Tips on Building a Strong Local Food System via the 100 Mile Diet Challenge
Alisa Smith and James MacKinnon of Vancouver, BC, dreamed up the 100 mile diet in early 2005 when they decided that for one year they would eat only food that had been grown or raised within 100 miles of their home. Since then, the idea has spread far and wide. Here are a few tips on running a 100 Mile Diet Challenge, based on our experience in upstate New York in September 2006.
1. Choose September for the Challenge. Timing is critical to a successful project. September is still the harvest season so there are lots of fresh fruits and vegetables available in farmers markets, some of which close by the end of October. People are back from vacation which means a bigger pool of participants and more people to help with the organizing details.
2. Run the 100 Mile Diet Challenge for one month. A month is short enough to encourage people to try the 100 mile diet and long enough for the word to get around and for additional people to join the effort. Having a particular starting date helps the procrastinators get organized.
3. Send out press releases. The press is looking for stories with a harvest theme in September. Again, timing is critical. Our challenge was covered by 4 newspapers and was featured in 3 radio interviews.
4. Enlist organizations with similar interests as co-sponsors. Not only does a long list of co-sponsors make your project look like a huge movement (even if it starts out small!), the co-sponsoring organizations are a good source of new and enthusiastic workers.
5. Think in broad terms when you’re recruiting co-sponsors. People with a wide range of interests are attracted to the idea of locally grown food. Our co-sponsors included peak oil groups, the largest food co-op in the area, a farmer advocacy group and a group trying to connect youth and farming. Food is the intersecting point for a lot of different interests.
6. Encourage the co-sponsors to publicize the challenge to their membership. This will very quickly amplify your message.
7. Be persistent. It was challenging to get the first few groups to sign on as co-sponsors, but as our list of co-sponsors grew, other groups were eager to jump on the bandwagon.
8. Develop a website devoted to the 100 Mile Diet Challenge- see our website
http://100milechallenge.com/. The website should be informative, with sources of locally grown food. Readers notice gaps and send in more listings. Farmers notice the website and ask to be listed which provides an opportunity to get to know your local farmers.
9. Use your website to advertise upcoming events tied to the 100 Mile Diet Challenge. Also, listing the newspaper articles and radio interviews that have already covered your project will get you more press coverage!
10. Having a website will enable you to be noticed by people and groups outside of your immediate area that have common interests. And you will become aware of these groups!
11. Let Alisa Smith and James MacKinnon at
http://100milediet.org/home/ know about your 100 mile diet project. People interested in the 100 mile diet will find out about your efforts.
12. Put a blog on your website. The public is curious about what it’s like to be on the 100 mile diet. They want to hear your stories. It also provides interesting material for reporters.
13. Don’t forget to have printed material describing your 100 Mile Diet Challenge. Flyers to hang up and brochures to distribute all help to get your message out there. Be sure to direct people to your website in the printed materials.
14. Focus on food to pique the public’s interest and then use the opportunity to talk about peak oil and the dependence of modern agriculture on fossil fuels.
15. Use this as an opportunity to develop a network of people interested in peak oil, sustainable agriculture, food safety and freshness, supporting local businesses and preserving open space. In short, you’re on the way to building strong communities.
Cheryl Nechamen
