Regress to Progress.

Buying local, buying seasonal, buying natural, buying consciously––this is sustainable. This is organic.

People used to do it. Now, they’re at it again like it’s a new concept.

Using reusable bags, baskets and caddies to carry out grocerie­­s––this shouldn’t be so difficult to do. Many stores give five-cent credits for each reusable bag used. Why not charge five cents for every disposable bag used?

Let’s say goodbye to plastics.

Foods processed with ingredients that don’t properly metabolize within the body should be banned. Or at the least be labeled with a green sour faced Mr. Yuk sticker.

Let’s drink more tap water. Let’s reduce the amount of imported goods we consume. When it’s out of season, it’s out of season. If it doesn’t grow here, let’s consider how it got here. Let’s try living off the fat of the land.

The real point here is thinking before acting. Taking the extra 30 seconds to read ingredient information on packaged goods. Keeping reusable bags (the tiny ones that crumple up into balls) in your handbags and car for unplanned shopping trips. Trying to drive less, or driving strategically. Giving your business to grocery stores that carry local products. Or buying straight from the source.

We live in a progressive city. We’re surrounded by crops, orchards, dairy farms, vineyards, distilleries. We’re loaded with farm-to-table restaurants. Let’s support them. We’re nestled right between the great Pacific and the rolling Cascades. We have hunting and fishing. Let’s regress back to our roots. Back to Stumptown.

P.S. Happy Earth Day Week!