Green Mountain leads the local movement

The “buy local movement” is a term that is usually associated with food, although it could relate to any products we purchase. The movement stresses the importance of buying and eating as much local food as we can.

When we buy local food we use less resources such as the fossil fuel needed to deliver our food or the unnecessary plastic wrapping used by super markets. On a more local level, buying local helps build a strong and caring community by stressing the importance in having a personal relationship with the farmer who grows the vegetables and raises the animals that end up on our plate. Understanding where our food comes from is an important step towards ecological sustainability, as it requires a dedication and commitment from humans towards generating a deeper understanding of our relationship with the natural world.

The movement, however, is not always an easy one to follow. It often involves making sacrifices on many levels, from sacrificing a few extra dollars to support local growers (versus getting cheap discounts at a Super Wal-Mart) to sacrificing some of our favorite foods that are not in season. It also requires tremendous innovation and creativity, from discovering tasty recipes when our food supply is somewhat limited to finding ways to keep our favorite foods through the winter (try canning, preserving or keeping vegetables in root cellar).

The “buy local movement” has come in full force to Green Mountain College. Many students and faculty have embraced the concept, which is evident in initiatives and discussions constantly happening on the campus. Using funds allocated from The Student Campus Greening Fund (see my previous blog from November 8) junior Irene Holak brought local food to the dining hall every other Wednesday. Holak coordinated for 90% of the food in the dining hall be from local farmers for breakfast, lunch and dinner on the “Local Wednesday’s.” It took a lot of planning on all fronts, from the workers at Chartwells Dining facility to figuring out recipes that would keep students happy. Students get used to French fries, pizza, hamburgers … thus there is a lot to be said about striking this balance in a college facility that caters towards both reliability and sustainability.

Seniors Emily Aronowitz and Jane Engelman are trying to start a Co-op in Poultney. “Most new ventures begin with dissatisfaction with the current options, and this project is no different. The idea to open a retail food cooperative has been in the making for the past couple of years, and, last semester, Jane Engelman and I decided to make it more than just an idea,” says Aronowitz.
During the spring semester the two completed an independent study to formulate a business plan and to determine the feasibility of this project.

Aronowitz says she is especially concerned how American public policies have favored agribusiness corporations, which impacts small farmers and makes it difficult for consumers to know where their food comes from. “So, what’s wrong with that? When food is not traceable, if it makes people sick or is not of a high quality, there is no one to confront or to hold accountable. Our population is growing, but the problem is not a lack of food. Instead of inventing new technologies to increase productivity, we need to alter the current global food system to give everyone access to local food, supporting a bioregional approach,” Aronowitz explains.

“Think globally, act locally. A food co-op is one solution to our problems,” she goes on to say. The co-op will provide customers with local produce, dry goods, dairy products, and health and beauty care. Additionally, the co-op would be a community-gathering place with a small café with local art hanging on the walls and local musicians providing the soundtrack.

Aronowitz and Engleman are holding a meeting on November 14, which should incorporate the greater regional community. If you are interested in this project and have ideas to contribute, stop by!

Meeting on Poultney co-op:
November 14
7 p.m.
Poultney High School library
aronowitze@greenmtn.edu