Rethinking Lifestyle

Recently a class of bright-eyed Grade 2 students met me at the community garden. They came to check out the plot they will be seeding this spring. They eagerly surveyed the freshly dug dirt and had visions of perfect orange globes on trailing pumpkin vines filling their plot and reaching beyond.

This early gardening experience comes at a crucial time for these children. They will come into contact with a local source for their food supply. In their future the skill of growing their own food will likely become ever more essential. As we see the gas prices rise there will be increases in the cost of production and in the long distance hauling of the fresh foods that we demand year round. We can be sure food prices will spiral up. Growing more food ourselves can substantially contribute to decreasing our reliance on fossil fuels.

The new life skills of these young gardeners will contribute to their healthy life-style. Experience has shown that children involved in gardening increase their vegetable consumption. It’s a “Vitamin-D Sport” in this outdoor classroom. Food production knowledge can be shared among gardeners of all ages. They are joining a social network where they are contributing to a healthy community and a healthy planet.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Agency announced last week that the world food price index reached an all-time high in February. An estimated 44 million people have been pushed into poverty since last June because of rising food prices. With the continuing effects of climate change there is an expected decline in the global output of agricultural products resulting in food shortages and increased food prices. In 2007 and 2008 similar shortages led to food riots in a number of countries in the developing world. This of course needs to be addressed on a global scale. But we can begin now with awareness and some action – grow some of our own food.

Do you remember picking and eating that vine-ripened heirloom tomato in your garden last summer? Wow – the flavour was great!  No insecticides, chemical or toxins! Just a real tomato grown in sunshine in soil enriched with composted organic matter. When you grow your own food you can eat with healthy confidence! We need to take a stand against the petroleum-based agriculture that big business forces on us with the resulting environmental and health consequences.

More people are experiencing the delight of the “seed to table” experience as they dig up part of their back (or front!) yards. Others reserve a plot in a community garden or join a community supported agriculture program. If you have garden space that you don’t use why not make it available to someone? Need help with gardening chores or problems? Gardeners are always ready to help.