Simple Ways to “Green” Your Community
Galatians 5:14: The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Reconnect
To help green your community, you first need to be part of it. Start talking to your neighbors, find out what’s going on around you, and get involved. It sounds obvious, but busy days often don’t include time for keeping in touch with the community.
Buy local
Not only does shopping locally reduce food miles (the distance food is transported from the time of its production until it reaches the consumer) it also keeps resources circulating in the community. Plus, it’s a great way to get to know your neighbors. When did you last chat with the person who grew your tomatoes?
Here are a couple of place in Knoxville in which you can practice buying locally.
- The Market Square Farmers Market: Located in Downtown on Market Square.
http://www.knoxvillemarketsquare.com/farmersmarket.html - Three Rivers Market: Located at 937 N. Broadway, about one mile North of downtown Knoxville.
http://www.threeriversmarket.coop/location.htm - Pratt’s Country Store: located at 3100 Tazewell Pike in Fountain City.
Google Maps Link - The Fruit and Berry Patch in Halls
http://www.thefruitandberrypatch.com/
Rethink travel
Limiting car use can be a great way of reducing your individual carbon footprint, but it doesn’t end there. When we walk, cycle, or take the bus, we also help make it easier for others to do the same, and it can be a great way of meeting people. It’s much easier to catch a stranger’s eye and say “hey” when you are not surrounded by a ton of metal and moving at 70 mph.
Visit http://www.knoxtrans.org/index.htm to find out ways in which you can find alternatives to travel in your community.
For more information on green community basics visit:
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/go-green/community/green-community-basics.html
This information has been provided to you by the Social Action Committee.
