We’re thrilled that the Harvard Farmers’ Market is off to such a great start! It gives us yet another way to support local agriculture. We are fortunate to have so many options close at hand—orchard stores, pick-your-own, farm stands, community-supported agriculture (CSA) farms—and the farmers’ market enables more local growers to reach the Harvard market. We are also aware of the growing number of those among us who are going ultimately local—starting or expanding our own gardens.

These are all good steps in an increasingly important direction. Perhaps we should also increase the availability of community gardens, for those who lack land suitable for a garden plot. If we are to reduce our dependency on foreign-source energy, lowering or eliminating the transportation component in the food we eat is something we all can do. Perhaps a new mantra could be “plant, grow, eat,” then buy as locally as possible for the rest.