As I mentioned in a previous post I am set to move to Arizona in a couple weeks. It may or may not be a permanent move as my motivation for it is to be with family while I undergo chemotherapy treatments.
When I made the decision to go, the first thoughts that entered my mind were about how I was going to eat organically and locally. You see I am set here in Ohio with great Farmer’s Markets, local farmers only miles away, and wonderful friends that make many natural household items. Moving to a new place can be scary when you don’t know all those hidden resources that make living naturally an easy accomplishment. I know that I do not want to have to shop at the grocery store down the street where organic foods are few and far between. I also want to develop a relationship with local farmers and natural products establishments again so I need to be able to find them.
Luckily there are a few online resources that make setting up a home and keeping things “natural” in a new city pretty easy. Here are a few of my favorites:
Local Harvest – This site allows you to search by zip code for natural stores, farmers markets, CSAs, local farms, co-ops, and natural restaurants.
Pick Your Own – This site allows you to search by state for farms that allow you to come and pick your own produce.
Green People – This site has a directory for lots of natural stores both online and off. It also allows you to search for local CSAs, farms, and co-ops.
I searched all of these sites to find out what would be available to me locally in my new digs. I found a great CSA that will be delivering fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs to my door once a week. I also found out that there are at least a dozen natural foods stores including Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Sprout’s Farmer Market, a Sunflower Market, and others. I located half a dozen farmers markets in my area and there is even an exclusively organic restaurant that is just a 10 minute drive from me. I found almost everything I could want! The only thing that I didn’t find was a good co-op to buy natural household items, toiletries, and bulk goods but that may just be the incentive I need to start one myself. I am feeling much more confident about my move now that I know my family and I will have everything we need. :)
