Everyday we hear reports about the unhealthy side-effects found in the foods we buy and eat. Large food growers introduce chemicals to grow food quicker, last longer on store shelves and use pesticides to prevent crops from being destroyed by pests. In this country, it’s cheaper for a family to eat fast food and other processed foods than it is to eat organically grown fruits and vegetables.
In addition to the quality of foods we eat, we as a nation, spend less time outdoors or engaging in physical activity and that has contributed to the highest levels of childhood obesity ever seen in US history. As a result, 1 in 3 children born after 2000, will develop childhood diabetes, a sobering statistic never before seen in this country. Given these alarming facts, home gardening is becoming an important factor to living a healthy lifestyle.
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.
Do you want help with your garden? talk to us! we can help!
