The Importance of Supporting Local Farmers
I heard the saying a while back that goes something like, “you vote for the future you want with how you spend your dollars.” I think I am butchering the quote but you get the point. As someone who is passionate about local food sources and systems this really hit close to home — how can I support these systems but not invest my dollars in them? What kind of support is that?
My support comes from a few different motivations — wanting to move away from corporate monocultures that destroy our soil, wanting to reduce food miles, and wanting to empower local communities with more control over their food sources. We have to remember that local farmers are the stewards of our sustenance. Supporting them is investing in a future where food is both sustainable. But to “invest” in them means to actually support them financially — and I didn't connect these dots for quite some time.
Another way to “invest” in these local food systems is to educate those around you. Many might not know about the negative impacts of corporate agriculture. Or how much pesticides/herbicides are used just to grow animal feed. Or how much of our corn goes to ethanol. Or how many kids experience hunger in the US.Or much of our food is wasted in our capitalist food system. These are things I am passionate about but that doesn't mean everyone else. They might have no idea.
