Buy Local Challenge

The Rules of the Game

Buying local is about supporting the local economy (no matter where you are), but most importantly, it’s about learning. Learning about food, learning about health and nutrition, learning about the local economy. Buying locally grown foods supports many aspects of daily life than you might know, and this Challenge is a great opportunity to find out how.

Here are the criteria that will help you know what to do during the challenge:

Local is? Local foods can be defined as anything grown within a 250-mile radius of your current location. Here in DC, that translates to Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

But where? It’s not a problem if you’re out of town for work or for vacation, just eat local to that area. It will be fun to ask around the city your visiting to identify restaurants with local menus or farmer’s markets you can visit for a snack.

And who? Tell everyone. Spread the buy local buzz wherever you go and be sure to invite folks to visit the website and/or join the blog.

So when? Whenever you can. This Challenge is self-regulated. Commit goals for yourself and strive to meet them based on your deadlines. Pick a daily objective, weekly objective, or a monthly objective. Work with what’s right for you.

Add comment June 21st, 2008

The Buy Local Pledge

This year, participants can CHALLENGE themselves to meet all or some of the following objectives:

1. I will eat one home-cooked meal prepared using mainly local ingredients.
2. I will incorporate one never-before-tried local ingredient in my diet.
3. I will brown bag one lunch per week that is local, organic, fresh, etc. and compare the nutritional value to the lunch I ate the day before.
4. I will talk to one food producer or vendor about my food.
5. I will visit one farmer’s market to either talk to a vendor or purchase food.
6. I will respond to a weekly staff survey about the Buy Local Challenge.

The Buy Local Challenge is completely voluntary. You set your own rules. You may decide that you will strive to meet all of the objectives on a daily basis, or select one objective you would like to meet per week.

How much are you willing to commit to buying local? It’s up to you.

If possible, keep track of the dollar amount you spend supporting your local economy each week.

Add comment June 1st, 2008