The Hundred-Mile Diet, Thoughts for Earth Month
April 2008
Viki Mather
By Viki Mather
One of the easiest ways that we can help reduce our impact on Earth’s resources is to be mindful of the food we eat. Over the past year, the “Hundred Mile Diet” has gained a lot of interest. The basic theory is to buy food that grows near where you live.
The less distance the food has to be transported, the less energy it takes to get it to your table. Less energy consumption means cleaner air. But the benefits go far beyond saving a few hundred liters of fuel.
Locally grown food retains its fresh flavour and nutritional value. It often employs more people on smaller farms. Smaller farmers have closer ties to the land, and are more likely to use fewer pesticides.
Many small farmers have banded together to market their wares. Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) is just one program that strives to bring small farmers and consumers together in a sustainable way. Simply put, consumers buy a subscription with an individual farm. They pay a fee in the spring, and then receive a box of farm-fresh veggies every week of the summer and through much of the autumn.
This benefits the farmer, who has a secure source of income at the start of the growing season. And it especially benefits the consumer who gets abundant food as fresh as if they grew it in their own garden. For more info on CSA programs, Google ‘community shared agriculture Ontario’.
Local farmers produce more than just veggies. Locally grown meat and eggs are also easy to come by. And they have better flavour and freshness than food that is imported or has to travel long distances.
Organically grown foods are what our grandparents grew up with. Chemically supported agriculture was born after WWII. Now organic food is making a big comeback. Every grocery store now carries some organic foods.
Organic food is what most of us have in our home gardens (The best local produce available!). We fertilize with manure, we grow small patches of things that are not prone to major insect infestations, and we harvest just before serving. This is as fresh and nutritious as it gets!
Living in Northern Ontario, it is not easy to get everything we need within that hundred-mile radius. But you don’t have to source every little bit of your food locally – this is not an all or nothing issue!
We have been striving to buy as much food as we can direct from local farmers. Currently, 80% of our meat and eggs come from within a fifty-mile radius. We buy honey from a beekeeper in Naughton, and organic grains from the local health food store.
Is it more expensive? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. The benefits are fresher taste, fewer pesticides, and a healthier planet for us and our children.
Viki Mather is owner of Kukagami Lodge, a northern Ontario wilderness resort at the southern boundary of the Temagami forest. Web: www.kukagamilodge.com, email: lodge@kukagami.infosathse.com Viki has lived in the wilderness for 26 years, without electricity or running water. Read these columns monthly to discover wonderful ways to live in harmony with nature, bring edible wilds into your kitchen, thrive without plugging into the grid, and enjoy a healthier life.
By Viki MatherOne of the easiest ways that we can help reduce our impact on Earth’s resources is to be mindful of the food we eat. Over the past year, the “Hundred Mile Diet” has gained a lot of interest. The basic theory is to buy food that grows near where you live.
The less distance the food has to be transported, the less energy it takes to get it to your table. Less energy consumption means cleaner air. But the benefits go far beyond saving a few hundred liters of fuel.
Locally grown food retains its fresh flavour and nutritional value. It often employs more people on smaller farms. Smaller farmers have closer ties to the land, and are more likely to use fewer pesticides.
Many small farmers have banded together to market their wares. Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) is just one program that strives to bring small farmers and consumers together in a sustainable way. Simply put, consumers buy a subscription with an individual farm. They pay a fee in the spring, and then receive a box of farm-fresh veggies every week of the summer and through much of the autumn.
This benefits the farmer, who has a secure source of income at the start of the growing season. And it especially benefits the consumer who gets abundant food as fresh as if they grew it in their own garden. For more info on CSA programs, Google ‘community shared agriculture Ontario’.
Local farmers produce more than just veggies. Locally grown meat and eggs are also easy to come by. And they have better flavour and freshness than food that is imported or has to travel long distances.
Organically grown foods are what our grandparents grew up with. Chemically supported agriculture was born after WWII. Now organic food is making a big comeback. Every grocery store now carries some organic foods.
Organic food is what most of us have in our home gardens (The best local produce available!). We fertilize with manure, we grow small patches of things that are not prone to major insect infestations, and we harvest just before serving. This is as fresh and nutritious as it gets!
Living in Northern Ontario, it is not easy to get everything we need within that hundred-mile radius. But you don’t have to source every little bit of your food locally – this is not an all or nothing issue!
We have been striving to buy as much food as we can direct from local farmers. Currently, 80% of our meat and eggs come from within a fifty-mile radius. We buy honey from a beekeeper in Naughton, and organic grains from the local health food store.
Is it more expensive? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. The benefits are fresher taste, fewer pesticides, and a healthier planet for us and our children.
Viki Mather is owner of Kukagami Lodge, a northern Ontario wilderness resort at the southern boundary of the Temagami forest. Web: www.kukagamilodge.com, email: lodge@kukagami.infosathse.com Viki has lived in the wilderness for 26 years, without electricity or running water. Read these columns monthly to discover wonderful ways to live in harmony with nature, bring edible wilds into your kitchen, thrive without plugging into the grid, and enjoy a healthier life.