Here’s a punchy little video piece about re-localisation of food, with soundtrack by Willie Nelson covering Coldplay.
As one of the comments on the post says “When I buy naturally raised meats I don’t think, “This costs so much!”, rather I know, “This is money that won’t be going toward chemo.” You will either pay the farmer or the doctor. It’s your choice.”
Although It’s possible to make this call as a consumer who can afford to do so, that call is an extremely hard one to make for many non-middle class folks trapped inside an industrialized food web. And that is the real grit of this issue, in my opinion…
Great little vid. Thanks Milkwood
Thanks guys. A real issue for me in the affordability of organic food is the discussion on fresh verses processed. Food grown yourself or bought locally in season is never necessarily any more expensive than the retailers of rubbish.
Pluses and grains bought in bulk can add great nutrition and not add to the grocery burden. It is so often the middle man that makes the money from selling food.
keep growing the good stuff, Mark! We need more like your brave selves…
Wonder why people dont grow good food in a community garden or their own or someone elses backyard if they cant afford to buy organics?. I know a few people who say they don’t like eating industrial food but have no choice. They grow nothing . They are young and energetic but are really busy working. They have chosen plasma TVs and mobiles and i pods and nice cars, but not gardening , so to me they are very trapped in the advertising web.
It’s all a question of time, and of how you prioritize that time, isn’t it? Well, for some of us, anyway.
I think also many folk are unfortunate enough to feel very trapped in the treadmill, whether by debt, responsibility or a host of other reasons. I’m not saying they can just jump off whenever they choose, but I do also think most can get off that treadmill (albeit slowly) if they have reason to believe there’s somewhere else to go…
simply wonderful.. just as your heart and love for our common Home. Thera
Living in South Africa, as a middle class spender, it is very difficult standing in supermarket lines, and watching what poor people have in their trolleys, people who sometimes are just battling to put something on the table. What is the solution? Yes, growing your own, if you can, but not possible for all. What is sometimes just as sad is what educated, wealthy people buy and are prepared to put into their and their families bodies! Hopefully as we as consumers create more of a demand for good seasonal products and free range, retailers will change. We can but… Read more »
Hi I am going to do the Square Foot Gardening course to be a teacher, but you dont have to do that to do square foot gardening. Its gardening on a small scale with step by step instructions. This can then prepare you for the bigger stuff like permaculture. Hopefully as you get some success under your belt on a small scale you gan the confidence to take on bigger tasks. Plus its not something you get yourself into debt for and it doesn’t take heaps of time . I don’t think it matters how we get there i.e. towards… Read more »
Well done, Stephanie! Good luck! There’s a lot of small-space gardening techniques out there to learn from – hope the one you’ve chosen goes well for you –
Yes nowadays people commonly suffer from time poor & forget about the goodies from growing your own.
I have a small backyard growing some herbs & self-sow vegies, I can’t eat them all often have to give away. A lot of time people don’t have time drop in to pick them. What a pity. Anita from Croydon
Lovely to hear, Anita – keep up that community food production… you’re helping keep your community healthy 🙂
I am trying to by organic now. Just wondering how much integrity does the symbol have?