by Gretchen Morfogen
Filtering the information flooded upon us through the hoards of media outlets can allow us clarity in our choices. The bombardment of data is excruciatingly difficult to sift through. Many of us have the innate ability to know what is best based on our overall health radar but some of us have no concept of what can make us healthier unless given more specific guidelines. That being said perhaps an overall assessment of our “diet” is the first place to start.
Clearly the dynamic of each of our lives varies as greatly as we do as does our consumption. Weston Price Foundation determines that “all the ails of society can be cured through better nutrient dense foods”. The extensive research done through this foundation is staggering in its simplicity but threatens the foundation of medicinal, pharmaceutical, dietetic, industrial foods existence. The trillions of dollars spent on “curing” or “treating” would be and is challenged by the findings of this and other researchers striving to find a solution to not only feeding but nourishing the 7 billion people on the planet.
Environmental pollution and the over consumption of processed foods has created a completely new set of disorders for the past few generations and the upcoming ones as well. So how do we tackle these malady’s. Who do we believe? So much of the truth is being disputed by so called “experts” only to find that they have a vested interest in keeping the truth from the populous. Conspiracy? Perhaps, but the overall health of the planet in human figures is staggeringly poor. I cannot imagine that the industrial food producers can continue providing the planet with empty nutrient-less products. The only way we’ll ever know what how and where our food is made is to keep it local and monitor able. Even better – grow your own.
The cost of food is only going to increase based on availability and transportation expenses. Your local farmer cannot keep up with the demands people have for locally grown produce, meat, dairy etc. Even urban communities have found ways to coop their growing and forged healthy relationships along the way. We’re talking survival here. We owe it to ourselves and our families to take the first step in creating a new way of thinking about our food and where it comes from.
The following quote was posted in a newspaper in Ontario: It sums up the ignorance that people have regarding food sources. “To all you hunters who kill animals for food: shame on you, you ought to go to the store where meat was made there, where no animals were harmed.” the denial that so many of us live in is cause for continuous education regarding our food sources. Knowing is everything.
The homesteading movement is underway and growing with each individual with the courage to make a difference first in their lives and then in that of the people around them. This is more than gardening.
The living simple life practices that define the modern homesteading movement are making this particular path an option that appeals to many. From extremely rural areas to the hearts of urbanized cities, homesteading is becoming a choice that many embrace.
Although not all homesteaders subscribe to the full off-the-grid lifestyle, many people are gaining the advantages that this simpler option can deliver. The movement toward self-sufficiency, lowered expenses and reduced environmental impact is just one that many people in today’s world find sense and comfort in. Regardless of how deep into homesteading a family goes, this simple life alternative does provide serious benefits.
Families can see an increase in bonding time and a decrease in expenses and environmental impact from the actions they take. Homesteading provides a number of benefits on a spiritual level. Meaning it just can have deeply positive psychological benefits for a family and its members such as:
• Community – Even in urban settings, homesteading often calls for people working together to achieve a goal.
• Independence– creating a tendency to be very self reliant.
• Better health – eating a healthier diet by producing your own food and avoiding processed, non-organics can turn out to be a very beneficial choice for health in general.
It’s a fact that the simple life is less costly. The economic benefits of homesteading can be saving on:
• Food – growing your own crops and raising your own animals can realize an incredible savings on food bills.
• Utilities – some choose to offset its use through solar or wind power. They may also use wells and other means to reduce impacts and lower monthly expenses.
The positive environmental impacts can include:
• A reduction in personal carbon footprints
• A reduction in the demand for fossil fuels
• Better use of sustainable resources by people who embrace this lifestyle.
Homesteading offers living simple life practices that almost anyone can embrace. Even if only a few steps are taken, the principles that guide this movement can help people save money, improve health and happiness, and reduce their impacts on the world around them. This years end can be the start of a new lifestyle change for the better. Small steps to ensure the safety and survival of your food source.
Gretchen Morfogen is a regular culinary writer for The Healthy Planet magazine.