This week in my Sustainability class we have been discussing the importance of shopping locally. For the past few years I have tried to purchase as much of my organic produce at local markets and farms. However, until we really began to delve into the topic, I never really considered all of the other products besides just fruits and vegetables. With my reusable shopping bags in hand I dropped by my local grocery store after class. Instead of rushing through aisle-by-aisle grabbing my usual items thoughtlessly and tossing them into my basket, I decided to really evaluate each product to see where they were being produced and shipped from. While I felt disappointed thinking about giving up some of my favorite non-local products I decided to search for local alternatives to everything that I typically purchase. Much to my surprise it was significantly easier than I thought! Not only did this help improve my individual carbon footprint, it also saved me money. Most of the alternatives I found were Publix brand, organic, and they are produced and shipped from Lakeland, FL. There are so many other aspects of my life that I am working on in order to improve my carbon footprint, but for now this is one small step that I can feel good about. If you would like more information on how to properly evaluate your carbon footprint, and ways to offset it check out this website:
Your blog is really coming to life...maybe you'll consider keeping it up after the class ends?
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