With “The Zero-Mile Diet: A Year-Round Guide to Growing Organic Food”, Carolyn Herriot’s greatest hope is to kickstart a movement: the “grow your own food” movement. As Herriot says, it is important to “make sure your neighbour is fed”, because when they are fed, you will have greater food security too. While most of us are detached from our food and the soil its springs from, the modern industrialized model of growing food has an impact that can be measured. Where our food used to be grown in healthy soil and ripened by the sun, it is now grown in depleted soil that is filled with a high level of pesticides. This means that many of the products we currently consume are low in phytonutrients, which are essential nutrients for good health and originate from the plant. It only takes a small step to begin, maybe a container plant of tomatoes, or even something larger that can feed the whole family. With this, the seed of sustainability is sown and the idea of food security becomes more achievable. After all, it is only the individual who can liberate food from the vise grip of industrialization and increase the quantity that is grown and consumed locally from 5% to something more substantial. “The Zero-Mile Diet” can represent the first step in changing the way that we think and look at food, and, in the long run, it can change the way that we live. Starting growing your own food at home, in your backyard. Now that really is local! Come hear Carolyn speak in person about her vision and passion for this movement at the main stage of the Organic Islands Festival.

In keeping with the theme of sustainability at home, please visit the Green Scene blog to check out our O-Reporters investigation into the local sustainablity scene.

At this year's Festival you'll find:

• Food products grown and processed on Vancouver Island available for sale from Island-based vendors and farmers. Almost 40 booths we will be sampling food and beverages. And this year we have more food concessions and options for everyone inlcuding raw, gluten/dairy free, local, organic, farm fresh and delicious. See the Exhibitors List:


• Forums on Sustainable Transportation; Green Homes, Buildings and Development; and Raw Foods with 20 expert panelists including authors, visionairies, green builders, 100 Mile Designers, and musicians who tour by bike


• Sustainability Expo showcasing 12 Exhibits to inspire you to "green" your home with products and tips on: composting, cooking, gardening, furnishings, housewares, energy use and more! Enter to win $1500 La Vida Eco doorpize when you complete the green expo passport!

Throughout this year’s Festival, you’ll find demonstrations showing practical ways to green your home, to grow food in your own back yard, to reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink your life. Home is the new 'local'… and that is where we need to start to develop truly sustainable living. To help you “be the change you wish you see” we have invited local change-makers to inspire you and to arm you with the tools to create sustainable change in your life, your community and beyond.