The Green Fork is the official blog of the Eat Well Guide. Click here to Find Good Food.

Welcome and Happy Earth Day! The Green Fork officially launches today, so we’ve cooked up 20 tips on how to green your fork. Enjoy!

1. Buy local & Save money. Farmer’s markets are springing up (and so are gas prices)! Why pay more for goods shipped across the country when you have fresh and delicious food right around the corner? Buy direct from the farmer whenever possible, at the market or through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), and support restaurants that serve locally-grown, sustainably-produced food. Search the Eat Well Guide — you may be surprised how many local producers are in your area.

2. Switch to grass-fed. It’s healthier for you and for the Earth! And did we mention leaner? Grass-fed meat has less saturated fat, lower cholesterol, fewer calories, and more of the good stuff — vitamin E, beta-carotene, and vitamin C. Pasture-raising animals has a much lower impact on the environment than raising them in factory conditions because it eliminates the need to ship grains, and because animal waste is managed in more natural and sustainable ways. Visit Eat Wild for more info.

3. Take back the tap. Ditch that bottle of water–it’s likely from a tap somewhere anyway, and packaging and shipping are a tremendous waste of energy and resources (not to mention, the other green — money). Find more info at Food & Water Watch — they’re also announcing the winner of their “I Heart Tap Water” video contest today!

4. Bring a Bag. According to the folks at Chico Bags, the average American uses between 300 and 700 plastic bags per year. Even creepier: according to Worldwatch Institute, only 0.6 per cent of those bags get recycled. Try to reuse and then recycle the ones you get stuck with, and get in the habit of carrying an extra bag or two. If you find it hard to remember, try leaving some next to the front door.

5. Cut down on processed foods. Think about it. Each “process” a food ingredient goes through not only takes energy, but ingredients are also shipped around and packaged. Fresh, whole foods are not only better for the environment — they’re also way better for you. Visit Anna Lappe’s new website Take a Bite out of Climate Change to learn more about how our food choices affect global warming.

6. Grow your own. Turn your lawn into an edible landscape, a la artist Fritz Haeg’s Edible Estates. Don’t have much room? Consider a container garden, or a plot in a community garden — find one near you at the American Community Gardening Association. For inspiration, turn to Joan Gussow’s This Organic Life.

7. Invest in heirlooms. Heirloom vegetables and heritage breeds are a vital link to our agricultural history, and these increasingly rare varieties help preserve biodiversity. Plus, they are exotic and delicious. Check out the Seed Savers Exchange.

8. Enough with over packaging! If you buy or order something and it comes with excessive packaging, let the company know!

9. Go organic. There’s no doubt about it — petroleum-based pesticides and fertilizers are no good for you or the earth. Check out Sustainable Table for information on why it’s so much better, and eat organic whenever you can.

10. Go meatless, at least a few times a week. According to the 2006 UN Food and Agriculture Organization report, Livestock’s Long Shadow, global livestock production is responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions–that’s more than all the transportation in the world. New to vegetarian cooking? Check out Meatless Monday for information and recipes.

11. Put your (organic) waste to work! Got leftovers? Turn them into compost, so they can help nourish the land. When sent to landfills, they create harmful (and yucky) methane gases. Pick up composting tips at the NYC Composting Project.

12. Take it slow. By joining your local Slow Food chapter, you’ll be joining an international movement and helping fund important projects like the Ark of Taste. You’ll also likely get invited to some amazing potlucks!

13. Get involved. Join a local organization (search for one via advanced search on the Eat Well Guide), take part in an Eat Local Challenge, or host a local, sustainable potluck.

14. Start simple! Our friends at Food Routes are featured in the new edition of 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth. Check out their tips on thinking globally and eating locally.

15. Drink well. If you can’t go organic, find rBGH-free dairy. Look for fair-trade, organic coffee, and locally-produced beer and wine.

16. Speak up. Let the manager of your local supermarket know you’d rather have local produce than something that’s been shipped from across the country — or further. Write a letter to the editor, leave a note for a restaurant owner, give a call to a representative.

17. No more take-away throw-away! Carry containers with you for your to-go meals.

18. Feed your animals well! Last year’s pet food crisis really got animal lovers interested in choosing more natural foods for their pets. Go the extra mile and source meats, eggs, poultry and veggies (yes, your pet will eat veggies) from local farmers. Less processing/chemicals + fewer food miles = healthy, happy pets and a greener planet.

19. Be a Community Leader! Help your neighbors find good food by organizing a buyer’s club, a farmers’ market, or a community garden.

20. Fish for answers. Once you’ve wrapped your mind around organic and local and sustainable and biodynamic…seafood is a whole different animal! Luckily, there’s great information out there about sustainble seafood–Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch even offers printable, pocket-sized guides.