We live in a world where our lives, for the most part, are determined by forces from faraway places. Much of our food comes from California. What we watch on the evening news is determined in New York. Our shoes are made in China.

When we think of living green, we recycle, buy organic food, ride bicycles, and make other such consumer-oriented decisions, but ultimately, to sustain life in the Tampa Bay area, we need to learn to live locally.

Take a look at nature. Every ecosystem on Earth is unique in its geology, weather patterns, flora and fauna. Since the beginning of life, everything that happened in a place sprang forth from that place in all its uniqueness. Yet, today, we’ve lost that connection with the land and its distinct gifts.

Here are some things we can do to begin to reconnect.

This article appears in Jun 3-9, 2010.