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August 31st, 2011
One of the attributes that I love most about organic gardeners is their obsession with real, authentic food.
No community of people is more in tune with where their food comes from and how it is produced than those who garden organically. There is no greater human experience than preparing a meal using fresh, organic ingredients straight from the garden. Food has the power to change our health and the lens through which we view the world.
Organic gardeners are for real!
It’s often said that the garden is the gateway to health. Once you engage people with the experience of growing, nurturing, harvesting, and ingesting real, authentic food, it has the power to change them from the inside out.
When people choose to garden organically, this decision has an impact on every aspect of their lives. They become more in sync with their own personal health, the health of their families, and the health of their environment. Organic gardeners are the essence of health, and their organic way of life impacts their mind, body, and spirit in a profound way.
In Sane Living in a Mad World (Rodale, 1972), Robert Rodale wrote that “a desire to have good food is one of the most important reasons why people have gardens. A recent survey showed that more people now garden for food than to grow flowers or other ornamentals—probably the best evidence you can ask for that store food isn’t satisfying people’s desire for quality.”
These prophetic words were written almost 40 years ago and have never been more relevant. Our food system has by no means improved. Never has a culture subsisted on a diet of processed, irradiated, and pasteurized food stripped of its vital nutrients more than our culture today.
There have been several headlines in the news recently about government raids on raw-milk and organic-food purveyors. Raw milk refers to milk produced in its pure, organic, and unadulterated form. These headlines bring me a sense of hope and optimism about the future of our food system. People are standing up and demanding their right to real, authentic food.
When it comes to real food, raw milk is a personal choice that I make because of its many health benefits. Sure, the health benefits of raw milk are a debatable topic, but I have experienced the benefits first-hand.
After much research and experimentation, I have found that the benefits far outweigh the risks. And I encourage you to check it out for yourself.
After all, health is a journey.
In the words of Jack LaLanne: “We don’t know all the answers. If we knew all the answers we’d be bored, wouldn’t we? We keep looking, searching, trying to get more knowledge.”
That’s what real, authentic living is all about.
In Sane Living, Robert Rodale went on to say that “many people today are eating lousy food. They are doing to themselves just what careless gardeners do to their gardens when they plant seeds in poor soil. These unfortunate millions of people grow and mature, but they are like the runt plants growing in eroded fields or poorly fertilized gardens. They’re alive, but that’s about all.”
My challenge to you, organic-gardening community, is to embrace real food like never before.
Research the health benefits of raw milk and support your local, organic farmers who are making these scarce but beneficial foods available to us. For a complete listing of raw-milk purveyors in your area, click here.
As we approach the harvest season, consider inviting a friend, family member, or neighbor for dinner so that they can experience the power and transformation of a “real food” experience.
Together, we will change the health of our communities and nation, one real foodie at a time.
Tags: exercise, health, organic food, raw food, raw milk, real food
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