for your produce, but a local farmer may just accept a barter for something you can offer him or her in exchange. And maybe some day a drought hits California, or an oil crisis makes trucking produce too expensive. By supporting our local economies now, we will have these systems in place when we really need them, and we will be able to support one another during difficult times.
  10. Buying from local people encourages important personal connections within our community. We can learn so much about our local region, by searching for local food providers. What joy it is to talk with a local farmer about her particular variety of greens, to learn from another farmer about a new way to protect your tomatoes during heavy rains, or to discuss a new law that may be passed that will affect our local food supply. The stories that come from these interactions make our lives so much happier, healthier, and more beautiful.

And lastly, it is important to remember that while some things may seem slightly more expensive to buy locally and organically, in the end, eating locally, seasonally, and organically is much less costly to our community; our air, water, energy, and natural environment; and the safety of our children’s food supply. We can reduce economic costs by shopping only for seasonal local produce, and by growing whatever we can in our own yards.

Where To Find Local Food

You can find additional information about local food resources from Capitol Hill blogs like Capitol Hill Seattle Blog.