We love Slow Food Nation, an organization founded by Alice Waters. Here’s why:
Slow Food USA seeks to create dramatic and lasting change in the food system. We reconnect Americans with the people, traditions, plants, animals, fertile soils and waters that produce our food. We inspire a transformation in food policy, production practices and market forces so that they ensure equity, sustainability and pleasure in the food we eat.
Amen!
We read their blog religiously, and a recent post caught our eye. This month, Foodprint USA was launched “to bring together information, resources and communities of food and climate justice advocates around the country working to reduce our climate “foodprints” ~ our food system’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change through the production, processing, packaging, shipping, storage and disposal of food.”
On their site, they state that approximately 12% of the total GHG emissions per U.S. household result from growing, packing, preparing and shipping food nationwide. And that according to the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, approximately 50 years ago in the United States, most foods were generally consumed within close proximity to where they were being produced and or packaged, while today, food typically can travel approximately 2,485 miles from farm to table.
Download, color and learn...for FREE!
We’ve talked about what constitutes “organic” and “local” on our blog. We know the shortest distance between safe, fresh food and your fork is your own backyard. But we also know that adult habits die hard, and that our biggest hope is in educating our children.
So, we have published a FREE e-coloring book, How Organic Gardens Save the Earth, to educate families on the benefits of organic produce – to our health and that of the planet. The story is about Reed, who buys his tomatoes from the supermarket, and Posey, who grows her own in the backyard. The tale tells how each tomato was grown, the journey it took to get to them, and what the Earth thinks about it all. It also talks about how special it is to share a harvest. It is written by us and illustrated by Jeff Petersen.
Download and enjoy this educational story book with children of elementary school age. It’s a perfect way to learn about the difference between conventional and organic produce, and how that choice goes far beyond what we choose to put into our bodies.
Tags: Alice Waters, buy fresh, buy local, Organic Shopping, Slow Food Nation
