Between this website that I frequent and this book that I'm reading I've determined that I'm living the wrong life. OK, maybe not the wrong life but a temporary life. Maybe?
The book is about a family (true story) who left their home in Tucson, AZ and moved to Virginia to live off the land. They could only eat what they or local farmers could grow or raise. Period. I'm only about 1/3 of the way through the book but I feel myself wanting to leave this drought-ridden, non-crop producing part of the country and start a garden... with fruits and vegetables that this country no longer grows because of government mandates. And raise some cows that can roam and are not forced to eat corn (which isn't even part of their natural diet). The farming methods of today promote soil erosion, salinization, desertification and loss of soil fertility. We eat meat from animals who are genetically modified to live in close quarters and of a diet that is not inherent to them.
It only took two generations for most of the country's farming knowledge to disappear. Our parents probably know the basics of raising vegetables for instance. We do not. I do not. With our food being transported from other countries and the fuel crisis we are facing there is going to come a day where it will not matter how much money a person makes it will only matter if we have the skills necessary to produce our own food. And if we have the sense to store the food we grow.
Luckily there are many groups across the country that know this and are making changes. It might not be feasible for us to start a garden this year or even next but we can learn what is in our area and support our local farmers. We can learn how genetically modified meat might cost less in the supermarket but how it costs us more in health problems.
There are many cities in the country that have community farms where you can rent a plot of land and grow your own garden.
I feel jealous of the people who have grasped this concept and have made changes and are eating carrots and tomatoes and watermelon from their backyard. I can't sell my house right now because the housing market hit me bad (yep, upside-down mortgage) but I will get there one day. I can't imagine the satisfaction of eating something that I grew. Wow.
P.S. I made Eric read this after I posted and he said "people are going to be wondering why you want to garden when you don't even cook". hahahaha!!!
4 comments:
My favorite Erin (next to the card playing mexican eating lazy vacation erin) is the one who gets SUPER passionate about something after you've learned something new.
Seriously.
Great post.
I'd write more but I have to go check on my vegetable garden...and my properly fed cows...you should SO move to Utah!
Great post - but but but I like my diet coke... is there a diet coke tree or fruit or something I can grow??
Great post!! I am trying to eat healthier and more organic. My in-laws are sending me fresh veggies, and it SOO makes me want a garden. If there is one thing I learned from my Gpa while he was alive is that I NEED to produce my own food. I have a new zest for this! Yeah!!
Erin,
You can come get some of my tomatoes and peppers in August! Do you even like tomatoes though? I'm going to expand my garden next year for sure cuz I learned how to grow potatoes and want to try corn! The cow will have to wait though. There is great satisfaction to growing your own food though. Now I have to learn how to can! Love ya!
Heidi
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