Why Eat Organic? Food Consciousness....

Over the years I have been one of those people who have insisted on sourcing and eating organic food as much as humanly possible. And my body has thanked me for it. I know it has made a difference in my health, my life and it a far better choice of food for my children. 

Yet....

Every now and then I see in the media (or mass-mis-information system) how there is either little difference between organic and non-organic foods, some study or piece of research will pronounce how little health benefits there are to be gained and any other negativity they can send forth.

So, why do I intuitively feel better mentally, physically and spiritually when I eat organic foods, grow my own as much as possible and enter the entire scene of rising food consciousness? Perhaps there are a few reasons and each of them very important.

One of the most important things I see in my own life, is how because I am seeking out organic vegetables and fruits I am far more involved in where my food comes from. I speak (in many instances) to those who grow it and I ask where it is from - choosing Irish grown when available.

It also means I frequent local farmers markets and some local farms who produce some vegetables of their own. Leading on from there, I then also require seeds compatible with my region (and also locally grown) for encouraging a few plants to come through the soil in my own garden.

Yet, this is not all - over these many years of eating only organic, natural and back garden sources of food - my palate has become far more discerning and sensitive. I remember a few years ago having wanted grapes so badly at Christmas time, being unable to find organic ones (it must have been one of those years) we ended up with 'ordinary' grapes from a supermarket.

Our tongues burned after eating one grape and they were quickly abandoned to the compost heap. At the time it left us wondering what we had been eating all those years which was now missing from our food - and how toxic was it!

This is just the tip of an iceberg for me here - I could go on about organic foods. Especially when it comes to re-esestablishing a connection with your food, spiritual and otherwise. There is just no comparison to eating foods produced with care and thought given to the soil, the local area, the plants themselves and most of all health benefits of the consumer.

This alone completes the cycle of sustainability - when we look after our environment, feed our bodies well, nourish our minds and spirits - they take care of us. 

April

It's a little snow day in West Cork! 

A Little Horse Sense....But in a Burger?

Well - this is an interesting development - horse and pork found in with the beef burgers...and God knows what else. It's funny, I stopped eating these things many years ago for these very reasons. However, since I left the meat industry it was supposed to have changed for the better.

So, this can be put down to something quite simple really - you cannot trust the food (nothing prepared especially) or the water (who knows what is in that!) and we all really should be growing, raising and preparing as much of our own foods as possible.

A few days ago I wrote an article called 'Cheap Food for Slaves' - this situation is exactly what I was referring to. Us poor working slobs, those at the lower end of the food chain - can eat what is left over after the cream has been picked clean.

This situation doesn't have to exist at all. If we trust ourselves, take the time and make any effort at all, we can eat like kings and queens each and every day. How? Well, set yourself up with a few seeds, get a few pots or some land, if you have a garden perhaps some ducks, a goose, some turkeys or a goat.

Or, share with a family member, a neighbor and so forth. Next, buy your fruit and vegetables local, in season, organic if you can and at your farmers market. When apples are a good price buy enough to make extra pots of jam (canning is so easy!). 

The only difficult part of any of this is getting over the resistance (it's a mindset) and some strange belief that food comes from a shop and not from our own hands. Another obstacle is this food won't taste as nice or it's too much trouble.

Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, it's so easy to make and can (in jars) jam that I am doing it nearly every other week with left over fruit. My left over veggies? Before they go off I make a big pot of stew and store any extras in the freezer.

All it takes is a little determination and you will exit the food grid that has been feeding us lies, rubbish and anything, but what it says on the label, apparently.

April

Lemon & Butter Scones - delightful with a cup of herbal tea...

Organisation Takes the Stress out of the Season..

I am usually an organized person - I remember well the days I was completing my Master's, working at home, homeschooling my son and then the arrival of a new baby. Those days taught me a lot about lists, piles, not procrastinating and doing what you say you are going to do.

So, I have learned to do what I want, make the most of where I am and what I have as well as keep the energy moving forward by taking action when possible. That usually means doing what I need to do to have the lifestyle I want to have - living off the food grid. 

However that is only one aspect of what this time of the year puts on our plates - the main things I see when I am out and about in the shops are the immense, grotesque, obscene piles of rubbish that people like you and me are expected to buy.

And eat by the bucket load over the holidays. Then to make matters worse - studies and reports are released this week stating how far more people become diseased or die from overeating (obesity and related problems) as opposed to being under fed.

Naturally. So what's a person to do about all of this confusion and mixed messages surrounding food? What I have personally found over the years is to rely on my organizational skills and prepare for the season like nothing else.

That way, the only temptation is what I have on hand - ready made sweets, treats, goodies, delicious foods to eat and enjoy as much as I want without any thought of anything other then organic (as much as possible) wholesome goodness and great taste.

All of this can be accomplished without sugar, preservatives, additives, colours, dyes, artificial anything or any other kind of drug. You can have the food you want without any guilt or worry about damaging your body in any way.

You can do this by spending a few hours cooking and baking with the carefully planned ingredients you have bought to make your holiday a real food zone. Think of the amount of time and energy you will save yourself when you no longer stress over this one aspect of the Solstice/Christmas season.

What freedom!

April

Wild Rice, sweet potato & figs.... 

Getting off the Food Grid...

Today has been a feast day - and I haven't stopped since early this morning. I have been cooking our Samhain dinner all day - thankfully I had most of the treats done in the past few days as well as our desserts for today.

Right now everyone is very full and feeling really good. In case you are wondering - our menu for tonight's feast was marinated roasted venison, thyme roasted root vegetables, including our own fresh baby carrots and corn, Waldorf salad with homemade mayonnaise, stuffed onions with rice, leeks and feta cheese - sweet bread made with cranberries and walnuts and gravy.

It was fabulous, one of the best meals I have ever had and even the venison turned out tender and nice. I have not cooked game meat in several years, so I was fairly careful with this piece I wanted it to be just right. 

I marinated it for over 24 hours in homemade mustard with salt, pepper and extra olive oil to ensure it would not be tough or gamey tasting. I think the trick for this kind of meat is the marinade but also to keep turning it over as it sits in plenty of juice. The olive oil helped as well.

A lovely meal all round at the end of the day! 

Now that this day is coming to a close it will be interesting to see what this next month or so brings in terms of change, learning and my continual discovery about food. I am constantly surprised and amazed  at how much further we can go as a family to live more sustainably as well as to get off of the grid more and more.

For us, getting off of the food grid is our priority - I don't want to eat anything prepared by someone else. And it appears we have achieved exactly that and are now completely comfortable with that. Now, my mind has been wandering to how else we can remove ourselves from other energetic signatures around our food....

Time will tell

April 

Colourful veggies ready for the oven