Feeling anxious about the future of our food supply?…read on my friends!
Let me start by saying, you’re not alone!
With rising food costs, bird flu outbreaks, and political volatility making headlines, it’s hard not to worry about how we’ll feed our families and stay healthy in the months to come.
As I reflect on my own journey, I realize that my worries about the food supply only began to fade when I started intentionally growing my own food. This journey began almost 2 decades ago, and the connection is still real…the root I return home to, Every. Single. Time.
There’s something profoundly reassuring about growing with the land, watching seeds sprout, and harvesting the fruits of my labor to feed my kids (Yep! That’s not a stock photo above, that’s my pure flesh and blood!), my family and my community. This experience taught me that slowing down can be a powerful antidote to anxiety and worry. Now on my new homestead plot, I have the opportunity to begin again, sharing with you all the wisdom I have gained over the years, from scratch!
What happens exactly, when we slow down? When we trade in the hustle and bustle of modern life for the gentle rhythms of nature… even just for a moment?
In a world that’s increasingly anxious, fast-paced, and disconnected, slowing down can be a radical act. A yes to ourselves in a moment. It’s an invitation to breathe, to notice, and to nourish our bodies, our minds, and our hearts.
This mindset is at the heart of the Slow Food movement, which emerged in Italy in the 1980s. A group of activists, determined to challenge the rise of fast food and industrial agriculture, sparked a revolution with a simple yet profound idea: that food should be a source of pleasure, community, and connection to our natural land. As we slow down, we begin to appreciate the beauty and simplicity of growing our own food. We connect with our neighbors and community members over shared meals and garden plots. And we cultivate resilience, adaptability, and hope.
You can get more info and join here-> https://www.slowfood.com/
In Okinawa, Japan, for example, centenarians are common, and many live well into their hundreds. They attribute their longevity to a diet rich in Daikon radish, fish, turmeric, and ginger, as well as a strong sense of community and social connection (1). -> https://orcls.org/
In Sardinia, Italy, men are nearly 10 times more likely to reach the age of 100 than American men. They credit their longevity to a diet of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, as well as a strong culture of family, community, and traditional practices (2). -> https://www.thebluezonesstore.com/
These individuals have lived through wars, economic depressions, and social upheavals and just as my own grandmother has taught me, the simple act of planting a few marigold seeds, we are doing our part, making our world brighter and better for all (and feeding the bees!). They’ve seen the rise and fall of empires, and the transformation of their communities. And yet, they remain resilient, adaptable, and hopeful.
In the same spirit of radical acts that sparked the slow food movement, we find another powerful example of resistance and resilience in our own backyard. Growing your own food, even in the midst of uncertainty and chaos, is an act of defiance, of hope, and of community. It’s a declaration that we will not be controlled by the whims of the market or the state of the world. We will cultivate our own freedom, one seed at a time.
During World War I and II, Victory gardens were a beacon of hope for millions of Americans struggling to feed their families. These small plots of land, cultivated with love and care, became a symbol of community strength, a reminder that even in the darkest times, we have the power to nourish and sustain ourselves.
Today, as we face our own set of challenges, the resurgence of Victory gardens couldn’t be more timely. By growing even some of our own food, we’re taking control of our plates and building stronger, more resilient communities.
When you know what you are fighting for, you can plan for the whole of it, start here, in your heart.
“Growing your own food is like printing your own money.” – Ron Finley
https://www.ronfinley.com/
So, let’s dig in and explore the power of Victory gardens to transform our lives, our communities, and our world. In this three-part series, we’ll delve into the history, importance, and practicalities of Victory gardens – and discover how we too, can be “rebels with a cause!” In a world that’s increasingly fast-paced and uncertain, growing a Victory garden is a radical act of resilience – a declaration that we will not be rushed or controlled by our present circumstances, that we will nurture our own well-being despite the chaos we may feel inside, and that we will cultivate hope and connection just by doin’ our own thing; healing and growing…with power of plants, right in our own backyards.
Lets do this! Together 🙂
Join me next week for the second installment of our Victory Garden Series, where we’ll delve into the fascinating history and stories behind this movement. We’ll explore the parallels between past and present, and discover how the same spirit of resilience and community can guide us through today’s challenges. Don’t miss it!
Sara K.
References:
(1) “The Okinawa Program” by Dr. Bradley Willcox and Dr. Craig Willcox- https://orcls.org/
(2) “The Blue Zones” by Dan Buettner- https://www.thebluezonesstore.com/
(3) Slow Food- https://www.slowfood.com/
(3) Ron Finley Project-https://www.ronfinley.com/
(4) Friday Foote Note by gmoore@ncsu.edu https://footnote.wordpress.ncsu.edu/author/gmoorencsu-edu/
Rewild The Mind 
Leave a comment