Is Local Food only Good for the Environment? Or could it be better for People Too?

If you get right down to the root of it, that movement that tries to promote the use of local food has always been about trying to help the environment and small-holding farmers. Buy from the supermarket chains, and you usually buy from major agricultural corporations that farm vast tracts of land intensively with genetically-modified seeds, massive quantities of pesticides and petroleum-based fertilizer. And that's not even including the way the farming corporations need to truck produce all over the country expending fuel and polluting the air. Buy local food, and you hand business to local farmers who have small farms that they are able to take care of with personal attention. They don't need to depend on pesticides and fertilizer all that much.

But is local food only good for the planet? What if it were to be better for your health as well? Certainly, that would convince a whole new constituency of the benefits of organic and local food. A grant has been made to a research team at the University of North Carolina; the goal given to them is finding out more information about what impact it has on public health for a community to abandon produce from large-scale farming and to move towards local food that's been grown no more than 100 miles away from anyone's home.

If people were to focus their entire diets on local food, they would, by requirement, need to give up processed foods. That itself would be a very healthy development. Not to mention, if you have to eat nothing but local food, you'll look out for variety as much as you can - and in that quest, you will have nowhere to turn but to new kinds of fruits and vegetables that you wouldn't ever have chosen before. By that measure, the local food movement has to be better for the public health. But what they're looking for in this study is more direct evidence.

The study’s going to take until the year 2013 to really come to any provable conclusions; whatever they find in the end, we will have a better understanding of what happens when we transition to farming practices that are healthier for the environment, that use less toxic material, and that produce fresher produce. The way America eats has a lot to say about our problem with a poor environment and our health problems. Half of all Americans live with at least one chronic disease like high blood pressure or diabetes. This didn't used to be the case before. A study to understand the way America treats its food could have a lot to contribute in helping America overcome its problems with obesity and malnutrition.

Checking Out Your Local Pet Kennels

If your pets feel like your children to you, you want to know that they have the very best. Though you would like to each and every moment of the day with them, there are going to be some times when you can not take them with you no matter how badly you wish it were otherwise. Some people are lucky in that they have friends and family to help, but that is not always the case. There are great pet kennels out there that can give your pet a temporary home while you are away or while you can not care for them. Just make sure you check things out first so you know your precious pet is happy and healthy.

Pet kennels have been around for a long time, and some of them can be problematic. You should never assume there are problems with an established business in your area, but you should also not assume that everything is as it should be. Animals can not talk and tell you if they were not happy, if something bad happened, or if they were lonely while you were gone. Instead, you have to find out about the quality of the pet kennels you are considering so you make the best match possible between the owners and your pet. This is very important for the well-being of your beloved.

Never send your cats or dogs to stay in any pet kennels without visiting first on your own. You should be shown all areas of the kennel so that you can be sure each is up to your standards. You should look for cleanliness and space so that your pets can move around. It stands to reason that they will have a crate or cage of their own for when they are sleeping, but they do need to have exercise. If you don't see any area for running and playing in pet kennels, ask about exercise. Some walk the dogs many times a day, which can make up for some loss of space for short stays.

You also want to see that all areas of the pet kennels are clean. There is always going to be some animal smell in any place like this, but it should not be overwhelming. You should not see any dog or cat feces laying around. You should also see a well lit and pleasant area for your pets, along with enough staff to handle the pets that they are currently housing and caring for. You should also find out about veterinarian care in the event of an emergency. Some will call your veterinarian and some have one they use. Find out before choosing among your pet kennels and care options.

Pet kennels don't have to be palaces, but they do have to be clean, fun, and safe. You can not go on a vacation and worry about your pet. You may worry a little, as that is quite normal, but you should not fear that they are not safe. The last thing you need is to worry that your pet is being neglected or abused in pet kennels while you are out or away. Think of choosing a kennel like choosing a preschool for your child. Never settle for anything that makes you feel uneasy or that seems wrong. If your gut tells you there is a problem, there usually is – so heed that warning and move on.