Sustainable Consumerism

Sustainable Consumerism you ask? An oxymoron it is not! By purchasing sustainable items as well as only purchasing items when absoutly necessary and not just when you want something new, you can find yourself to be a sustainable consumer. I myself still have a cathode ray television. Yes, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE a new 58 inch LED HD flat screen TV, but, mine still works just find and I will probably have it until it dies, just like my one before it (which I will add I had for almost 10 years before it passed through its electronic pearly gates).

When it comes to food, it is very easy these days to be a sustainable consumer. To pat my own back again here, I am a CSA farm share member of Worden Farm located in Punta Gorda, FL. They are small (80 acre) USDA Certified Organic farm run by a husband and wife team. The sell produce through multiple means. Through various farmers markets throughout Southwest Florida, a farm share box program where one new box is delivered each week full of fun produce, and the U-pick process by which you can go to the farm and pick your own box full of goodies for the week (nothing said one with your food by digging up your own potatoes!). Here is just an example of one of the box share bounty's!

Cucumber, zucchini, tomato, Florida onion, romanesco, strawberries, carrots, baby bok choi, radish, watermelon radish, swiss chard, lettuce variety and cilantro.

While I do not really pay a premium for this since it is through a small local farm, I would pay a premium for some produce that is Organic in the grocery stores. One thing you do need to watch out for however is the ever present "Natural" label. Something called "Green Washing" has occurred with these items and natural does not mean better. There are many things is our world that are natural but you sure as hell will not find me eating it! Labels are there for a reason. They need to be read and paid attention to.

One way that I choose to support local businesses as attempting to be a sustainable consumer, is that I frequent smaller "mom and pop" type markets as opposed to giant mega center, one stop shopping, places of ridiculousness. I am a huge proponent in supporting long standing, family run business. At least for me, it puts me in touch with my neighborhood. And there is just something to be said for the employees of these places remembering your name, your likes and dislikes, as well as asking and having an interest in the health and well-being of your family too.

Speaking of food...I leave you with this...
Remember me saying how we went on an amazing trip to Peru in March? Here, for your visual senses, was what my typical breakfast consisted of. Talk about being one with the land when eating! All of the fruit was picked from trees on the property of the bed and breakfast we stayed at! Damn, I miss Peru!