I Ain't Buying What They're Selling

I have a confession to make. A few years ago, while grocery shopping with a friend (a practice I highly recommend), we had a discussion about organic fruits and vegetables. She bought them, almost exclusively, while I did not. I couldn't afford them as I was still buying diapers, wipes and formula (a sin for which I beg my children and Mother Earth forgiveness). I remember actually telling her that I trusted the governmental agencies that monitored agriculture. Surely the powers that be wouldn't let the American public purchase and consume products that were bad for our health, would they?

Fortunately, my friend didn't laugh in my face, and she still talks to me today. Now our food conversations sound more like this: What can we eat? If you've read The Jungle, Fast Food Nation or My Year of Meats, then meat is definitely out of the question. If you've seen the documentary Go Further, dairy products are off the menu. You might think fruits, vegetables and grains are the solution, unless of course you have read (or are reading) Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Organic? Only if you're sure. Eggs? Read this article in Mother Earth News and shop wisely. Google the term "frankenfoods" and you will be tempted to throw out the contents of your genetically modified pantry and start foraging for wild berries.

Foraging for wild berries is exactly what we did today. Blackberries are weeds here in the foothills, and we did our part taming the beast this morning, using buckets as our weapons. We picked apricots from our neighbor's tree this evening. Tomorrow morning we are heading to the farmer's market, which is held twice a week during the summer months. I made a large loaf of cracked wheat bread and my first batch of soy milk today, using my new machine.

Unfortunately, I'm still hungry. Eating local, in season, and home grown are worthy goals to be sure, but at times I have a hard time convincing my appetite and my family. It takes a lot of steps to go in the right direction, and I just have to remember to take baby steps. One day, I will be where I'm going.