Do you know who grows your food?
I grew up in a land of giant, smelly feedlots with cows in pens happily chewing their cud while standing on piles of their own shit. I have very dear friends and family members that feed the nation’s meat habit through commercial livestock farming, but it never made sense to me – emotionally or mentally – to cage an animal and feed it grains when it is meant to roam free and eat grass.
For a long time in my life, I didn’t eat meat because I didn’t want to buy into commercial meat farming. My mind was blown (and stomach saved – a vegan diet killed my grain sensitive stomach) when I found out about sustainable livestock farming. This weekend, I finally got to see it in action.
Meet Scott and Jenni Timms, the two engineers turned livestock farmers who run Fair Valley Farm.
Like many young farmers, Jenni and Scott are dedicated to taking food production back to its roots and embracing sustainable, biodiverse agricultural policies that are good for the whole planet.
For example, I just learned yesterday on my tour that crop rotations and grazing cows can actually reduce carbon in the air! Something about the way they stomp it into the plants, I’m not sure, there’s a TED talk on it with people who get science more than I do. You can watch it below.
It may seem weird to some, meeting the animals you’ll eat, but in a world where we consume, consume, consume without thinking about where the products we acquire come from, I think it’s extremely important to meet your meat.
Do you know who grows your food?
Most of us don’t, myself included for most of my life. My father is a commercial farmer, so while I got delicious lettuce and onions from him, his lack of growing diversity meant I still didn’t know where most of my food came from.
It was only in the past 7 years that I started going to farmer’s markets and meeting the people who make the fuel for my body. Food is such an important part of thriving, from the vital nutrients it gives you to live to the pleasurable experiences of tasting, smelling, and cooking it. Shouldn’t we be more conscious about what we put in our bodies?
I’m not talking about dieting – I’m NEVER talking about dieting – I’m talking about really understanding what we need to thrive. For me, that’s less grains, more vegetables, lots of dark chocolate, and meat that’s been raised in a way that gives the animal the best life possibly and me the most nutritional value.
What do you need to thrive?
I ask because no two bodies are the same, which is one of the biggest reasons commercially sold dieting doesn’t work: it’s based on one prototype that lacks diversity, just like our commercial food production.
Luckily, there is a new generation of farmers, like Jenni and Scott, who are dedicated to bringing diversity, vitality, and thriving back into our culture. Think about supporting your local farmers through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. The farm gets money it needs to cover up-front costs of growing crops and/or raising animals, and you get delicious food delivered to your door.
(If you’re in Eugene or Portland, Oregon, check out Fair Valley Farms. If you’re in the Santa Barbara area, check out my cousin and childhood friend’s organic, sustainable Ellwood Canyon Farms.)
If you’re not ready for a CSA commitment, or if like me you love to go to the farmer’s market (I do a meat CSA from Fair Valley but get my vegetables twice a week at the farmer’s market), think about still taking advantage of farm visit days! You can meet animals, see how crops are harvested, connect with nature, and maybe even have some home brew and delicious farm fresh veggies, like we got.
However you feed yourself, remember that food is an important part of a balanced diet. Food should be enjoyed in abundance and savored. Check out my post on dieting and the Scarcity Mentality for more on this.
Try this:
Throw away your idea of “healthy” (read my post on why) and think about the foods that make YOU feel vital and alive when you eat them. Don’t be afraid to include chocolate ice cream or Gummy Bears if they’re your jam. Make a big list, then put it in your wallet so you can pick up more of them the next time you’re at the store.
I’m going to be sending updates of photos from my farm visits (and my own foray into urban farming) to all of you on my Dear Friend mailing list. Want to get more photos of cute farm animals, recipes, and tips for finding fun in farming and food? Sign-up below and be sure to join the “Dear Friend” group.
Mark your calendars for a weekend of connection, decadence, healing, and FUN!
The Bawdy Love retreat is August 27-30, 2015 in delicious Portland, OR. More details coming very soon. First spots go to people on my mailing list, so sign-up today!
