The Connection Between People and their Food

[avs]

What should I eat?  That is a question that has plagued mankind for centuries.  How we answer that question is becoming increasingly more critical as people realize their food choices have deep economic, environmental and social impacts.

Food is what nourishes and sustains us.  It brings us together in friendship and it can open a door with an enemy.  Its excess can symbolize power and its deficit can symbolize oppression.

There is a deep and empowering connection made when a seed is sowed, nourished, and then bears fruit.  Harvesting the fruit of our labor and using it to nourish ourselves and our loved ones awakens a spiritual connection that humans have with the earth but most of us have forgotten since the industrialization of food after the World Wars.

Food that is produced by factory methods and purchased by us takes that deep spiritual connection away.  Instead of being the producers of our food, we become the consumers of a product.  The connection with the land is lost. 

That lost connection has a lot of implications.  One of them being wastefulness.  The time put into the growth of one tomato makes every bite cherished when that bite has been yearned after for months.  Wastefulness can lead to resource depletion, which historically has grave consequences for cultures.

The challenging times we are in today have made people think more and more about these issues.  The past 50 years has allowed us to take our food for granted.  Not only was food easily accessible but the governments subsidization of large industrialized farms made food appear cheap.  But we have been paying for it in other ways:  our declining health and nutrition, lack of biodiversity, and increasing consumption of petroleum for transportation of all of this food. 

Today’s economic climate is reducing our appetite for waste and making us realize that cooperatively we can meet our needs with the resources around us.  Many Americans are now growing their own food and making the thoughtful choice to purchase their food from local growers in an effort to support their local economies.

The convergence of the new awareness for the impact of food choices and the availability of distressed vacant properties has created a symbiosis of need and opportunity, especially in urban centers where community gardens and urban farms are multiplying.

Neighbors who may never have spoken before are now sharing seeds, goals, and knowledge.  This is the community model for a sustainable future.

[iloveionia]

Yeah for Springfield!  Sustainable Springfield Rocks!!!!!

[north miami]

I see no moral or strategic advantage in 'going rural' in this matter.

A Springfield,Riverside/Avondale 'edible landscape",gardens (winter vegetables!!) is on par or likely way ahead of a Carolina mountain bunker,and probably less paranoid.

There need not be any disconnect between urban and healthful foods.In fact,in many urban areas quality food stuffs abound.

[avs]

Yes, urban agriculture is the way of the future.  Not that the rural ag landscape will disappear, but as more and more people move back into city centers community gardens and urban farms will multiply

[uptowngirl]

Excellent post AVS, urban living should and can be healthy and even cleaner than suburban/rural living!

[avs]

Yes, and jacksonville's Zoning Code MUST catch up.  In over 700 cities in the US, keeping backyard hens (females) is allowed for egg production.  In fact, in NYC, it was never NOT allowed.  Most major US cities allow urban hen keeping as long as permits are pulled for a small fee.

This is just one example of how food choices are impacting urban public policy.

[Springfield Chicken]

I love what you are doing with the community garden, communal garden, the community orchard, etc.  With the movement away from processed food, the movement to buying local, buying organic, you are ahead of the curve.  I'd love to see Springfield become known outside our community as the leader in all those things.  How can I help?

[north miami]

Yes, and jacksonville's Zoning Code MUST catch up.  In over 700 cities in the US, keeping backyard hens (females) is allowed for egg production.  In fact, in NYC, it was never NOT allowed.  Most major US cities allow urban hen keeping as long as permits are pulled for a small fee.

This is just one example of how food choices are impacting urban public policy.

Excellent observation.It is a shame to have to plan on southbound Blanding for twenty miles or the same out west I-10 just to be able to have chickens. (And end up with neighbors who dine on Funyums and Coke for breakfast.That was my Middleburg experience....)

[KuroiKetsunoHana]

(And end up with neighbors who dine on Funyuns and Coke for breakfast.That was my Middleburg experience....)

that's class right there (says someöne whose breakfast this morning consisted ov wise garlic & onion chips and a can ov full throttle).

AVS, you make some good points; in fact, disillusionment (literally!) with 'factory food' was part ov the reason i originally stopped eating meat--though my current eating habits (as indicated above) no longer show any trace ov that original motivation; i've just gotten lazy again.  and though i don't really know what goes on in anyöne's head but my own, i suspect that a lot ov us find it too easy to get lazy about our food--lazy and jealous ov our time.

[sheclown]

I love these people!

[avs]

haha! no one is perfect, KuroiKetsunoHana - its the thoughtfulness that counts!

[Noone]

Yes, urban agriculture is the way of the future.  Not that the rural ag landscape will disappear, but as more and more people move back into city centers community gardens and urban farms will multiply

Roberts Eatery at 8th and Iona. Anybody selling onions? There are already pre paid meals at Roberts Eatery for members of MJ just give Robert your user name.  There is a limit. avs-Got you covered.

Look for the Gator tent and hot dog cart. I love the sausage dog with cole slaw and ONIONS thats why I'm putting the plug in for the home grown onions. He'll be there Thurs. and Fri. I went by Mon and Tues. but he said that areas outside of Springfield are calling for his service. If he runs out that just means that you need to come back.

Springfield. Where is the love and support?

[avs]

I've been to the little gator tent and hot dog stand - the gentleman running it is GREAT!  good food and a great price!  He was doing eggs, grits, and sausage for $2 in the morning...not sure if he still is, but that is a heck of a deal and its walkable!

[avs]

Springfield Chicken

How can I help?

Our next project in Springfield is going to be a Community Orchard.  We are raising money now for this project and once we raise enough then we are going to need volunteers to get the fence built and the trees set in.  If you want to volunteer, just shoot us an email SustainableSpringfield@yahoo.com or if you are interested in donating money to the project, you can visit the non-profit center of NE FL http://wegive.org/look/project.asp?wgpID=1376

[Noone]

Good stuff. I signed up to volunteer.