When out of nectar, there's always the local (4)
I believe the answer is:
near
'the local' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
I can't explain the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for near that I've seen before include "Close in time or place" , "unlikely to spend much?" , "Adjacent" , "Miserly; approach" , "Verging on" .)