A “Local” celebration for Earth Day in Arnprior

Think Global – Act Local. This is a mantra often heard when speaking about the environment. This year the Greater Arnprior Environmental Action Council (EAC) has made acting local the theme for the Town of Arnprior’s Earth Day Street Festival.  Held on John Street in the Town’s historic downtown district, the event featured local food, entertainment and activities for the whole family.

So what does acting local mean? Let’s start with what we eat. Food has become an increasingly global market commodity. For producers this means increasing competitive pressures and for consumers it has meant, that while we can get anything anytime, we are becoming disconnected from the people and land that feed us. For our environment, large scale industrial agriculture has meant pollution from industrialised farming techniques and pollution and climate change from excessive transportation networks. So what can we do about it and what can we do we stand to gain?

We can choose local food. Choosing locally grown food has numerous positive effects. Environmentally, it cuts down on the carbon foot print created by vast transportation networks. Local food makes our ability to feed ourselves sustainable. Local food builds a mutually beneficial connection with local farmers; this encourages a type of community stewardship of our land and water resources. Local food gives a more immediate connection with nature’s ability to provide what we need. A California grown strawberry, picked and shipped thousands of kilometres just doesn’t taste the same as a fresh Ottawa Valley strawberry still warm from the sunshine. So next time your in the supermarket look at where your food comes from. If it isn’t clear just ask. Or better yet, get to your local farmer’s market; Arnprior’s growing one is great as are others around the Valley. Join a food co-op. The Ottawa Valley Food Co-op is a fantastic source for local food and a great way for farmers and the rest of the community to connect. Finally, grow a garden. It doesn’t have to be big. Even a few tomato plants in containers on the porch can be enough. At least to start…

How else can we act local? How about what and how we buy. First, try buying less. Everything we buy as consumers comes from resources and energy provide by our biosphere – the earth. That’s right we “consume” what the earth gives us. Some of these resources when managed properly are renewable. Others, such as petroleum based plastics, are not. We all know the new 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Their order is not random. They are listed in order of importance and effectiveness. Most of us have gotten really good at recycling. Many, certainly from our parents’ and grandparents’ generation are also very familiar with reusing items. But the primary item on the list is reduce. In a world where we are bombarded by thousands of advertising messages everyday this can be a challenge. But it can be a challenge worth facing. Buying less means less shipping, less packaging, less driving to stores. But without shopping, what can we do with our time? How about going out with family and friends, getting out in the garden, or hiking, skiing, etc.

But there are things we need to buy. People need to sell and manufacture goods to make a living. Absolutely, we need an economy. This is where we can also act locally. Local economies are more easily made sustainable. The owners of locally owned and run industries have a personal vested interest the environmental impact of their businesses. Local merchants do as well. Shopping from locally owned businesses, and buying local produced products when possible, has other positive effects beyond reducing fossil fuels used to transport goods around the world and the local environmental stewardship that it encourages. Walkable shopping districts like downtown Arnprior get us out in the fresh air. They get us interacting face to face with our neighbours including local business owners; thus developing a sense of community and connection.

Of course, some would say be reasonable – I don‘t want to live in a hippy commune, I can‘t afford solar panels. We don’t all need to. But here is a reasonable idea: maybe we could all work smarter instead of harder, take time to grow, cook and enjoy local food when it’s in season and at it’s tastiest. Enjoy it with our families and friends. If we need something, maybe we can go for a walk and meet our neighbourhood merchants.

If you want other ideas on how to think globally and act locally, or just a chance to get out and enjoy what the Valley and Arnprior have to offer,  come out to next year’s Earth Day Street Festival in downtown Arnprior.