Contacts
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Being Green and Healthy
Buy Local
People worldwide are rediscovering the benefits of buying local food. It is fresher than anything in the supermarket and that means it is tastier and more nutritious. It is also good for your local economy--buying directly from family farmers helps them stay in business. Learn more about buying local from the following organizations.
- Local Harvest is a public nationwide directory of small farms, farmers markets, and other local food sources; provides a search engine to help people find products from family farms and local sources of sustainably grown food.
- FoodRoutes is a national non-profit dedicated to reintroducing Americans to their food, the seeds it grows from, the farmers who produce it, and the routes that carry it from the fields to our tables.
- Sustainable Table celebrates local sustainable food, educates consumers on food-related issues, and is home to the Eat Well Guide, an online directory of sustainable products in the U.S. and Canada.
Slow Food
Slow Food is an idea, a way of living and a way of eating. It is a global, grassroots movement with thousands of members around the world that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment. "Slow Food aims to be everything fast food is not." - USA Today
Slow Food Programs & Resources
- USA Ark of Taste is a list of 200+ regional foods in danger of extinction. There are 30 southwestern foods - fruits, herbs, meats and more - included in the Ark list. Seven of these are specific to New Mexico, including our native chiles & tomatillos, Churro sheep and several dried beans.
- RAFT brings food producers, chefs and consumers together to promote sustainable food production and our unique "at risk" foods and food traditions.
- Renewing the Native Food Traditions of Bison Nation
How can you make choices that are healthy for you and the planet?
- When shopping for groceries, look at the origin of the food you’re buying. For many foods - eggs, dairy, meats, produce, salsas - there is often a local or regional choice available. Food that travels fewer miles from producer to plate = less transportation energy used, and supports local food producers.
- When dining out, select restaurants that support local and regional farmers and food producers. Ask about the origin of food on the menu.
- Host a dinner, potluck, picnic or celebration featuring regional foods "that deserve a long-term place on our plate." - US Ark of Taste
- If you garden, grow heirloom fruits and vegetables. Save seeds for the next season and to share with others in your community.
- Support local farmers markets, and seek out heirloom or heritage foods.
- Buy a "share" of a regional farm and receive a weekly box of fresh, locally grown produce. View a list of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms in New Mexico.
- Join a local food organization or food cooperative.
- Volunteer time to a local food organization, farm or food cooperative.
Think Green: Think Exercise
- Walking: Good reasons to start walking to work.
- It saves gas and money.
- It reduces greenhouse emissions.
- It saves money on parking fees.
- It's good exercise.
- It lowers your risk for osteoporosis.
- It may be faster than driving.
- Shoes are cheaper than tires.
- It gives you time outside to think.
- It helps you lose weight.
- Biking: If you live too far away to walk, why not ride your bike to work?
- Do it for your environment
- The Green Commuter, a publication of the Clean Air Council, states that motor vehicle emissions represent 31 percent of total carbon dioxide, 81 percent of carbon monoxide, and 49 percent of nitrogen oxides released in the US.
- A short, four-mile round trip by bicycle keeps about 15 pounds of pollutants out of the air we breathe, says the WorldWatch Institute.
- Do it for your health
- Bicycling can help solve two of our nation's leading crises: skyrocketing health care costs that damage every sector of our economy, and the obesity epidemic, which caused 400,000 deaths in 2000.
- Over 16% of all deaths recorded are due to physical inactivity and poor diet.
- Do it for transportation
- Bicycles are solely human-powered and use no fossil fuels.
- By replacing car trips with bicycle trips, we can displace over 238 million gallons of gasoline per year.
Live too far away to bike to work? Park in a location that will allow you to do a bit of walking before you reach the front of your office building. If you car-pool or use the Park and Ride, get out of the car or off the bus a little earlier and WALK the rest of the way.
Exercise Resources
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