A Referendum for Local--Market is Open!

Good morning friends,

The market is open.

This past week has been full of chatter, fear and worry-mongering about Greece’s plight in the EuroZone. Fighting against austerity measures, Greek politicians have been waffling between outright refusal and conciliatory requests. Global capitalist markets have responded to this news with extreme volatility and fear. Under the movements of the European commission and Greek Prime Minister Tsipras, the greek people seem to be the true losers. However, the instability of larger government systems has created countless local movements of solidarity, democratic exchange and governance. Logically, much of the local revolutions have centered around reestablishing local food networks. The mainstream news as well as more revolutionary, anarchic sources have noted the resilience of local communities and the connection between revolution and eating locally. As many ALFN members already know, eating locally isn’t just for taste, but for protesting and rejecting the tyrannical agro-industry’s grip on food. (More on this in some other weblog).

Under the shadow of Greece’s referendum, I would raise your attention to another effort in our region to establish networks of local resistance and resilience. In collaboration with ALFN, The Locals have established an online local directory of farms, markets, and non-profits working to establish a local economy. The site has a fabulous map overview of these various entities. It is a great visual for us to see where those eggplants, cheese, beef, and spices are cultivated. Further, you can sign up for newsletters that educate regional citizens about up-coming events and workshops. Check it out here: The Locals

Raise your corncobs in protest. Let your fork be your pitchfork in the countless micro-decisions against tyranny. (Should someone pitch the idea for a fork revolution?) Kings and queens, thrones and parliaments will fall, but the trees, fields and soil remain. Let’s invest our politics in the geography of our region.

Calling for a referendum of local food,

Kyle Holton
Program & Market Manager