No Impact Man was a really awesome documentary, and I applaud that family for being able to give up so much! While watching the documentary I could actually relate to some of the scenarios. My family didn’t make them by choice though, but for about 2 years we had no washer or dryer, we had no cable, and because our little cottage was so small and the electricity so bad, if you had two things plugged in and running at once, it’d blow the fuse for the whole (10 x 10 ft cottage) out. Like I said, not under the same circumstances as no Impact Man, but I guess those two years we were being Eco-friendly without even realizing it.
But aside from that, my favorite part of this documentary were the highlight of Farmers Markets!

I absolutely love going to Farmers Markets, and wish I could get over to the one here in Sarasota more often. They are tons of fun. My family and I always went to the one back at home to get vegetables, breads, cheese, really anything that caught our eye! The people are so friendly, and its a good feeling to be able to know and so who’s grown your food. I also noticed people love to walk their dogs to Farmer’s Markets; meeting adorable puppies while buying healthy food is pretty awesome. There’s just such a great sense of community at a Farmers Market.

As of 2011, there were 7175 Farmer’s Markets across the US, and I’m sure the number has grown since. You’ll also have an easier time scouting out organic food at a Farmers Market, then at most grocery stores. You are also supporting your local farmers- which is pretty awesome. Not only that, but Farmers Markets tend to really pump up the economy of your area. They create more jobs on the farms, and provide tons of business to the local downtown areas or wherever the Farmers Markets are being held. And if can’t get any better, well it does. Your shopping trip to the Farmers Market will cost you less money then it does from grocery store. Most people have the incorrect perception that Farmers Markets will cost more money. You have to remember that all the food you get in the store has been packed, shipped across however many states, and is being sold by a vendor (the store). The price on food rises, from all that extra “stuff.” The majority of food at the Farmers Market will cost less. What you get at the Farmer’s Market is fresh food, right next door.
Go check out your local Farmers Market! Don’t know how to find one? Here’s a place to get you started:
http://www.localharvest.org/
-Megan Boyd
http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2011/08/12/7-reasons-to-celebrate-farmers-markets/
http://www.survivingcollegelife.com/2009/04/14/farmers-markets-cheap-fresh-food/
http://www.good.is/post/what-s-more-expensive-farmers-markets-or-grocery-stores/
http://civileats.com/