SpringfieldNewsSun.com

The produce department of a local chain grocery store offers many healthy-for-you items.

But if the items are shipped from as far away as Mexico or Canada to get to your grocer, are the fumes the vehicles that transport the products healthy for the environment?

That is the question a group of Wittenberg University faculty members asked themselves recently. And they came up with a solution.

The group created an internal Web site to urge the university community to buy items that are produced locally. From local egg producers to farmer's markets, the Wittenberg Green Guide points to ways to help the environment by reducing the demand for long-haul shipments and helps the local economy by encouraging buying local.

The idea came from a series of pancake breakfasts last summer, said Rick Incorvata, assistant professor of English. The pancakes were organic, the coffee was fair trade organic as were the bananas, granola and milk.

"In other words, we strapped on the Birkenstocks sandals, broke out the tie-dyed shirts and had a real hippie fest," Incorvati joked.

They first focused on recycling, starting a student-driven petition asking for recycling at residence halls.

The second move was a combination of projects, including the green guide, creating an indigenous plant garden on campus and encouraging staff to ditch the car in favor of their feet or bicycles when possible.

You don't have to be a part of the Wittenberg community to get involved in "going green."

More than 15 local farmers bring their products to Springfield every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the Springfield Farmer's Market, located at the Heritage Center parking lot. Yellow Springs Farmer's Market, located behind King's Yard, runs every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

There are several others who produce items locally.

Produce

• Clark's Farm Market, 1445 Eagle City Road, 399-2781; fruits and vegetables

• A & K Berryland, 930 Plattsburg Road, South Charleston: 568-4312; fruits and vegetables.

• Bluebird Hills, 3617 Derr Road, 390-6127; produce available by subscription, grown without pesticides.

• Harmony Farm Market, 4760 E. National Road, 324-3289; fruits and vegetables.

• Peifer Orchards, 4590 U.S. 68 North, Yellow Springs, 767-2208; seasonal produce and orchard fruit.

• Heartbeat Community Farm, 4024 Swimming Pool Road, Yellow Springs; Buy a share and receive fresh organic-produce grown.

Meat products

• Andelain Fields, 5545 Ballentine Pike, 408-7163; free range, slow growth, organic poultry, organic produce.

• Running Bare Ranch, 5656 Fletcher Chapel Road, 325-9455: bison and free range eggs, all organic.

• Mohr Animal Acres, Urbana 484-5950; chemical free, free-range chicken, beef, pork, lamb; produce and soaps.

• Freshwater Farms of Ohio Inc., 2624 N. U.S. 68, Urbana, (800) 634-7434; fish hatchery, naturally grown rainbow trout. Locally produced, honey, maple syrup, stone ground flours.

• On-The-Rise, 4177 Dialton Road, 964-1402; egg farm, tended by youth in the On-The-Rise youth program.