Thursday, April 14, 2011

Let them eat...veggies?!?!?!?

Here's something I have been pondering lately. Why are fresh, organic vegetables and fruit a rich man's indulgence? Why are they linked with gourmet cooking and fancy unattainable recipes in our heads? Why is canning/freezing/drying food grown by our own hands something that everyone leaves to the farm-wives and weirdo homemakers? It used to be that almost EVERY woman knew how to grow and put food up for the winter months. Why do people who are struggling financially eat more processed "cheap" food, instead of growing and learning to put up their own nearly FREE produce that will bring health and wellness to their bodies???? Why are we so afraid of the WORK??? That's right...it's work. Quite a bit of it if you look at it the wrong way. But what's really wrong with working for your food more than pushing a grocery cart around for an hour a week. Perhaps we are too willing to settle. The average american parents work often un-enjoyable and stressful jobs, then come home to deal with laundry, housework, yardwork, honey-do lists, homework, calls to answer from the answering machine...oh yeah then there is dinner. Who wants to do more than throw together something almost edible so they can finally send the kids off to bed and crash in front of some mind-numbing television before heading to bed for a few hours before starting the whole thing all over again at sunrise. WHEW! It's no wonder growing your own food seems like an impossibility! Here's a question though...imagine this if you will. Imagine changing your mindset...your perspective. Imagine summer being about working hard in the sunshine and peaceful beauty of growing things in your garden to grow fruit and vegetables, or packing up the gang in the family car and heading off to an orchard or produce farm to get U-Pick produce at a steal by the bushel. Imagine days with your offspring (hopefully spouse too) or even friends and their children, working together in the kitchen to put up glistening jars of tomatoes and peaches or bulging bags full of corn or green beans. Also, imagine someone giving you an extra $25-$100 every month from November to June in grocery money! Who wouldn't take THAT! We CAN do that for ourselves! All it takes is not wasting away the growing months sitting on our butts in the air conditioning watching re-runs of Dancing With The Stars. EVERYBODY has free time on their hands in the growing months. What will you do with yours? Open to thoughts and discussion on this post. :o)

3 comments:

  1. I couldn't agree with you more Leah! (although I really do enjoy my DWTS ;-) Most people now days are just plain LAZY. The 21st century is all about convenience and people don't wanna work hard at making something more than processed food with artificial flavors for dinner. And what happened to the families that all sit down and have dinner together? They are now few & far in between. It's pretty sad. I can't wait until I can someday have my own yard & garden and will be able to can everything! I can't imagine taking all that for granted. Thank God though I grew up around it! It makes me really appreciate the men and women out there working their butts off for us that don't work on a farm everyday. I know I don't want my children to grow up with the "easy" and always convenient life. I want them to understand and appreciate agriculture. I also want them to understand what it's like to come together as a family who works hard, has great morals & values, and especially that of a strong work ethic!

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  2. I love when you write. I wish you had time to do it more. :-D

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  3. Ha! So I've decided to grow a little herb garden on my tiny balcony this year since I don't have a yard yet :)

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