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It all comes down to you. Every person can make positive changes to save resources for future generations. Here you'll find tools to help you at home or in the community.
Buy Local
CCAN is putting together a list of local businesses that honor people, place and planet. If you buy from local businesses, especially those that source what they sell locally, you're keeping more money in the area. Sure, big box stores employ people, but sometimes they don't give their employees enough hours to make a decent living, or don't provide benefits.
FOOD SECURITY
Eat Local
Whether you grow your own, have a share in community supported agriculture, or shop at farmers markets, by buying local produce, eggs, milk or meat, you get to meet the people who grew it. You can ask how the animals were grown. Did they have access to fresh pasture? Did they get to run around and play in the sun and fresh air? You can find out whether they used organic pest control methods. And best of all, the food is fresh, ensuring it has higher nutritional value than store bought - which typically travels 1500 miles to your grocery.
Grow Your Own!
Having a garden, or at least tomatoes in a pot, is a good start and can be done even on most apartment patios. Start small, and work your way up to more and more food crops. Grow vegetables in your front yard! If you don't have enough space, join a local community garden. Plots are available in Richland, Kennewick, Finley and Benton City. Email us at gardening@ccando.org for more information. Applications for Garden Reservations at the N. Richland Garden, available as PDF.
Farmer's Markets
Held throughout the Mid Columbia from about May through October; please be sure to check the market websites for the most current information.
The Pasco Farmer's Market is held Wednesday and Saturday, from 7-Noon, at Fourth & Lewis. It is one of the oldest public markets in the west!
Shop the Parkway in
Richland has links to local foods available year 'round, even advertised
sales on groceries!
Pat~n~Tam's Beef
delivers meat, eggs and Pure Eire dairy products in Richland.
Community Supported Agriculture
If you don't have the time or energy to garden consider subscribing to community supported agriculture. With a CSA, you buy a share upfront guaranteeing the farmer income. Throughout the season you'll get boxes of fresh veggies and fruits. CSA membership is quite interesting and often introduces subscribers to veggies they've never even heard of (don't worry, they throw in recipes!)
Schreiber & Sons Farms in Eltopia is one CSA in our region. If you know of others, please tell them about CCAN, so we can link to them as well!
Sustainable at Home
Experts tell us that we'd need four more planets like Earth if everyone on the planet used as much stuff as we do!
One measurement of impact is called carbon footprint. Check out these carbon calculators and see how much CO2 you're putting out into the atmosphere each year! The average U.S. resident contributes 150 tons per year.
Natural Resources Defense Council Carbon Footprint Calculator
Landscaping The Mid-Columbia only gets 7-10 inches of rain per year. That's less than Los Angeles! It's time to re-think our landscaping to work with the climate. You'll save money (if you're on city water) resources and time in the process.
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