Reinventing Our
Food System, One Small Farm at a Time
August 16, 2014
Story
at-a-glance
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The food you eat plays a major role in your health,
and the health of the average American is a
testament to the abject failure of processed foods
to support good health
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The Greenhorns demonstrates how we can collectively
transform the current industrial monoculture,
chemical-based agricultural paradigm into a
healthier, more sustainable way of feeding ourselves
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People across America are starting to reinvent our
food system by growing their own food, and starting
up new farms, in ever-growing numbers
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Not only do using organic principles improve the
quantity, but it also improves the quality of the
food you’re growing
By Dr. Mercola
As a physician, it's very obvious to me that the food we eat
plays a major role in our health. As a result, the health of the
general population can give us a pretty accurate picture of the
nutritional status of our food.
About 90 percent of the money Americans spend on food is
spent on processed foods,1
and the health of the average American is a testament to the
abject failure of such foods to support good health.
Countless health statistics unequivocally show us that the
direction we've been going in is not in our best interest. We've
simply strayed too far from our dietary roots and become so
disconnected from our food sources.
Fortunately, more and more people are now beginning to
recognize this, and are making efforts to get back to real
food. Many are now sensing this disconnection from the
sources of their food as a disconnection from life itself, and
it's no wonder, because that's essentially what it is.
As the sustainer of life, food surely deserves to be regarded
with some measure of reverence. And it certainly deserves to
place high on anyone's list of priorities in life.
Necessity Breeds a New Generation of 'Greenhorn' Farmers
Fortunately, there's change afoot... People across America,
from all walks of life, are taking part in a process to reinvent
our food system.
The featured film, The Greenhorns,2
demonstrates how we can collectively transform the current
industrial monoculture, chemical-based agricultural paradigm
into a healthier, more sustainable way of feeding ourselves and
our neighbors, while restoring the health of our ailing planet.
"The Greenhorns documentary film... explores the
lives of America's young farming community – its spirit,
practices, and needs.
It is the filmmaker's hope that by broadcasting the
stories and voices of these young farmers, we can build the
case for those considering a career in agriculture – to
embolden them, to entice them, and to recruit them into
farming.
The production of The Greenhorns is part of our
grassroots nonprofit's larger campaign for agricultural
reform... Today's young farmers are dynamic entrepreneurs,
stewards of place.
They are involved in local politics, partnering with
others, inventing new social institutions, working with
mentors, starting their careers as apprentices, borrowing
money from the bank, putting in long hours, taking risks,
innovating, experimenting...
These young farmers have vision: a prosperous,
satisfying, sustainable food system."
Real Food Is Key for Good Health
Our current food system is driven by policy and corporate
control. And while those who promote it claim that it's the only
way to feed an ever-growing population, it is in fact a highly
unsustainable system. It may be financially profitable for a few
large corporations, but it's driving the rest of us into the
poor-house—as I am sure you are well-aware, it's not cheap to be
sick in America!
My first passion and career was being a physician, then an
Internet educator, and now I'm transitioning into biological
gardening and agriculture because I really believe it's the most
logical progression for most anyone radically committed to being
healthy.
While this information is ancient, it's not widely discussed.
There's only a small segment of the population that really
understands natural farming systems anymore, and the potential
it has for radically transforming the way we feed the masses
and protect the environment at the same time.
Getting personally involved with the growing of your food can
be very exciting. For the young farmers in the film, growing
food truly is an important part of life itself.
For me, it has become a rather addictive hobby. So far, I've
converted about 50 percent of the ornamental landscape around my
home to an edible landscape. And once you integrate
biological farming principles, you can get plant
performances that are 200-400 percent greater than what you
would typically get from a plant! All in a totally sustainable
and environmentally friendly way.
What's more, not only do using organic principles improve the
quantity, it also improves the quality of the food you're
growing. These facts should really be at the forefront of
everybody's mind when they think about farming, as it's the
solution to so many pressing environmental and societal
problems.
Two Models of Food Production
There are basically two different models of food production
today. The first, and most prevalent, is the large-scale
agricultural model that takes a very mechanistic view toward
life, whereas the other—the local, sustainable farm model—has a
biological and holistic view.
While efficient, the mechanistic, large-scale model has many
unexpected adverse side effects. Confined animal feeding
operations (CAFOs) for example, have become a primary source of
antibiotic-resistant disease, which has now reached epidemic
levels in the US.
This side effect of our food system alone kills at
least 23,000 Americans each year... It's a well proven fact that
factory farmed and processed foods are far more likely to cause
illness than unadulterated, organically-grown foods. For
example, one study by the British government found that 23
percent of farms with caged hens tested positive for
salmonella, compared to just over 4 percent in organic
flocks, and 6.5 percent in free-range flocks. This connection
should be obvious, but many are still under the
mistaken belief that a factory operation equates to better
hygiene and quality control, when the exact opposite is actually
true.
Factory Farming Causes More Problems Than It Solves
A pig rolling in mud on a small farm is far "cleaner" in
terms of pathogenic bacteria than a factory-raised pig stuck in
a tiny crate, covered in feces, being fed an unnatural diet of
genetically modified grains and veterinary drugs. Genetically
engineered (GE) plants add another level of complexity and
hazard to our food system. For starters, GE plants produce
foreign proteins that make them highly allergenic.
Then there's the issue of agricultural chemicals. Scientists
have now proposed that one of the most widely used herbicides in
the world (nearly one billion pounds per year),
glyphosate (the active ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup),
may be dramatically contributing to the rise of chronic disease.
Glyphosate also denatures the food by blocking nutrient uptake,
and kills the
microorganisms in the soil responsible for plant health and
plants' natural
defense systems against pests of all kinds.
In short, the widely adopted factory farm "bigger is better"
food system has reached a point where the fundamental weaknesses
of it are becoming readily apparent, and foodborne disease and
loss of nutrient content are just two of the most obvious side
effects. The question is, what kind of food system do YOU want?
If every American decided to not eat at a fast food restaurant
tomorrow, the entire system would collapse overnight. It doesn't
take an act of Congress to change the food system. All that is
required is for each and every person to change their shopping
habits to support the system they prefer.
Yes, You Can Grow Your Own Food!
Even if you're not inclined to start up your own farm, you
can still grow your own food. Even apartment-dwellers or college
dorm students can join the revolution by sprouting. One can also
grow a wide variety of herbs, fruits, berries, and vegetables in
pots. Hanging baskets are ideal for a wide variety of foods,
such as strawberries, leafy greens, runner beans, pea shoots,
tomatoes, and a variety of herbs. And instead of flowers, window
boxes can hold herbs, greens, radishes, scallions, bush beans,
strawberries, chard, and chilies, for example.
While you will obviously need to use pots if you don't have a
garden plot, avoid using many small pots. The smaller the pot,
the faster it will dry out. Instead, opt for large yet
lightweight containers. You may also want to consider
self-watering pots, which will reduce the time you have to spend
watering. Adding a top layer of wood chips will also reduce the
amount of watering a plant will need. This is true no matter
what the size of your garden.
Using woodchips is actually one of the single best ways to
optimize soil microbiology with very little effort. One of the
foundational principles of biological gardening and farming is
to avoid tilling the soil as it will disrupt the soil microbes
and important soil fungi called
mycorrhizae. This is precisely what woodchips will allow you
to do. After a few short months, you will develop lush soil
underneath the chips that will happily support food or trees
that you would like to grow—no tilling required. The longer you
leave the chips on, and the deeper you put on the wood chips,
the deeper the topsoil will be.
Woodchips will also help eliminate water evaporation from the
soil, effectively reducing the need to water your garden.
Another major benefit is the elimination of fertilizers. One of
the reasons why industrial agriculture is so damaging is their
use of chemical salts that decimate the soil microbes. When you
use wood chips you not only radically increase the bacteria,
fungi, protozoa, and nematodes in the soil; they also attract
earthworms, which create vermicompost, one of the best composts
on the planet. Last but not least, you can eliminate expensive
soil testing when you use chips, as they will optimize whatever
soil you have.
Where to Find Real Food
A website called Real Food University3
offers a fascinating analysis of where our food comes from, and
reveals that despite what you hear on the news, every year, we
produce less and less of the food we really need. From massive
industrial farming conglomerates to feedlot and confined animal
operations (CAFOs) to contaminated imports, Real Food University
delivers the scoop on what you probably have on your plate right
now.
Fortunately, there are ways to get around these food
disasters, and sourcing your foods from a local farmer is one of
your best bets to ensure you're getting something wholesome.
Every state has a sustainable agriculture organization or
biological farming organization that is the nucleus of the
farmers in that state. You can also find an ever increasing
number of "eat local," and "buy local" directories, in which
local farms will be listed. The following organizations can also
help you locate farm-fresh foods in your local area:
- Local
Harvest -- This Web site will
help you find farmers' markets, family farms, and other
sources of sustainably grown food in your area where you can
buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies.
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Alternative Farming Systems Information Center,
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
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Farmers' Markets -- A
national listing of farmers' markets.
- Eat Well
Guide: Wholesome Food from Healthy Animals --
The Eat Well Guide is a free online directory of sustainably
raised meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs from farms, stores,
restaurants, inns, and hotels, and online outlets in the
United States and Canada.
- FoodRoutes
-- The FoodRoutes "Find Good Food" map can help you connect
with local farmers to find the freshest, tastiest food
possible. On their interactive map, you can find a listing
for local farmers, CSA's, and markets near you.
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Weston A. Price Foundation has local chapters
around the US where you can find organic, grass-fed milk and
other organic foods
Resources for Gardeners and Farmers
I cannot encourage you strongly enough to take control of the
food that you're eating, because the resources are out there.
They exist. It may take a little time and effort, but it's well
worth it. For fledging farmers who want to learn more, I suggest
reading some of the many books and other publications available
on organic, biodynamic farming. This includes but is certainly
not limited to the following:
Books:
- The Farm as Ecosystem by
Jerry Brunetti
- The Edible Balcony by Alex Mitchell
- Farmacology: What Innovative Family Farming Can
Teach Us About Health and Healing by Dr.
Daphne Miller, MD
- Steps to Gardening with Nature by Dr. Ingham
and Carole Ann Rollins
- Teaming with Microbes by Jeff Lowenfels
- The Sheer Ecstasy of Being a Lunatic Farmer by
Joel Salatin
Magazine Subscriptions:
Websites:
Copyright 1997- 2014 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved.
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