Hi, I’m Melissa, the ELS treasurer
for 2012-2013. I came into DePaul knowing that I wanted to focus on
environmental law. Naturally, I joined ELS right away. Throughout the
year, I was interested in the variety of topics covered at the
meetings and the various service days, but also the avenues in which
ELS could help me find a summer internship. Through ELS, I learned
about a Chicago Bar Association event that focused on environmental
law. This event was where I received a list of environmental
organizations throughout Chicago. This was the first time where I saw
the name Openlands and I decided to apply for a summer internship.
Openlands is a regional conservation organization that focuses on
protecting open space and its various benefits throughout the region.
I interned at Openlands throughout the
summer after my 1L year and worked on a variety of topics. I was
assigned to an issue involving the Clean Water Act and required
permits for a mining operation next to a state park. This issue was
an interesting mix of applicable law and the public’s perception
and participation in environmental issues. I was also assigned to
research the effects of a proposed highway in which various
alternative routes would pass through important natural areas,
including wetlands and grassland bird habitats.
However, one of the most interesting
topics I worked on was regarding local food. I helped contribute to
local food assessments of various counties in Illinois. I never
realized the numerous benefits of buying local food and supporting
local food production before this assignment.
Growing local food, and just farmland
in general, has numerous beneficial environmental, health, and
societal impacts. One important function of farmland is to allow
rainwater to filter through the soil and naturally filter out the
pollutants. This helps support healthy drinking water because
otherwise rainwater can run off into sewer systems and this can
eventually taint the drinking water supply if the system overflows.
Supporting local
food in your community also helps support the increase in healthier
and fresher food. Because the food that is grown locally does not
travel hundreds of miles to get to the table, consumers can be
assured that local food is fresher and will most likely taste better.
In addition, supporting local food production in low-income
communities will bring healthy fruits and vegetables into an area
that might not have access to such food. These areas that do not have
access to a variety of nutritional foods are called “food deserts”
and would benefit greatly from a community garden or farmer’s
market in the area that supplies local, healthy food.
Along with beneficial environmental and
health benefits, supporting local food can also bring about positive
societal impacts. Encouraging local food production in an area –
through community gardens, farmer’s markets, community-supported
agriculture (CSA) programs, or the like – can help strengthen a
community. Encouraging local food gives the community a positive
platform to rally for, thus encouraging citizens to get involved in
their community and working towards the well being of its residents.
For more information about supporting
local food production and protecting farmland, check out Openlands
website at
www.openlands.org.
