Gardening is political- the petro and suffering that goes into bringing something as simple as an egg to the average American breakfast table is way disproportionate, when chickens are so easy to keep by comparison. I say, let us take back the power of our own livelihood, and do something organic.

That's what my family and I are doing- we've got our winter crops in the raised beds. Crops like chard, cabbage, broccoli, spinach, mustard greens... The tree nuts are falling down, and we are picking them up. Why are so many folks so far removed from where their food comes from? We'd do a lot better to slow down on consumerism and simplify our lives.

Here is an excerpt from "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" that I think we ought to consider as a world culture:

"The average food item on a U.S. grocery shelf has traveled farther than most families go on their annual vacations. True fact. Fossil fuels were consumed for the food's transport, refrigeration, and processing, with the obvious environmental consequences."

And I ask myself, is maintenance of our habitual luxury (grocery stores full of imported exotic novelties, malls and gas chugging cars for everyone) more important than the well being of my children? My children's children? No. Not even close.

So to break the cycle even in one small way (chickens, tree planting, nursing, gardening..etc..) is that much more power we reclaim as stewards of the earth. The planet is not just a silver platter given to us with an open-ended invite to pig out, and we are not just blind automatons obeying the television. We have a choice about what we eat and where it comes from. Let's protect freedom by employing it!

Love you!