At least one week of my childhood summers was spent in the area around Chicago visiting family. The trek up to Yankee land took about eight hours, and although it didn’t seem so at the time, the strangest thing would happen. After waking from a two-hour nap and peering out of the window, I had no idea where we were. There were no recognizable features, apart from rolling Kentucky horse farms or flat monocrop Illinois corn fields. But sure enough, those hideous golden arches would appear at regular intervals, with gas stations and mini marts never far away. It wasn’t until much later that I would become familiar the apt description geography of nowhere. From Tennessee to California, super chains dominate not only the bleak interstate landscape, but also string through our communities like a black widow’s web. This cultural homogenization represents a social experiment that is without precedent, as is the resulting income inequality, extreme resource consumption, health risks and a host of environmental concerns. The refreshingly-straightforward solution: become a locavore, not only in diet, but in lifestyle.

The good news is that this disastrous experiment is relatively new, and it is in our power to bring it to a swift end. Just as anyone born before 1945 can attest to, America was once a patchwork of thriving communities. In the early 1900s, nearly 40 percent of families lived on farms, compared with 1 percent in 2000. The majority of what a region consumed was produced in that region, and goods rarely traveled more than a day to market (USDA: Local Food Systems: Concepts, Impacts, and Issues; 2010). The end of World War Two marked the shift to a national economy. Low transportation costs allowed for regional specialization. Tennessee, for example, can concentrate on products that thrive here, such as Jack Daniel’s and GooGoo Clusters, and import what doesn’t.

Under certain conditions, this system is a win-win. Those conditions are: universally fair employment, sustainable production methods and sustainable transportation. None of these conditions are present in the current organization of the economy. From tomatoes picked by slave labor and with an average transportation footprint of 1,500 food miles, to retail outlets packed with Chinese goods, our entire way of life is fueled by cheap petroleum and inequality. In addition to moral appeals, there is also a strong economic argument can also be made for supporting the local economy. A study conducted in Austin, Texas, by the research group Civic Economics found that local merchants generate more than three times the economic activity of chain establishments of a comparable revenue level.

Although solutions may seem to jump out of the page, the means to realize them can be hard if not impossible to find. It is difficult enough to find goods made in the U.S., let alone Tennessee. Where do we start? Well, there’s the obligatory for any serious environmental article: consume less and make your own. Don’t buy another kitchen utensil and try to avoid tomatoes in December. Become a fan of garage sales and swapping. But for the remaining tasteful consumption choices, there are a rapidly expanding number of options in and around the Boro.

Grocery/Food
Sunshine Health and Nutrition – herbs, vitamins, teas, books, foods. Great bulk section.

Pa Bunk’s – Local market and cafe. The only place I have found with true free range eggs (from Wedge Oak farms of Lebanon). Coffee is roasted locally by Just Love Coffee Roasters, and you can enjoy it on the sidewalk with a great view of the square.

Readyville Mill – just east of Murfreesboro on the way to Woodbury, this place takes you back 100 years. Stop in for some freshly milled cornmeal and grits, or for a stone-ground pancake breakfast at the eatery.

Hatcher’s Dairy – each cow has a name at this farm west of Murfreesboro. Also find it at Pa Bunk’s.

Honey – local, unfiltered honey is great for allergies
T&L Honey, 6324 Watsonwood Court, Murfreesboro, TN, 37129
Erdmann Farm, 2250 Rock Springs Midland Road, Christiana, TN, 37037
Moonshine Farms and Apiary, 1918 Cliffview Court, Murfreesboro, TN, 37128
Radford’s Cattle, 576 Shirley Lane, Smyrna, TN, 37167

Strawberries – always on a top ten list of items to buy organic
Andrews Berry Farm, 6363 Cooks Lane, Smyrna, TN, 37167
Jones Nursery, 220 Jefferson Pike, Smyrna, TN, 37167
P and P Farms & Shuck-n-Shack Corn Maze, 2841 East Jefferson Pike, Lascassas, TN, 37085

Apples
Morning Glory Orchards, 7690 Nolensville Road, Nolensville, TN, 37135
Stoney Creek Farm, 4700 Coe Lane, Franklin, TN, 37064
Kimis Garden Variety Produce, 612 Holmes Gap Road, Watertown, TN, 37184

Fish – ever read anything about imported seafood?
Nut Cave Trout Farm, 340 Shippmans Creek Rd. Wartrace, TN 37183

Chickens/eggs – ever thought of raising your own hens? I know I sure have…
Poultry Hollow, 198 Wilkerson Hollow Lane, Brush Creek, TN 38547

Restaurants – I cook about 99 percent at home, and try to grow a lot too. After attempting to make a list of local restaurants, I soon realized that I am the worst person for the task . . . so check out the Pulse food reviews. If I had to pick my favorite it would have to be the Clay Pit, and not just because it is the only Indian restaurant in town.

Farmer’s Markets – it is a good idea to ask if produce has been sprayed. Just because a vendor hasn’t paid for USDA certification doesn’t mean that they douse their plants with Ortho.

Mainstreet – Saturdays 8-12 on the square, the 2012 season begins June 12th

Rutherford County – Tuesdays and Fridays 7-12, 315 John Rice Blvd. near Sam’s, the 2012 season begins May 11th. Look for the Farmer’s Market signs.

Coffee/Tea – I can’t believe how long it has taken to get any real coffee shops in a college town of 100,000 plus. We once had the Red Rose Cafe and Espresso Joe’s, neither of which were to last. Luckily we now have two wonderful options:

Jo Zoara – a Murfreesboro establishment. Ideal atmosphere for a friend or a book. Expect a friendly greeting from owner Teresa Harmon or her grounds crew.

Just Love Coffee Roasters (and coffee house) – we finally have a local roaster, and one that does it right to boot. All coffees are from sustainable sources and farmers are paid fair prices. The company has donated upwards of $200,000 to adopting families, orphan care, and nonprofit organizations. As if this isn’t enough, 5 percent of all sales go to support clean water projects through charity:water. A cup of joe never tasted so good!

Positiffitea – The Boro’s own tea trader, with some really unique and healthy blends.

Personal Products
Jolly Llama Naturals – locally made spas/personal/beauty care.

Dr. Nates – natural toothpastes, founded by Murfreesboro dentist Dr. Nate Schott

Clothing
I’ve got nothin’. Please let me know of any local producers! My cousin Jamie of Jamie and the Jones makes clothing in Nashville, which counts as local in my book. Thrift/Consignment stores are a great option for anyone paying attention to where our clothes come from and how they are made. You could also try praying for a paradigm shift that would make it more socially acceptable to say, “Look what I got from a friend” or “Look what I found at Goodwill” instead of “Look how much my Kohl’s bucks got me!”. I don’t see anything short of divine intervention as realistic on this one.

And last, but certainly not least:

Pick Tennessee Products – picktnproducts.org.

Give us your two cents
Visit boropulse.com/eatlocal to take a survey aimed at finding out how many Murfreesboro folks will join the eat local movement.

Participants are registered to win free gifts from Pa Bunks, Sunshine Nutrition, Just Love Coffee, Rutherford County Farmer’s Market, Positiffitea, Jolly Llama, Harmony Inspired Massage, Avalon Acres, The Ascent and more!