Comments on: Defining Local http://www.thechangebase.com/2009/10/05/defining-local/ Creating, Promoting and Leveraging Communities of Change Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:50:24 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Ashley http://www.thechangebase.com/2009/10/05/defining-local/comment-page-1/#comment-262 Ashley Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:11:33 +0000 http://www.thechangebase.com/?p=663#comment-262 Hi Ben, thanks so much for checking out The Changebase and for your comments. You are so right - eating seasonally when produce isn't abundant during the winter makes things very challenging. This is my first attempt to eat like this in Boston - and just yesterday I was joking with my husband about how very soon there won't be anything to eat! Canning is a terrific idea, by the way. I wish I had thought of that! I'm looking forward to checking out your blog and reading all about your green transformation. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts. Hi Ben, thanks so much for checking out The Changebase and for your comments. You are so right – eating seasonally when produce isn’t abundant during the winter makes things very challenging. This is my first attempt to eat like this in Boston – and just yesterday I was joking with my husband about how very soon there won’t be anything to eat! Canning is a terrific idea, by the way. I wish I had thought of that!

I’m looking forward to checking out your blog and reading all about your green transformation. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.

]]> By: Ben http://www.thechangebase.com/2009/10/05/defining-local/comment-page-1/#comment-259 Ben Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:32:30 +0000 http://www.thechangebase.com/?p=663#comment-259 As an individual who lives in North Dakota, it is very difficult to eat in this manner. Although local, fresh fruits and vegetables are very easy to find during some parts of the year, it becomes impossible during the winter months. This has been our first year canning from our very own garden and expect to do more next year. Thanks for the great article and feel free to check out my green transformation at www.guygoesgreen.com As an individual who lives in North Dakota, it is very difficult to eat in this manner. Although local, fresh fruits and vegetables are very easy to find during some parts of the year, it becomes impossible during the winter months.

This has been our first year canning from our very own garden and expect to do more next year. Thanks for the great article and feel free to check out my green transformation at http://www.guygoesgreen.com

]]> By: Ashley http://www.thechangebase.com/2009/10/05/defining-local/comment-page-1/#comment-233 Ashley Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:34:42 +0000 http://www.thechangebase.com/?p=663#comment-233 Hi Teresa (aka: Waste_Diverter), thanks so much for your comments and suggestions about Defining Local. I checked out the link you included to the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, and was excited when I came across this page about how they define local: http://tinyurl.com/yj6f2t8. I have also been meaning to see Food Inc. for a while now. I've heard great things. You're right that indvidual action cannot replace the need for holistic, systemic change relating to our food systems. That said, I still believe we need to start at the individual level and find ways that people on their own can make contributions. If individuals believe their own actions aren't as useful or impactful as those decisions/policy changes at a federal level, my concern is that no one will act. And I'm convinced that by seeing other people make small changes in the food that they eat, other individuals will be inspired to do the same. Thanks for your thoughts and for visiting The Changebase! Hi Teresa (aka: Waste_Diverter), thanks so much for your comments and suggestions about Defining Local.

I checked out the link you included to the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, and was excited when I came across this page about how they define local: http://tinyurl.com/yj6f2t8.

I have also been meaning to see Food Inc. for a while now. I’ve heard great things. You’re right that indvidual action cannot replace the need for holistic, systemic change relating to our food systems. That said, I still believe we need to start at the individual level and find ways that people on their own can make contributions.

If individuals believe their own actions aren’t as useful or impactful as those decisions/policy changes at a federal level, my concern is that no one will act. And I’m convinced that by seeing other people make small changes in the food that they eat, other individuals will be inspired to do the same.

Thanks for your thoughts and for visiting The Changebase!

]]> By: Peter Korchnak http://www.thechangebase.com/2009/10/05/defining-local/comment-page-1/#comment-228 Peter Korchnak Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:11:15 +0000 http://www.thechangebase.com/?p=663#comment-228 I agree, local should not be the end-all solution, but perhaps just one of the many factors to take into consideration when living a responsible life or running a sustainable business. 3BL Media Blog is how I found you :-) I agree, local should not be the end-all solution, but perhaps just one of the many factors to take into consideration when living a responsible life or running a sustainable business.

3BL Media Blog is how I found you :-)

]]> By: Ashley http://www.thechangebase.com/2009/10/05/defining-local/comment-page-1/#comment-227 Ashley Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:08:22 +0000 http://www.thechangebase.com/?p=663#comment-227 Hi Peter, Thanks so much for your comments about defining "local", and especially for raising the question about what local means when it's not in a food context. I've been talking with a few other people recently about this very same question. I think in my case, food is top of mind because I'm definitely a foodie and I find enjoyment in supporting food with a story. But beyond that, given the fact that food is relatively inexpensive compared to a lot of other purchases, it's an easy first place to start when considering how to makes changes in one's consumption habits. That said, you're totally right to think about "local" outside of food. It's a very tough question and I think it comes down to each individual to decide what's local to him or her. I also really enjoyed your posts about the 5 W's of Local and thought you raised some excellent points. At the end of the day we have to go beyond just trying to define it, and instead educate ourselves and identify ways to use our wallets to consciously support organizations that we believe are committed to being good community citizens. One final note, I'm also a 3BL Media blogger - great to meet another person on that amazing list! Thanks again for your thoughts and for visiting The Changebase. -Ashley Hi Peter,

Thanks so much for your comments about defining “local”, and especially for raising the question about what local means when it’s not in a food context. I’ve been talking with a few other people recently about this very same question.

I think in my case, food is top of mind because I’m definitely a foodie and I find enjoyment in supporting food with a story. But beyond that, given the fact that food is relatively inexpensive compared to a lot of other purchases, it’s an easy first place to start when considering how to makes changes in one’s consumption habits. That said, you’re totally right to think about “local” outside of food. It’s a very tough question and I think it comes down to each individual to decide what’s local to him or her.

I also really enjoyed your posts about the 5 W’s of Local and thought you raised some excellent points. At the end of the day we have to go beyond just trying to define it, and instead educate ourselves and identify ways to use our wallets to consciously support organizations that we believe are committed to being good community citizens.

One final note, I’m also a 3BL Media blogger – great to meet another person on that amazing list!

Thanks again for your thoughts and for visiting The Changebase.
-Ashley

]]> By: The Husband http://www.thechangebase.com/2009/10/05/defining-local/comment-page-1/#comment-226 The Husband Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:28:21 +0000 http://www.thechangebase.com/?p=663#comment-226 This is great food for thought. The culinary school student in me would also add that to a certain degree, local and seasonal can often translate to higher quality. By purchasing only the items that are local and actually in season, you're purchasing what's freshest and hasn't necessarily sat on a train or truck for 5 days while it makes its way across the country before it even arrives at the supermarket. I can't wait until our meat CSA kicks in at the end of the month. It's exciting to be able to say that our meat was raised humanely, processed respectfully and comes from a farm located about an hour from our house! This is great food for thought. The culinary school student in me would also add that to a certain degree, local and seasonal can often translate to higher quality. By purchasing only the items that are local and actually in season, you’re purchasing what’s freshest and hasn’t necessarily sat on a train or truck for 5 days while it makes its way across the country before it even arrives at the supermarket.
I can’t wait until our meat CSA kicks in at the end of the month. It’s exciting to be able to say that our meat was raised humanely, processed respectfully and comes from a farm located about an hour from our house!

]]> By: Peter Korchnak http://www.thechangebase.com/2009/10/05/defining-local/comment-page-1/#comment-225 Peter Korchnak Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:23:12 +0000 http://www.thechangebase.com/?p=663#comment-225 Identifying what constitutes "local" is notoriously difficult. Perhaps we just need to settle for "local" being different things to different people. And perhaps "local" has turned into another marketing buzzword without meaning, like "natural". I like your roundabout way of defining local - by thinking seasonal. The question is, while seasonal relates primarily to food, what about other things we buy? I recently devoted two posts on my Sustainable Marketing Blog to the issue of buying local (to be reprinted on 3BL Media Blog this week): http://www.semiosiscommunications.com/buying-local1/ http://www.semiosiscommunications.com/buying-local2/ Keep up the great blog work! Identifying what constitutes “local” is notoriously difficult. Perhaps we just need to settle for “local” being different things to different people. And perhaps “local” has turned into another marketing buzzword without meaning, like “natural”.

I like your roundabout way of defining local – by thinking seasonal. The question is, while seasonal relates primarily to food, what about other things we buy?

I recently devoted two posts on my Sustainable Marketing Blog to the issue of buying local (to be reprinted on 3BL Media Blog this week):

http://www.semiosiscommunications.com/buying-local1/
http://www.semiosiscommunications.com/buying-local2/

Keep up the great blog work!

]]> By: waste_diverter http://www.thechangebase.com/2009/10/05/defining-local/comment-page-1/#comment-224 waste_diverter Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:28:57 +0000 http://www.thechangebase.com/?p=663#comment-224 NC has a pretty cool initiative underway to explore/develop a local food economy for the state: http://ncsustainablefood.wordpress.com/ The film Food Inc (http://www.foodincmovie.com/) is very eye-opening and underscores the fact that while personal, individual choices are important, there are larger systemic forces at work (and out of our individual control) that need to be addressed. Great post! NC has a pretty cool initiative underway to explore/develop a local food economy for the state:

http://ncsustainablefood.wordpress.com/

The film Food Inc (http://www.foodincmovie.com/) is very eye-opening and underscores the fact that while personal, individual choices are important, there are larger systemic forces at work (and out of our individual control) that need to be addressed.

Great post!

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