A farm near you!
Hello from Wilmington!
I just spent all of the mid-morning and afternoon meeting with fellow Riverkeepers discussing the important issue of factory farms to our state's watersheds. The White Oak and New Rivers are indeed affected by hog and poultry farm waste that runs off into our waterways, but this problem is not unique to just our watershed. North Carolina is the number 1 state in turkey production and the second largest in hog farming right behind Iowa. Unless you think about it, it is hard to imagine how many farms are truly scattered across the state. Anyone driving along Highway 24 can smell the aroma of its presence, but imagine the presence it takes in our water - which cannot be obviously noticed by smell or sight.
Of course farms are here for a reason: to feed the growing population. I understand this and I am not asking us all to convert to being vegans (I tried being vegetarian and didn't last very long). But there are definitely little things we can do to help make a difference like: asking where our food comes from. Our nice frozen rib-eye didn't just come from the grocery store; its journey ended there. There are more and more places providing us with the opportunity to make better decisions as consumers. Next time your in downtown Jacksonville craving something meaty and juicy to cook for dinner, head over to the New Bridge Organic Market. Also, widespread grocery stores like Wal Mart and Food Lion offer a wide variety of organic and/or free-range meat products without paying a leg and an arm for it.
If anyone knows of any other local businesses using local or organic meat products in the area, please let me know!
