Happy Almost Fourth of July! As we get ready to celebrate our nation, why not celebrate our environment as well? The food choices that you make for this holiday could reflect your patriotism by supporting the environment and the people who share your neighborhood. For example, you may choose to buy local beef, cheese, or tomatoes from a farmer in Dane County instead of from someone outside the U.S. Local produce travels a short distance to reach our table, thus causing less air pollution and using less fuel for transportation. The tomatoes can be harvested ripe, which means they will taste much better than tomatoes from far away and are often less expensive. The money you use to buy local produce goes directly to the farmer and helps support small family farms and the surrounding local economy. Ensuring that local farmers are profitable will keep our agricultural land in production, maintaining green space in urbanizing areas. If the Dane County farmer uses organic practices, your decision to buy their produce will have additional environmental benefits.
So, go ahead and celebrate the nation, but celebrate your local environment as well. Here are a few tips for purchasing your Fourth of July feast:
- If you’ve decided to have the traditional July 4th BBQ, choose locally-raised meat and poultry, preferably pasture-raised and without antibiotics. These are available at farmers’ markets and grocery stores. Try adding a vegetarian option to your grill, like veggie kebabs or grilled tempeh, or an option of wild game.
- Look for local “BGH-Free” cheeses. Many Wisconsin farmers are no longer using Bovine Growth Hormones (BGH) for health and cost reasons.
- Local beers and wines are also available in most liquor stores.
- Make your BBQ an in-season one by providing the veggies and fruits that are currently available in Dane County. July is a great time to focus on tasty in-season foods.
- Minimize the packaging and waste generated by your party. Purchase produce that is sold loose, use tap (not bottled) water, use reusable plates, cups, and cutlery, and save your leftovers for lunch next week!
For more information on how to eat sustainably in Madison, visit www.enactwi.org. Check back here in two weeks for new tips from EnAct to help you step more lightly on the environment. EnAct, a program of Madison Environmental Group, Inc., encourages sustainable living and strengthens communities by creating Environmental Action Teams in neighborhoods, community organizations and workplaces. If you are interested in starting your own EnAct team, please contact us at enact@madisonenvironmental.com or (608) 204-2888.