Celebrating Earth Day: How Shopping at Local Farmers' Markets Supports Sustainability

As we celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd, we recognize that the day can easily feel overwhelming and daunting. We all love our Earth and we want to protect it, but a starting point can feel difficult to find. Many of us already engage with environmentally conscious habits, like recycling and composting, using power during off-peak hours, planting trees and native gardens, switching to energy-efficient appliances, and more. But how else can we learn about our local environment, support stewards of our lands, and promote sustainability? One way is to support and shop from your local farmers' markets. 

Local farmers' markets are more than just a place to shop for fresh meats, fruits, vegetables, and baked goods. They are bustling community spaces where local farmers', bakers, artisans, and makers come together to share their homegrown and handmade products, generational and learned knowledge, and support and encouragement with one another. Every dollar spent at your local market supports your hardworking neighbours, while keeping money in your local community. Farmers' markets are a wealth of knowledge - from farming to artisan goods and skilled trades, they are a functional hub for communities across Canada to come together, support one another, and learn from each other. 

Many small-scale farmers can be found at local markets. From vegetable and fruit farms to local beef, pork, dairy and poultry, small-scale farmers often prioritize sustainable practices on their homesteads. Farmers often practice organic methods, or use natural fertilizers alongside minimum-till methods, cover crops, and composting to promote healthy soil, while growing biologically diverse crops which flourish throughout the year. Small-scale farms are where heritage seeds can be found, historic equipment is used, and farmers live on the very land they farm - taking their impact and land stewardship directly to heart. 

Small-scale farms with animals raise smaller herd sizes, often while using sustainable practices like rotational grazing which benefit soil health, water retention, and herd health. Many farmers also support one another through sharing resources like produce and manure to limit food waste and utilize natural fertilizers, while sharing knowledge and raising awareness about concerns and trends they see in their shared communities. 

Buying from local farmers' markets also cuts down on carbon footprints, as food travels substantially shorter distances from local farms - which also allows for small-scale farms to remain operating and sustainable. Did you know that on average produce and meat travel 1,100-2,000 miles (that's around 1,770-3,218 km) to your neighbourhood supermarket? In contrast, meat and produce at the Horton Farmers' Market travels 60 km or less from local farms. Food plastics and packaging is also heavily reduced, as many items are picked fresh from the fields the morning before the market, and don't require heavy packaging for long distance travel. Unique cuts of meat can be found in local markets, and farmers utilize every part of their animals.

Shopping at your local farmers' market can help you foster a more sustainable lifestyle by encouraging you to eat seasonally, pushing you to try unique offerings, teaching you how to cook different cuts of meat and produce, and embracing the imperfect appearances of vegetables and fruits which are perfectly tasty. Your local farmers are passionate about their land, products, and knowledge, and are always happy to share information, explain their practices, and help their communities learn about how they can support the lands around them. 

In addition to farmers, local artisans and makers often go out of their way to source local and Canadian-made supplies, sometimes from fellow vendors and neighbours in their communities. They create beautiful, unique products and pieces, and they strive to limit waste through creative solutions and material recycling.

This Earth Day, think about how supporting and shopping local can promote sustainability in your life and in your community. Connect with a local farmer, artisan or maker and ask them about their practices and processes. Try a new cut of meat, fresh vegetable or in season fruit, and ask the farmer for preparation and cooking advice - they are a wealth of knowledge. Learn about where your food comes from, and connect with the lands around you by organizing or attending a community cleanup, donating to a local conservation authority, and reconnecting with nature through exploring your parks and trails.