Top Ten Ways To Make A Difference
Published December 31, 2008 @ 11:11AM PT
"All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well" - Julian of Norwich
What we're working for is nothing short of revolution. A delicious revolution, that is. With calls and letters to elected officials, organizing, activism, and a peaceable commitment to good meals for all, we hope to wake up one day to a world where getting healthy and delicious food is within the reach of every family.
The delicious revolution will not be a consumer revolution. If the only question is where to shop and what to buy, large-scale deliciousness will remain beyond our grasp. Yes, things would be better if a lot of people changed their buying habits, but not everyone has much choice in the matter. A parent who brings home a bucket of fried chicken every night for dinner because it's a 2 hour round trip on the bus to the nearest grocery store, because they're tired after a long shift and they're not sure they could afford better anyway, we'd be crazy to say that what they need is a new kind of shopping list.
Deliciousness will only come to all of us through a citizen revolution. One where we prioritize access, fairness, security and good health for our neighbors, as well as ourselves. One where we challenge the logic of a food system that favors candy over carrots and charges people extra for food that doesn't have synthetic hormone mimics and nerve toxins in it.
These are things you can do to help get us there.
1. Believe that everyone deserves access to wholesome, healthy, delicious food.
2. Get involved with your local food policy council, or start one.
3. Get involved with a Buy Fresh, Buy Local chapter, or start one.
4. Oppose farmworker slavery and the companies that turn a blind eye to it.
5. Look to see if your local schools or other institutional kitchens participate in a farm-to-cafeteria program, and if not, do something about it.
6. Eat locally grown and raised food from a farmers market or a subscription to a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture).
7. Start a garden, or get a plot in a nearby community garden, and grow some food of your own.
8. Eat free range, pasture-raised meat and poultry products. They're better for your health, the animals' health, and the planet's health.
9. Eat organic food.
10. Eat less meat.
(Photo credit: NatalieMaynor on Flickr.)
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Author
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Natasha is an amateur eater with severe snarkolepsy and a c. 2002 blogging habit. She had a fabulous time studying ecological agriculture and policy at The Evergreen State College, and even did her homework while writing at various times for pacificviews.org, boomantribune.com, and mydd.com.
It was a powerful surprise to find this article at the bottom of the 10 top ways to make a difference. I have been subscribing to the the above 10 suggestions for almost 50 years and will let a lot of people know of the new Change.org's Sustainable Food section.50 years ago we grew a lot of our own food, in planters on our roof as there was no space in our small garden. Today we frequent Farmer's Markets and practice a vegetarian lifestyle by choice. Many of the above articles I have either read or known about and feel that we are in big trouble right now if each of us does not make the effort to change our point of view about our food systems and how they are organized starting with the ground and seeds that are used for planting. This entire series of articles was of vital interest to me and should be to every citizen who cares about the future of life on earth.
Posted by Jone Manoogian on 01/02/2009 @ 04:13PM PT
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It is important to hear from the suppliers also.Small ranchers and farmers are struggling against local and federal governments, now, in your community, which make their survival almost impossible. Developers and government are cooperating to rob farmers of their fertile land and money. The greed and dishonesty has infiltrated our so-called liberal altruistic organizations in a big way. Let us all strive to be alert and savvy and take this opportunity to turn things around with fairness to all.from a tiny Texas rancher
Posted by Candace Costis on 01/03/2009 @ 05:12AM PT
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The recommendation to eat less meat needs to be updated to say eat less conventionally-raised, factory-farmed meat, but eat more grass-fed, pasture-raised, sustainably or organically raised meat, which is far better for us and for the planet. See the wealth of inspiring information provided on this topic in the book Nourishing Traditions and the scientists and nutritionists at the Weston Price Foundation, among other places.
Posted by Beth Cowart on 01/03/2009 @ 07:54AM PT
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I agree with Beth, above, because I think that meat gets a bad rap--and I was a vegetarian for over 10 years, myself! Nourishing Traditions (refered to above) is my new food bible, and advocates the use of healthy, organically-raised meats, particularly grass-fed, of making stocks from scratch, the importance of eating organ meats (I had no idea what "sweatbreads" were, but my dad, born in 1928, knew exactly what they were!), less processed, less fast food, etc, and the importance of raw dairy, as well.
Posted by Paula Bishop on 01/03/2009 @ 10:45AM PT
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I think that meat has every reason to have a bad rap. I realize this is the sustainable food blog and not the animal rights blog, but that argument still stands. Even in regards to sustainability it's better not to eat meat. It takes an average of 7 pounds of grain to produce 1 pound of meat. That doesn't sound very sustainable to me.
Posted by Lianne Lavoie on 03/09/2009 @ 12:52PM PT
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Beth and Paula,
I hear you on the meat thing and do agree. I was tempted to have only one entry on meat, but I split 8 and 10 because not everyone has the option to purchase sustainably raised meat. If someone can't buy the good stuff, and if a vegetarian or vegan diet doesn't work for them, eating less is still a viable way to reduce one's environmental footprint.
My goal here was to minimize browbeating, especially because I worry that people often seem to feel that if they can't shop at Whole Paycheck and can't make a farmers' market, they can't make a difference.
But thanks for your comments, I enjoyed them.
cheers, n
Posted by Natasha Chart on 01/05/2009 @ 03:21PM PT
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I just read this - 8. Eat free range, pasture-raised meat and poultry products. They're better for your health, the animals' health, and the planet's health. - in the Top 10 Ways To Make A Difference and am shocked! There is no such thing as "happy" or "humanely killed" meat!
http://www.peacefulprairie.org
Free-Range” Eggs
There is no inspection system for companies that label their eggs “free-range.”
The popular myth that “free-range” egg-laying hens enjoy fresh grass, bask in the sunlight, scratch the earth, sit on their nests, and engage in other natural habits is often just that: a myth. In many commercial “free-range” egg farms, hens are crowded inside windowless sheds with little more than a single, narrow exit leading to an enclosure, too small to accommodate all of the birds at once.
Both battery cage and “free-range” egg hatcheries kill all male chicks shortly after birth. Since male chicks cannot lay eggs and are different breeds than those chickens raised for meat, they are of no use to the egg industry. Standard killing methods, even among “free-range” producers, include grinding male chicks alive or throwing them into trash bags and leaving them to suffocate.
Whether kept in sheds or cages, laying hens—who can naturally live more than ten years—are considered “spent” when they are just one or two years old and their productivity wanes. Rather than being retired, “free-range” hens are slaughtered to make room for another shed of birds.
With no federal regulations overseeing the use of animal welfare claims on egg cartons, misleading or exaggerated claims are rampant. Consumers may be deceived by phrases such as “animal-friendly” or “naturally-raised,” which can be found on cartons of eggs from caged hens. Read about COK’s truth in labeling campaign urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to require the full disclosure of production methods on eggs cartons sold nationwide.
Posted by kerri milam on 06/25/2009 @ 01:26PM PT
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Browbeating is definitely bad! And Money is an issue for sure. It's stupid that you can get a McD's cheeseburger for less than an organic cucumber. I'm a local chapter leader for the Weston Price Foundation and cost is often an issue. Dr Price found that humans can thrive eating a wide variety of foods and it is perfectly possible to be quite healthy with less meat, as long as one is getting the right nutrients.
Posted by Selina Rifkin on 01/07/2009 @ 05:11PM PT
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I'd like to eat sustainably and with a sense of ethics about it. Here's ten things the government could do to help me:
1: Ban the feeding of animal parts to herbavores. Strongly discourage the feeding of grain diets. Strongly advocate for natural diets. (Hear me Ag extention folks???)
2: Require GMO / hormone labeling
3: Require place of origin labeling on all foods.
4: Ban caging of animals... stalls, yes, but not confinement. All creatures need to get their yay yas out.
5: Make life easier for small farmers and micro producers. Encourage mixed farming by making the regulations evidence based. As in... go read "Everything I Want to Do Is Illegal."
6: I don't mind farm subsidies... but please quit giving them to big corporations. They were created to help FAMILY FARMS. Perhaps replace them with micro loans at 2% interest for improvements to the business or land. Nobody making millions need apply.
7: Subsidise quality fruit & veg in the schools. Need a good reason... Giving kids *tasty* fruit helps them develop a taste for natural sugars, reduces their desire for poor quality foods, developes better eating habits for the rest of their lives, therefore reduces indigent care bills, and maybe it would help the farmers out too!
8: Make WIC & Food Stamp programs easier for people to use at local food providers. I don't use WIC but those dollars would sure go round & round in the community!
9: Quit letting your safety advisors put the fear of food into people. The advice I read is awfully silly!!!
10: Quit giving tax breaks to stores that come into town. The boxes should compete on a level playing fireld.
Posted by April Young on 01/08/2009 @ 11:23AM PT
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Great article. Thanks!
Posted by Lucy Henderson on 02/10/2009 @ 10:44AM PT
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Good post! One other huge area is to get involved to improve the quality of school milk. To sign a great petition on getting rBGH-free milk into schools, click here: http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/t/5915/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=1796
Posted by Alex Beauchamp on 02/20/2009 @ 12:40PM PT
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Here is a great site that might help you find local, organic, humane food sources:
http://www.localharvest.org/
Posted by M Scho on 03/17/2009 @ 09:37AM PT
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great post! i think everyone should try making their own food instead of relying on some big dumb corporation to make it for them.
example is kefir. Looks impossible to make but when you actually try it, you'll see it's easier than it looks. Lifeway no. Kefir made from kefir grains YES.
Posted by penelope darcy on 05/13/2009 @ 09:47AM PT
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I just read this - 8. Eat free range, pasture-raised meat and poultry products. They're better for your health, the animals' health, and the planet's health. - in the Top 10 Ways To Make A Difference and am shocked! There is no such thing as "happy" or "humanely killed" meat!
http://www.peacefulprairie.org
Free-Range” Eggs
There is no inspection system for companies that label their eggs “free-range.”
The popular myth that “free-range” egg-laying hens enjoy fresh grass, bask in the sunlight, scratch the earth, sit on their nests, and engage in other natural habits is often just that: a myth. In many commercial “free-range” egg farms, hens are crowded inside windowless sheds with little more than a single, narrow exit leading to an enclosure, too small to accommodate all of the birds at once.
Both battery cage and “free-range” egg hatcheries kill all male chicks shortly after birth. Since male chicks cannot lay eggs and are different breeds than those chickens raised for meat, they are of no use to the egg industry. Standard killing methods, even among “free-range” producers, include grinding male chicks alive or throwing them into trash bags and leaving them to suffocate.
Whether kept in sheds or cages, laying hens—who can naturally live more than ten years—are considered “spent” when they are just one or two years old and their productivity wanes. Rather than being retired, “free-range” hens are slaughtered to make room for another shed of birds.
With no federal regulations overseeing the use of animal welfare claims on egg cartons, misleading or exaggerated claims are rampant. Consumers may be deceived by phrases such as “animal-friendly” or “naturally-raised,” which can be found on cartons of eggs from caged hens. Read about COK’s truth in labeling campaign urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to require the full disclosure of production methods on eggs cartons sold nationwide.
Posted by kerri milam on 06/25/2009 @ 01:25PM PT
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Listen , you will never convince the majority of people to become vegan . As a someone involved in alternative health , I can honestly say veganism is unhealthy for many people . I have seen many , very sick vegans . That being said , we need to do something about the treatment of animals that are raised for food . I get my eggs from a friends chickens and they seem healthy to me . I do believe that their needs to be some oversight of "free range " as well as "grass fed " or "cage free " labels . When you you just go on about how bad animals are treated though , most people tune you out thinking you are an activist nut and you win no support for your causes . I think this is a big problem right now . The voice of condemnation ,from certain well meaning individuals ,turning people off to the causes they support .
Posted by matt massey on 07/23/2009 @ 10:19PM PT
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As a an author of a fitness and health site, i agree with matt massey.
A voice of condemnation does nothing but turns people off.
And regarding the food that we eat, I've found, through my line of work, that eating locally grown, organic and sustainable foods are actually healthier.
Maybe its because of the stricter quality and policies we have back home, but nonetheless the closer it is to your community the more control you and your community will have over the products.
Posted by ed armstrong on 09/21/2009 @ 11:19AM PT
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Eating locally is a good start. Buy locally or grow your own in a tub on the porch if necessary. Grab a spot of land in your neighborhood and create a community garden. Here, local Master Gardeners will not only help with making the garden, they can assist with governemt issues and funding. Build community with group buying of things you can't grow. Do more fermented and dehydrated foods. Cook communally at someone's house: huge pots of spaghetti (cut the meat way back); big bowls of salad made of home-grown lettuce; cookies or shortcake with local fruits. Have these community dinners often, and share the work, the costs, and the fun.
Posted by Cecile Mills on 10/25/2009 @ 12:02PM PT
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