On eating local and organic
Do you ever wonder where your food comes from? If you’re not in a place that you want to question what is placed on your plate, feel free to skip this entry today.
Following the latest recalled beef story along with watching the endless news footage of the poor steers in the slaughter lots being prodded and pushed with forklifts… I digress, I closed my eyes (and sometimes ears) during this story so I can’t (and don’t want to) tell you everything else that our steaks endured on the way to our dinner plates… as I was saying, following the latest beef recall from Westland (and finding out how many meals they supply—school kids!!!), I hit my limit of “not paying attention”. I want to know where my food is coming from, and if my steak is in fact being treated with the dignity that all God’s creatures deserve.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not a vegetarian… I like meat. But I can’t make the conscious decision to eat animals AND vegetables that are housed within the agribusiness bubble any longer.
So, chatting one night at the dinner table, as is the nightly ritual, I told hubby about my moral dilemma regarding our food. He told me about a friend of his in Texas that has begun (or may be working with one, not clear on that) a CSA—or Community Supported Agriculture. Intrigued, I googled. I was led to the site http://www.localharvest.org/ I am amazed and excited at the possibilities of finding local, organic, non-genetically manufactured foods! I realized that “Genetically Manufactured” may be a little bit difficult since the seed companies are being bought out by big agribusiness—who is trying to induce us to use their hybrid seeds that don’t reproduce completely year after year like the “heirloom” foods. Anyway, I have found a farm that delivers to points around the Seattle area, year round. This means that some foods (although all are organic) have traveled across state lines to reach my home, but I still believe we are making a “better choice” as well as supporting our local farmers that do in fact work with this farm to put good and tasteful food to my family.
We are on week three, this Wednesday—tomorrow—and I have been thrilled with our produce. If you are in the Puget Sound region (or even in Anchorage, AK!), check out http://www.fullcirclefarm.com/ sign up, use my name as a reference (Melissa Devin), and pass the word on. We’ve tried growing tomatoes at our house, but we don’t get the sun (too many firs) that vegetables need to grow. I am glad to have learned about CSAs. There were others in the area that I would have liked to use, but I wanted the variety that included fruits. I also found that I can purchase a variety of wheat through Full Circle Farm. They offer quite a bit from other organic farmers, while growing veggies during the season on their own farm.
I realize now why vegetables haven’t been a big deal in our house. Seriously? The produce I have been getting at my grocery store doesn’t have much flavor. I think some foods have the flavor manufactured right out of it so they can travel long distances in one piece.
Next… It was recommended to me to read the book “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” by Barbara Kingsolver. I finished chapter 3 last night and am amazed by what I didn’t know. You figure a cucumber is a cucumber. You figure all steers naturally eat grain/corn. You forget that veggies have seasons (since we receive Chilean fruits all year, for example). I didn’t realize that only six companies control 98% of the world’s seed sales: Monsanto, Syngenta, DuPont, Mitsui, Aventis, and Dow. Do any of these companies sound familiar? Cradle to grave comes to my mind. I also had an analogy come to mind that along with all the steers that are eating non-natural-to-their-heritage foods (grain and corn), these companies have essentially made Americans into beef—controlling what we eat, and Americans are simply accepting it as the norm. And when we are continuing to get fatter, we are blamed for not eating right. It’s a perfect crime. The USDA makes the food pyramid (or whatever the new form is), but in reality the nutrients are being washed away like iceberg lettuce, extra fat is being included into our beef (thanks to corn) and other foods, and then the milk issue! High temps break down cholesterol in the milk, which then leeches into our organs. If it wasn’t broken down, it wouldn’t enter our bloodstream so readily. Add to my barb, anytime you have milk that doesn’t have to be refrigerated… question!! I don’t care if it says “organic” on it, that just isn’t right.
Anyway, my mind has been opened. I will continue my quest of local and organic as I search for foods to put on my family’s plates. I have found a meat source, produce, dairy and eggs that I feel really good about—I know the history of the food, unlike the big question marks on those unfortunate steers in the big feedlots. Support the local farmers, help them not to be taken over by big agribusiness. After all, they have families to support and local flavor tastes wonderful! I feel for the farmers that have been taken over by agribusiness, these companies are huge, have lobbyists in Washington DC, and the $$$ to control the livelihoods in question. Sad state of affairs, if you ask me.
Recommended reading:
http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com/ Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver (many links here)
http://www.localharvest.org/
http://www.spud.com (Seattle area, and Vancouver BC urban delivery of organic foods)
A yummy Banana Creme Pie! only 4 weight watcher’s points.
Welcome to my blog--it is mainly craft related, but it is a mixture of miscellaneous happenings as well. I live in the great Pacific Northwest, happily, rain and all! I am a multi-tasker by trade, enjoy quilting along with some beading, knitting, and general fiber art when I get a wild hair. I am also a homeschooling parent, but will likely not write much on that here. Enjoy! 
