This is just a quick post of some green myths I came across. It’s becoming more difficult to say what is considered green anymore. Companies, service providers, and anyone else in the business of selling something are paying their marketing departments top dollars for any convincing argument that their products and services are “green”. They typically don’t have to scientifically prove how green (if they’re green at all), but they only need to be able to convince the consumer.
The following green myths include tidbits about drinking water, organic foods, light bulbs, carbon offsets, and even Christmas trees.
Blue Architecture 
I’m not sure I buy the one about not buying locally because the stuff done to the soil in Colorado is worse than what’s being done in Colombia. I suppose for me the tradeoff is: what grows better in Colombia versus Denver? If I’m buying coffee, sure I’ll go for Juan Valdez. But if I’m buying strawberries, I’m going for Juan Martinez in Canon City. There HAS to be more of a savings of not flying and/or trucking fruit and veggies 1,000 miles versus some fertilizer and pesticides.
I’m not saying I want to eat pesticides, mind you–I just think there’s more to the local food equation than that one point would have you believe.
I agree with High Mile Pixie.
There is MUCH more to the local food movement than energy-intensity or fertilizer. In fact, there is much more to the “Green” movement that a simplified carbon count – which often skews the larger picture.
Buying local food does indeed support our farmers – keeping them IN business. That, in turn, prevents open-spaces from being developed and land being turned into parking lots by high-intensity builders. There are a million pro-environmental impact links in the multitude of chains that directly stem from purchasing from a local farm. That ONE farmer has a great deal of influence over our Green Movement and total societal carbon footprint. Supporting that ONE person has positive ramifications throughout the whole energy system.