We’ve all heard that local is lovely. If you live in Sydney’s Newtown, local is also delicious – that’s the message Eat Happily are spreading this October with their SHOP LOCAL campaign. Uniting Newtown’s local community of food co-ops, greengrocers and farmers’ markets, SHOP LOCAL is a week full of markets, recipe sharing, competitions, community picnics and farm tours – and it all kicks off today. Discover urban beekeeping, participate in a veggie box cook-along and try your hand at the cook-a-one-mile-meal challenge – all events are designed to pave the way for a healthier food future. Prosperous farmers, transparent food chains, community spirit and slow eating: it all begins with what you choose to put on the end of your fork. If Newtown isn’t your local neighbourhood, you can still check out Eat Happily’s 23 tips for sourcing food which anyone can use year-round to guide their shopping decisions. Sydney siders, there are plenty of community and DIY activities to chow down on, so view the full program online and save your spot in whatever activities tickle your tastebuds. Bon appetite, Newtown!