It has felt like a funny week here. I’m not sure what has been at the root of it: perhaps the load of snow that remains, spring sniffles, too many late knitting nights, too much caramel paired with too much Monsanto horror (if you want to learn about Monsanto and GMO’s visit Farmama’s links here), or the discovery that I shouldn’t be buying some of my favourite things anymore (ie. sugar) paired with Dan’s announcement that we need to move to Europe or grow all of our food.
Kind of weighty stuff – well apart from the late night knitting. In that respect I deserve my current state of extreme fatigue.
For many years I’ve been pushing healthier choices and a greater environmental conscious on our family but suddenly Dan has taken a deep interest in these matters. Viewings of Food Inc and Supersize Me have changed many of his (and our) daily choices and I’m sure my rattling on about things I’ve read in books such as In Defense of Food, The Omnivore’s Dilemma and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle has had an impact as well. It seems, though, that delving a little deeper into the lesser known (and hugely under-publicized) truths about genetically modified foods and corruption in huge agri-biotechnics such as Monsanto has really stirred up a more pressing desire to rely less heavily on grocery stores and manufactured products.
The last thing I want to do is stir up a hornet’s nest, just thought I would share what’s been buzzing through my head lately. I’ve felt rather overwhelmed with trying to find a balance that we can support without going bankrupt or never sleeping again. But as we wrestle with questions and decisions I am very thankful for faith and hope. And for little people so full of joy, innocence, love, faith and laughter…
And the smiles they can always put on our faces…
Dear Rachel, your children have such beautiful little faces!
I agree with all you say here! And I like your words: “find a balance.”
Making changes in how one eats and obtains food at first can seem so daunting- and then it becomes just life, the way it is. We began to make changes years ago, with goals in mind- and have come to where we are now- growing and raising a lot of what we eat, and obtaining the rest locally. It’s been a journey, and a lot of work- and we’ve still go goals to meet- but I’d say we’ve been successful and feel peaceful about where we are.
<3
Oh I so hear you. As awareness settles in about our food culture, it gets so heavy, doesn’t it? I go through bouts of feeling if I ever can do enough. Then I start to worry about the kids. But I guess it all starts with the little changes, and as you said “faith and hope”. I don’t know what I would do without those :). Your photos of your beautiful children brings those words to life for sure :).
cuteness overload! and yes, monsanto is pretty darn evil. we were choosy with food consumption and have become even more so. i’m just saddened by so many people who either aren’t aware or choose to ignore the signs their bodies are giving them.
Oh Rachel you do make such cute babies! I can’t wait to hear about the next (I may be living vicariously through you a little). The healthy choices are so tough, and it does at times feel like opening a can of worms, the more we learn the more horrific it becomes. Sometimes when all this has be down I just remember what I used to know say 10-15 years ago and I laugh. We just keep plodding along. As for Europe, I keep saying we need to give it a try for a year or two…
Your kids *are* really cute! 🙂
My husband has just “gotten on board” with all of the stuff I’ve been talking about for years. Now that we are truly making the changes, it’s a little scary for *ME*. I hope that I can handle it all 😉 But, I know that if I take things one step at a time…or chicken at a time…or garden bed at a time…that everything will work out, and my family will be enriched with a healthier lifestyle. For us, it’s about becoming more locally focused. I think that agri-business has happened because society has become so global. I’m not sure that it’s good for people to know about everything that is happening everywhere. It has certainly led to businesses moving production offshore and out-sourcing a lot of their work. We all live where we are, and yet we consume news and goods from far-off places. It’s easy to become depressed and overwhelmed by things happening everywhere. I want to really start focusing on right here, right now. This family, this home, this small half-acre is where *I* can make the biggest difference.
Really inspiring and thought-provoking post, Rachel.
I really love the photos of your kids. They are just so adorable!
For me, I wish money wasn’t such a factor in persuing a healthier way of living. It’s sad when striving for health and balance is apparently outside the norm. Thanks for the post Rachel!
Your kids have huge, beautiful eyes!
Its funny, my husband and I have been reading the same book but in different chapters (figuratively speaking) for a few years and now we are finally reaching the end of the novel together if that makes any sense. We try to eat organically, grow much of our own food, walk more/ drive less, homeschool (soon)–neither of us bought into all of these things just three of four years ago, but one of us prioritized each of them (hope this is making sense). We have had the move to Europe talk too! Now we just want our own land in a pretty place. 🙂
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Oh, we are working on these things too. Dreaming about growing more food by our self, but there is not a long season here in the north for growing food… We are slowly changing the way we eat. Trying to make most of our meal from scratch and trying to eat less sugar.
And Endre is happy that Liam got the letter. I started to worry it might had got lost in the mail.