We believe in small steps toward sustainability—reusing an old mason jar, not buying more than you need, carrying a reusable water bottle. It all adds up.

This is why we are pleased to introduceOne Simple Thing—a new column offering easy, actionable ways you can be mindful of the environment at home and beyond. 

We’re kicking things off by talking about shopping local. “Shop local” is a term that’s pretty ubiquitous at this point, but what does it actually mean and how do you get started making it a bigger part of your shopping habits? And why is it so important? We’re breaking it all down below. Plus, with farmers’ markets in full swing, there’s no better time than now to lean into shopping locally. 

What does it mean to shop local?

At its simplest level, shopping local is buying food, goods, and services within your community. Shopping local encourages planetary health by reducing the amount of carbon emissions put out by shipping. In fact, the shipping industry is responsible for about 900 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year. So shopping within your community—as well as shopping seasonally—allows you to support the Earth through your food choices. 

While the range of what “local” means can vary—typically within a hundred miles of your home technically counts as local. However, we like to think if you can walk into a space or store, buy the product, and take it home without it being shipped—it’s local. 

How do I start shopping local?

Old habits are tough to crack—shopping at big box stores, getting a little too spendy on Amazon. But, good news is, if you stick with a behavior long enough, you can also change habits in a positive way, too. 

Maybe set some small goals when grocery shopping like “this week I’ll buy all my produce from the farmers’ market” or “I will get all my snacks from the bulk section.” Allowing yourself some grace and making the steps attainable will keep things from feeling overwhelming. And with enough consistency, you can bet you’ll be on the path to being able to incorporate more of these habits over time. 

In terms of where you can actually begin the journey, the farmers’ market is a great place to start. Typically, all the farms involved are coming from that 100 to 120-mile radius and they are selling what is in season, which helps keep you in sync with nature. 

What are the benefits of shopping local?

When you shop local, you’re putting money directly into the pockets of producers, shop owners, and farmers within your own community, which helps everyone thrive and supports farmers, who are hard-working stewards of our land. Did you know that half of the U.S.  is farmland? These are the heroes protecting and cultivating it for the next generation—making our purchases more intentional when we make an effort to support the devoted work they do, each and every day. 

So the next time you reach for your wallet, be sure to think about how you’re supporting your own community through your purchase. It goes a long way.