BE A GREENIE: "LIVING LOCAL"
By: Genevieve Ticlo

Did you know that, every day, hundreds of food items and products are unnecessarily shipped thousands of miles to your front door? Not only do non-local purchases support excess pollution, but they also hurt local farmers and producers by taking away much-needed business. So how can you help the environment and the community you live in? Simple! Live locally.

Buying local groceries means preventing pollution. Every mile food has to travel costs the earth more of its clean air, because of delivery trucks and other means of transportation. The same applies to clothing and furniture purchased at local stores.

You can’t get more local than your own backyard, and for the freshest fruits and vegetables, some families are even starting their own backyard gardens. It’s worth a try, and you might even be surprised at how much you will enjoy growing your own foods!

Living local can also mean helping out your community. The more money you spend on local businesses, the more funds get put into the local economy. This means that you are giving back to your community, and helping it grow. Something as simple as buying local art at an art show, or taking a peek in a local boutique, can make a big difference in reducing your carbon footprint and supporting your local community.

Greenie Tip: Check out National Geographic’s Green Guide website for an awesome search tool that lets you type in your city name and find local businesses for any occasion! http://www.thegreenguide.com/golocal