Most of us have our own
doctor, dentist, and lawyer – so why not a farmer? Many locally owned farms
offer fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, eggs from free roaming chickens and
beef that have been raised on a green pasture instead of in a crowded,
manure-filled feedlot.
According to Michael
Pollan, author of the bestseller The Omnivore's Dilemma, most
Americans are only dimly aware that their food represents their most profound
engagement with the natural world. "Health problems such as obesity, food
poisoning (including mad cow disease), heart disease, and many others are
connected to the way we grow our food." says Pollan
.
In generations past, most
people had a direct connection with the natural world and agriculture where
their livelihoods depended on food and other goods produced from the land. As
recent as 100 years ago, four-fifths of the world population lived in rural
communities and were in some way dependent on agriculture for their living. Even
in the 1970’s it is estimated that half of the world's working population was
still employed in agriculture. With industrialization, large numbers of people
moved to cities and lost their connection with the land.
Now, most of us go to the
market, see the word "Organic" and think the product probably tastes better, has
no pesticides or chemical additives, and is therefore a healthier choice for us
and our children. But what's the environmental impact of the food we buy, even
organically grown food? Where did the food come from and how much energy was
used to get it to your market? Trucking or flying food in from around the
country and the world uses a lot of petroleum. Michael Pollan says that the food
industry burns nearly a fifth of all petroleum consumed in the U.S. He calls
Wal-Mart, Safeway and Trader Joe's "Industrial Organic," where most of its
produce comes from a few huge suppliers…even as far away as New Zealand and
China. The Washington Post reported that large farms account for only 7
percent of the total number of farms, but they produce 60 percent of
agricultural output.
So, if you're
health-conscious as well as ecologically minded, you may want to venture out and
find your farmer. According to Business Week, the local farmer is
emerging as a new celebrity. Why not become part of this important movement? Go
to the farmers’ market and talk to the farmers directly. Ask if they use
pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Most are an interesting, committed bunch of
people. Or better yet, head directly to a farm near you.
Check out
www.eatwellguide.com, an online directory of sustainably raised meat,
poultry, dairy and eggs;
www.eatwild.com, which lists local suppliers for grass-fed meat and
dairy products; and
www.heritagefoodsusa.com, which sells mail-order "traceable" products
from small farms whose labels provide details about how they were produced..
Another way to connect with
a farmer is to join a C.S.A. or “community supported agriculture” farm. The idea
for CSAs was originally conceived in the 1920's by Austrian philosopher Rudolf
Steiner. Before the growing season, you buy shares in a farm, and during the
season you, the "shareholder," get a weekly box of fresh, seasonal vegetables,
(sometimes eggs and meat), herbs and fruit at the peak of ripeness. They are
selected by the farmer and either delivered to your door or collected from a
drop-off point.
Pollan says that eating
from the C.S.A. box "constitutes the very opposite of industrial eating, that
sort of unconscious consumption based on our desire to eat whatever we want
whenever we want it — tomatoes in January, strawberries in October — food
that’s been cleaned, cut up, processed, cooked, everything but chewed and
digested for us."
There are now more than
1500 CSAs in the U.S. To find a C.S.A. near you, go to
www.localharvest.org or
www.csacenter.org. The challenge is that you have to learn to cook
creatively with the rhythms of the seasons and not just with a shopping list.
For example, in winter there might only be kale, Swiss chard or collard greens
available. And what about that funny looking gnarly brown ball called celeriac?
I've avoided it for years until I discovered it tastes really great in soup.
Remember to eat local, eat
seasonal and go “beyond organic.” It definitely takes effort, but the rewards
can be tremendous. By actively supporting our dairies, farms and ranches, it
will help retain the exceptional quality of life we have here in America.
About the Author
Beth Greer, "Super Natural
Mom" is former President of The Learning Annex, the largest private alternative
education company in the U.S. She has conquered a tumor without drugs or
surgery, using alternative methods of healing and lives in Mill Valley, CA with
her husband and 9-year-old daughter. Contact Beth at
beth@supernaturalmom.com
