Platter Chatter

Conversations about food.

Today we are featuring Victoria Everman- Writer, Model, Environmentalist, Crafter, Yogi, Co-op America Approved Green Business, U.S. Spokesperson for Twice Shy Clothing and Founder of the SF Craft Mafia.

What’s your definition of local?

I tend to follow the “traditional”/widely accepted usage of anything grown and made within 100 miles of my home. Of course, when it comes to things like clothing, that can be very hard to accomplish, especially since over 60% of all organic cotton is grown overseas. In relation to food, I personally enjoy going out to visit local farms often – it is a great way to get exercise, spend time outdoors, and get a chance to meet those who work so hard to keep us truly nourished.

What’s your definition of sustainable?

This day and age, it can be much more difficult to define “sustainable” compared to “local.” Sustainability is a closed cycle – never take more than you can return to the soil. We are all connected and it is so easy to forget that, even with all of our social websites and cell phones. Unhealthy diets and questionable chemicals that our ancestors wouldn’t recognize have come to lead us into a black hole of diseases and famine, despite our surplus of food. Sustainable isn’t just about being good to the planet, it is about being good to its people in both social and spiritual ways that not only heals our bodies but our hearts and souls as well. All this can come from nourishing the soil and using only what we need, not just what society says we should want.

When you think of local, sustainable, and community, how would you rank the three (from most important to least) and why?

Community trumps them all – if you have community, you can have local and sustainable foods and development. Growing up in Indiana, I remember running into countless people I knew at the grocery store, while riding my bike, at local football games … what happened to that? Since when is sitting behind a monitor a replacement for going outdoors? Farmers markets are a beautiful place that is helping many citizens all over the country, and the world, to reconnect with those who grow their food and are the link to local, sustainable living. It is all connected, but without community, you can’t have local of sustainable anything.

What’s one thing people can do to be more local and sustainable?

Visit LocalHarvest.org, use the “All” search function, and find local places in your area that are dedicated to sustainability. From farms and restaurants to grocery stores and CSAs, I’ve found this site to be the most comprehensive guide to local and sustainable living, especially in relation to our food systems. Take the time to go to these places, check them out, see how they are different from your fast foods joints and massive grocery chains. This is what sustainable, local living is all about – connecting on a more personal level that those “big boys” just can’t afford to accomplish.

I met Victoria Everman through The Daily Table and quickly became interested in her sustainable adventures on the west coast. She is the editor and head writer at Crafting a Green World… sustainable crafting, just one of her many talents! She also has her own blog and too many other sustainable activities for me to mention! Here’s a bit about Victoria in her own words:

“Perpetually looking for fresh ways to share my unquenchable green knowledge, I blog about everything eco on my own website, as well as for All Green Magazine and select others. Additionally, I am the editor/head writer of Crafting a Green World (part of the Green Options blog network) and a writer/web editor for Building Green TV. My diverse articles have been published in variety of reputable magazines, such as: Yoga Journal, Venus, CRAFT, Yogi Times, Recovery Solutions, M+F, and Office Solutions.

In my spare time, you can find me knitting, reading, singing, taking pictures, practicing yoga, taking long walks, and working on my first non-fiction book. Other random facts about me: I’m a Buddhist, latex fan, have four tattoos, and an attempting locavore.”