I read the food journalism of Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser for years, and considered myself someone who cared about the production and distribution of food. I strove to be aware of how meals found their way to my plate, and learned a little more about cooking each year. But last summer, I read Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, and my devotion to these matters increased tenfold. Kingsolver's book, which is about the year her family spent eating only what they could grow, supplemented by items made in the county they live in, kept me up nights. And it immediately changed my behavior.
I spent endless weekend hours digging up sod and planting my first garden. When most of it failed, I began learning more about what kinds of foods I can successfully grow at an altitude of 7000+ feet.
I scoured our farmer's market most every Saturday during our short summer season.
I began buying (affordable) chicken from a woman who can track where it comes from and how it is raised, and (affordable) beef from a rancher who lives a few miles to the east and is very particular about his cattle.
I've also begun using food scraps to make my own stock, and/or to compost. I've learned other basics like pasta and pizza dough. We're eating more naturally all the time. We're not rich and can't afford to buy our way to ethical, nutritious eating at Whole Foods. But that's a blessing--living on a budget forces us to be careful, to learn slowly, to be resourceful, and to actually change.
This year, I plan to learn and do more. I'm giving myself a long leash in this area because of other demands, but I do want to make gradual improvements in 2009. I've found a seed supplier who specializes in fruits, vegetables, and herbs that do well at high altitudes; I'll use those seeds instead of relying on whatever transplants I can find at Home Depot. I'll greatly vary what I plant--did you know there are hundreds of varieties of lettuce? dozens of cucumber?--and extend my garden area even more. We still rely on the convenience of fast food joints from time to time, and I hope we'll do that less and less. (Five Guys and Chick-fil-A are relatively guilt-free exceptions.) We'll either join a CSA farm or learn how to stretch our farmer's market dollars even further--anyone have practice at keeping perishable foods?
Eating has become an area of life that so clearly combines the spiritual and the material. It also combines the individual (silent hours spent cooking or digging in dirt) with the communal. I don't know how I missed these combinations for so many years, but I did. I'm grateful to be living with them now.
How about you, reader? Any thoughts on how you plan to approach food in this new year?
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I have changed alot since my husband died in '07. I have learned alot about eating food that's better for you. I've lost almost 20 lbs and am back to my high school weight (I even thought I was fat then being 115 at 5'2"). I should read more about what food is best for me. I am eating more veggies & fruit & less red meat. I'm much more active since I got back into swimming laps, walking/jogging my dog, doing Yoga & playing Pickleball (have you heard of it?). It helps to keep busy after a mate of 20 years is gone. Sorry, I'm rambling on, off-topic. I should plant & grow food!
I plan to eat a lot less sweets for the New Year. I am diabetic and Im giving up pop. This is my biggest offendor. Not only does it give me too many cavities, but when I drink it I feel jittery and upset. I don't need that! I know if I can conquer it mentally first, then I can get over it. The other night the "pop devil" came t me about 7:30PM and said: Wouldn't you just love to have a Coke? I waited a few minutes and then got my water bottle and my multigrain Cheerios. Guess what? I didn't want pop then. It's mind over matter. If you retrain your mind, the "sugar" won't matter.
Carol
Our church has started this year off with a twenty-one day Daniel fast, which is no meats, sugar, white flour, processed food, caffeine etc. After being slightly more than half over I am amazed at how well I feel and my energy level has trippled. The first two days of the fast I thought my head would split in two from caffeine withdrawl.
This fast has showed my family what a tremendous difference food can make on how you feel. In 2009 we will be cutting out junk food, fast food, caffeine, and eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.
I would love to eat totally raw from every seeding plant the earth over (Genesis 1:29) but as a messenger, I am required to eat from what ever anyone offers me. As a wayfarer (Isaiah 35:8 & John 3:8) I do tend to eat bits from most seeding plants I see growing along the roads, but I have been required to be stationary for a few years now, so my variety is less than when traveling.
When I saw the differences between the Gen. 1 and 2 diets I will saw the actual cause of our ill health and discarnating. The formed man was only to eat from fruit, berries included, while the made man were to eat from all seeding plants. All healing, not treating, medicines came from plants so if we abstain from flesh and return to what the Bible said is man's original diet of berries, fruit, grains, nuts and vegetables the earth over we will find ourselves healthier than ever.
That becomes a problem with stationary man, especially in cold climates, where there is no way to maintain uncooked vegetables, so the flesh they eat should be from sources known for being closest to their natural way of life.
I'm sorry to say I haven't read any of the books by Pollan, Kingsolver & Schlosser that I "should" have (and would like to). This year I plan to do the best I can by growing some food, being a CSA member (have been for 12 years as of this year), shopping for local foods and just doing the best I can and doing a bit better every year. I'd like to join a co-op but there's none in my area and I don't have the time/energy to do it myself. I'll keep looking and asking if someone else will!
You don't have to be rich to shop at Whole Foods! Their bulk prices for things like Rice, Legumes and Nuts are quite reasonable. I use coupons there, watch for sales and price check. I don't work there or have any connection but I'm tired of people saying this when I feel some of it has to do with people who don't know how to shop on a tight budget.
I'm sure there's a longtime organization in your neck of the woods that certifies organic farms. I'd suggest to contact them and join to learn more about what grows well in your area (and maybe attend workshops or conferences).
For food preservation, I've taken Cooperative Extension classes on freezing and canning and maybe the one in your area has them as well. There's some great books about the subject - Root Cellaring by the Bubels, Wild Fermentation by Sandor Ellix Katz, Preserving Food Without Freezing or Canning by the Gardeners & Farmers of Terre Vivante, Build Your Own Underground Root Cellar by Storey Press, Putting Food By by Greene, Hertzberg & Vaughn and anything by Rodale Press or Story Press will be worth looking at. Check your library (or ask them to purchase these books) and you never know what you can find at used book stores, yard sales, etc.
Wishing you good eating!
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