How to be a Local Vegetarian
There quite literally is a day for everything. We may roll our eyes at some (Clean Off Your Desk Day?) but there are some gems in the calendar that strive to make us better humans. October 1st is World Vegetarian Day, one of those recently invented days that gives us the chance to celebrate veggies, and the people who love them. We can’t wait to celebrate so we’re taking it down to the local level with some ways to localize your vegetarian tendencies.
Find Your Go-To Spot
When the exhausting question of “what should we eat tonight” arises, have a list of vegetarian spots at your fingertips. The Local First Arizona directory has a category devoted to restaurants and food businesses that offer vegetarian items which can help narrow down the options. If your favorite dining establishment/food truck/bodega has limited veggie options, have a chat with the owner to see if they have considered adding items to their menu.
Find Your Farmer
Many Arizona farmers grow year round, so you can stock your fridge with veggies that are in-season and didn’t have to catch a flight to get to you. If you need to build the case that vegetables are not boring, head to a local farmers markets anywhere in the state and you’ll see a plethora of produce, and plenty of unique items that you can experiment with alongside familiar items. Some local growers have farm stands, where you can grab locally grown goodies right at the source. U-Pick farms offer the experience of harvesting your own veggies, citrus and melons. Community Supported Agriculture programs (CSAs) allow you to subscribe to a share of locally grown goodies, usually supplied once a week, which directly helps your local farmer as it is a guaranteed purchase for them.
DIY
Whether you have a backyard or a third floor patio, growing your own food is absolutely achievable. The Good Food Finder website has tips for in-ground, raised bed and container gardens and resources like planting guides and local shops that sell gardening supplies. If you are limited on growing space and want to go big, look into renting a plot at a community garden. This also provides the opportunity to socialize with people in your community and get some help if your green thumb is a work in progress. Gardening can be a fun opportunity to spend time with family and friends, and a meditative activity to burn off some stress.
Things You Don’t Eat
Finally, we want to remind you that there are products out there with weird stuff in them, and alternatives may exist that don’t use animal byproducts (or chemicals for that matter). Local soap and skin care makers like Strawberry Hedgehog make vegan soaps with flowers, herbs and natural oils. Redemption Market carries chic clutches made with vegan leather and Pink Honey Candles offer vegan candles. Spend a little time perusing the ingredient labels on products you buy and consider alternatives made with items that don’t come from animals.
So, what the big deal with opting for vegetarian stuff? It’s kinder to the environment, gives us more creatures to snuggle (which can lower stress) and can improve health conditions. So take this day of celebration to add a few more veggies in your life, whether it’s once a week or 24/7.