The Future of Food?

I rented “The Future of Food” from Blockbuster over the weekend.  Like it's counterpart (that's my assessment) “Food Inc.” it  certainly does cause one to think.  With all this over processed, industrialized food stuff being forced down our respective throats, what's a body to do?  It's all incredibly overwhelming. 

Now, for this blog post there are a couple of assumptions being made here.  First, I assume you care.  So many people don't.  We've been told all our lives that we can trust our food system here in America.  The government told us we can trust it.  [insert quip here]  So...uh....next point.

If these documentaries, along with all the other information available in print and on the web, is even remotely true, then I assume that you believe it and want to do something about it.  This is the audience I'm talking to.  Those, who like me, believe this stuff and are slightly freaked out at the consequences.  You want to change.  You want to do something about it.

But what?

I now you're reading this on the web and expect the answers to be here, but I don't really have an answer.  I sit after watching a movie like “The Future of Food” and stare off into space.  At first you think that buying organics is the way to go.  But not really.  First, it's just too expensive (you trying buying organics for a family of 7....yeah....right).  The cost is a killer.  Secondly, the label of organics means very little.  You have to research into the company, their philosophy, and their processing methods.  The time involved, and sifting through the marketing hype, becomes, once again, a killer.  

Second, I think I can just grow it myself.  In my little suburban home.  Well, okay, we can do that, but we really need more.  If I want this to last us all year (requires canning/freezing of produce) then we need a lot more.  Please see above comments about a family of 7 and time being a killer.

Lastly, I can buy local.  Please see above comments about a family of 7, cost being a killer, and time being a killer. 

Let's face it; if I had to do this the ideal way, then I'd have local farmer, producing/selling in bulk, according to my health standards, at an affordable price, all year long.  Oh yeah, and they have to have everything under one roof.  But to insist on that is to insist on another industrialized food system. So, then, what's the answer? 

Well, I suppose there are some things I can do.

I need to make choices that benefit my family based on our resources and what is available to me.  For instance:
I CAN begin to grow more of my own food.  Even if it's in a series of raised beds or window boxes in my urban dwelling place, I can start somewhere.  Or, if circumstances really don't allow it, maybe I know of people around me who will be able to do this and will allow me to pay for their services.  This starts me on the road to food independence.
I CAN do some shopping at the local Farmers Market.  I know it can be more pricey (maybe, maybe not).  But a good gauge is to list what I CAN get there and what it will cost.  I don't have to buy everything every week.  I can get what I can when I can.
I CAN make a list of organic foods that give me the biggest bang for my buck.  Apples, for instance, have the insecticides applied directly to the skin.  If I eat my apples with the skin in tact, then I should probably consider organics to ensure minimal processing to the parts I actually eat.  Organic cereal on the other hand may not be the best use of my money.
Most importantly I CAN plan to do all of the above to create a system that gives me the best that I can afford.

There is no magic bullet.  There is not one-size-fits-all solution.  But it starts here.  It starts now.  It starts with me declaring war on my own dependence on an industrialized food system.  I won't break free today, but I can start today. 

I do have one more thing to say.  There are some who are going to fall into a state of depression over this.  We are in bondage to a heavy slave master (industrialized food if you didn't get the word picture there) and there is no way out.  We're all going to die because the toxins put into our bodies.  I know...sometimes I freak out too.  But please remember that we are at the mercy of a loving God who knows our needs as well as our hearts desire.  Though we may deal with the consequences of a fallen world, He is the Giver of Grace and our Sustainer.  Or He can be....if we let Him.

The Other White Meat

I was approached by a work associate who is originally from India about buying pasture based (or wild as he calls them) chickens.  I confess that I was a bit surprised, not because he is Indian, but because it was a question really out of the blue.  Do I know where to get chickens?  Is the Pope Catholic? So I gave him my business card.  I gave him several.  I told him to pass the word along.  Then he wanted to know if I sold something else.  Something he really wanted.  Something that was, for him, a treat.

Rabbit.

I said, "To eat?"

He said, "Yes, to eat."

I said, "I don't think I've ever had rabbit."

He said, "If you are liking meat, you are liking rabbit."

Well, that was something else out of the blue.  Who knew?  Now, I know people in the southeastern region of the country tend to have an affinity for rabbit.  It's just that I've never met anyone in Michigan who eats rabbit (unless they're from the south).  So, yeah, i was surprised.

But you know what?

My oldest son had just asked me the week before if he could raise rabbits and sell them for meat.  I told him I didn't think there was much of a market for that.

Wrong.

So I think we're going to raise some rabbits....although my wife is having a much harder time with this than with chickens.  Something about eating bunny foo-foo.

What about you.  Do you want to try any rabbit?