A strong tenet of the green lifestyle is to "buy local," since even if, say, you are staunchly committed to organic produce — because you understand the long-term danger to agriculture of heavy pesticide use, and you understand that many fertilizers are made with petrochemicals — you are undercutting your principles if the organic produce you buy is flown in from Chile or trucked in from California.

One great response to these conditions would be to grow all your own vegetables organically in your backyard, although, at least this year, I won't be doing that. Another very good one is to commit to getting your produce at one of the many farmers' markets within short driving distance. Mostly for myself, I've culled out a schedule of the ones closest to Arlington, but a complete Mass. resource is here (including more specific locales for the ones nearby), at the website of the Federation of Mass. Farmers' Markets.

Monday — Cambridge (Central Sq.)

Tuesday — Cambridge (Harvard. Sq.); Lexington;

Wednesday — Arlington; Somerville (Davis)

Thursday — Belmont; Cambridge (Kendall Sq.) ; Medford

Friday— Cambridge (Charles Hotel)

Saturday — Cambridgeport; Somerville (Union Sq.); Waltham; Winchester

Sunday — Cambridge (Charles Hotel)

With this, I'll know where to go no matter what day we run out of arugula. Be sure to check the FMFM link for market starting dates. On this list, the Charles Hotel Sunday session starts today, and Davis Square is next, opening a week from Wednesday, on the 28th. Arlington's opens June 11.

Source: FMFM