It’s much simpler than you think to eat locally. No matter who you are, no matter where in the Bostonish area you live and no matter how much disposable income you have, it’s possible to begin transitioning your diet into a more delicious+sustainable one.

1. Cheese

Most New England grocery stores carry a few local options including Cabot, Grafton Cheddar and Vermont Butter & Cheese Co. cheeses.

2. Have the best hamburger of your life

Locally produced, grass-fed ground beef is widely available and affordable. We recommend Hardwick Beef (at the Harvest Co-op in Cambridge or Jamaica Plain). Also, Stillman’s and Austin Bros. sell ground beef at several farmers’ markets.

3. Drink good beer

Some of the best craft beer in the country is brewed in New England. And you can buy it at nearly every liquor store! (Please note: Sam Adams is not local. Though you can tour a brewery in JP, that’s not where they make the beer we can buy.)

4. Eat fish

Join the brand-new, first-ever Boston area CSF (Community Supported Fishery) and have fresh fish from sustainable, family fisherman in Gloucester every week.

5. Check out a farmers’ market

There is a market every day of the week somewhere in the city, and there is probably one very close to where you live.

6. Go shopping

Lionette’s Market, The Dairy Bar, Formaggio Kitchen, Dave’s Fresh Pasta, Harvest Co-op, to name a few, all sell plenty of locally-produced items.

7. Have a canning party

When the fruit and veggies are abundant this summer, take the time to freeze blueberries, can tomatoes, make sauerkraut.

8. Cook

It’s not rocket science, it’s dinner! Vow to cook more, cook for friends, pack a lunch.

9. Garden

Almost any amount of space is enough to grow herbs + greens, enough for a backyard stirfry.

10. Join a CSA

The CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) makes it cheap and easy to eat locally. You pay a farmer up front for a season’s worth of fresh, local, organic vegetables (or eggs, meat, or flowers) and they deliver the goods every week.