Things that are more complicated than you may think

[drwex]

Local food isn't a panacea: http://grist.org/locavore/local-haterade-authors-say-locavores-do-more-harm-than-good/
- in particular, local food is more energy-intensive than industrial food (esp home canning). It's not scalable in sustainable ways. But it's also not wholly bad - taste, transparency, education, better wages for farmers all can be improved by eating locally sourced foods. Complicated.

Your car insurance isn't really enough when you rent a car: http://articles.boston.com/2012-06-24/north/32348648_1_rental-insurance-collision-damage-collision-insurance
- you can't just assume that your personal auto insurance will cover you and the rental vehicle (and passengers and cargo). It may cover some stuff, but not everything the rental company may seek to recover. And the rental agreement allows the company to dump the entire cost onto your credit card first, and only later will you get some money back from your insurance company. Still, the stuff is expensive. It's complicated.

Comments

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

I do tend to see dogmatic locavorism as a privilege rather than as a real viable alternative. I like eating local produce when possible, because it's fresher and often tastier, since people who grow and sell locally can grow plant varieties that are bred more for taste than for the ability to ship well. But when tomatoes aren't in season here, I still damn well want tomatoes, so I'll buy greenhouse-grown Camparis and grape tomatoes from other places. Also, the idea of never again eating pineapple? No, thank you! I will not live like that!

[drwex]

I think there's also a variety issue. I always thought I didn't like asparagus because I don't like the thick, woody flavorless sort of thing you get at supermarkets. Turns out that's just the kind that ships well. Buying the smaller/thinner local stuff (that had actual flavor) was a different experience. Without local-ism of some sort I would likely not have found that.

[sykotropic.livejournal.com]

Home canning is time intensive, but if you are just making preserves for the family then it isn't any more energy intensive (in my experience) as cooking an extra meal. And all those canning jars turn into great (nearly kid proof) glasses when empty. But yes locavoreism isn't quite for me. I do it when I can, but I'm not going to double my grocery bill to do it.