Favorite New Year's Resolutions for Locavores

Recent studies conducted by General Nutrition Centers, Quicken and others reveal that the top resolution of 50% of Americans is to spend more time with family and friends.  Losing weight, getting fit and getting out of debt come in as close runners up, but those of us dedicated to healthy eating, food justice and sustainable agriculture aim for goals a bit less cliche. Try one or two of these on for size . . . 

 Resolution #1:  Patronize restaurants that either use local, pesticide-free produce and/or sustainable seafood and pastured (free-range) meats. Find a complete list of them at Slow Food San Diego. They include A.R. Valentien at the Torrey Pines Lodge, The Linkery in North Park, JSix in the Gaslamp and 20 more. 

Resolution #2:  Become a Friend to Local Farms

Legislation can make or break a farm trying to survive without pesticides and other convenient but environmentally harmful practices. The California Farm Bureau's Capitol Alert will help you stay up to date on the bills introduced in state and local legislatures that affect farms. 

You can also find current information and news at San Diego Roots, a "sustainable food project," which now encompasses San Diego Victory Gardens, Food for Thought Films, UCSD Sustainable Food Project and other organizations genuinely dedicated to sustainable food communities in San Diego county.

Once you're up-to-date on issues facing farmers, advocate for them by contacting your local and national representatives. Find the emails and phone numbers of state lawmakers here and federal lawmakers here.  Encourage them to vote to support sustainable food communities and local, pesticide-free farms.

Other ways to support local farms include joining a Community Supported Agriculture program and patronizing these farms regularly at Farmers' Markets.

Resolution #3:  Personal Involvement:  
Join a Community Supported Agriculture program in San Diego.  Find the closest and most convenient to you here.  

Garden of Eden CSA  has drop locations in San Diego, Carlsbad, Irvine and Cathedral City.

Tierra Miguel Foundation CSA  serves many points in Southern California from Manhattan Beach to La Jolla to Alpine.

Brian's Farmers Markets CSA offers convenient pick up locations in University Town Center (Thursdays), Mission Valley (Fridays) and Point Loma (Sundays).

Be Wise Ranch CSA serves Central San Diego, East County, North County Coastal and North County Inland.

Seabreeze Organic Farm CSA  delivers boxes of produce to many points in Southern California from Cardiff to South Park to Lake Murray.

Inland Empire CSA serves San Diego County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Coachella Valley and part of Los Angles County.

JR Organics CSA  also delivers to many points in Southern California.

Suzie's Farm offers three pick-up locations: University City and La Jolla (Tuesdays) and North Park (Thursdays). Chula Vista, Ocean Beach/Point Loma and Imperial Beach may have Suzie's Farm pick up locations soon.

When you join a Community Supported Agriculture program, it's wise to also pick up From Asparagus to Zucchini: A Guide to Cooking Farm Fresh, Season Produce written by CSA organizations.When you get a large amount of seasonal veggies like argula, this cookbook makes turning it into delicious family fare easy.  

Resolution #4: Commit to learning more about the "locavore" movement

Read:

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver

The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

Edible San Diego. This local, quarterly magazine's byline, "celebrating San Diego's local foods, season by season" says it all.

Watch:

The Food for Thought film series has recently shown critically acclaimed films like: Dirt, Flow, The World According to Monsanto and Nicotine Bees.Check their website often to find out about up-coming movies.

Attend:

Keep in touch with the San Diego Natural History Museum's Sustainable Planet: Children and Nature Lecture Series Lectures in 2011 include"Grounding Learning in Place and Community," "A Good Place to Grow Up is Green" and "Smart by Nature: Schooling for Sustainability." 

Resolution #5:  Join other Locavores dedicated to sustainable agriculture and healthy eating

Slow Food USA

The international organization consists of a network of 2,000 food communities  who practice small-scale and sustainable production of quality foods.

Slow Food San Diego    

The San Diego chapter organizes local slow food events (Annual Slow Food Holiday dinner) and farm tours, as well as opportunities for social interaction and volunteering.

San Diego Roots is described above. 

Share your Locavore-inspired New Year's Resolutions with us on our Facebook page!