“Globalized industrialized food is not cheap: it is too costly for the Earth, for the farmers, for our health.
The Earth can no longer carry the burden of groundwater mining, pesticide pollution, disappearance of species and destabilization of the climate.
Farmers can no longer carry the burden of debt, which is inevitable in industrial farming with its high costs of production.
It is incapable of producing safe, culturally appropriate, tasty, quality food.
And it is incapable of producing enough food for all because it is wasteful of land, water and energy.
Industrial agriculture uses ten times more energy than it produces. It is thus ten times less efficient.”
― Vandana Shiva
A small reminder of the crossroads we find ourselves at in these times of ecological destruction.
This was something I was discussing with those attending last Saturday’s workshop and how we can all grow something, no matter how small, to add to our daily diets.
The old concept of growing food to the end of it’s lifespan and harvest is no longer considered the only way.
Micro-greens, that is, growing until a small, but perhaps more nutritious harvest is produced and continues to produce, is now considered to be a viable option.
In this way, we can all grow some of the essential nutrition we need for health.
The way to use these small harvest can be as simple as a salad, or even a stir-fry, (one of my favourite meals this year!).
The essential thing is to move away from corporate “hunger” food as much as we can manage.
Hunger food is what is passing in the western world as food, which it is quite patently, not!
This mass-produced, processed stuff is causing us to be both ill and dangerously overweight.
We know it, yet are almost paralysed to extract ourselves from the catastrophic loop! 
There has never been as much food available or as much prescription medicine doled out!
It’s not difficult to connect the dots!
It is also not difficult to grow food, even without a garden, balcony or even window box. 
Sprouted beans are incredibly nutritious and can be added to any diet.
Seeds and grains can be added to the simplest of dishes…seeds are easily saved, even from nettles! Foraging in hedgerows and wild areas can produce nutritious add-ons to most diets. I often foraged in small wild areas when living in London. Alys Fowler, among many others, has written some excellent books on the subject. Solving a big problem begins with small, manageable steps!
Supporting the work of Bealtaine Cottage all across social media can be as simple as buying the book…
Thank you, Colette for this post! I saw a public service announcement by the US-based Ad Council the other day that floored me – I’ve not seen anything like it before on American TV. It was called “The Extraordinary Life and Times of Strawberry.” The purpose of the PSA was to get Americans to stop wasting the huge amounts of food we waste and throw away every year – but watching it, I began to cry, because the ad also could stand for what you’re talking abt – all the global shipping of food is shown in the ad, the huge corporate food fields, the supermarkets everywhere with all their globalization – all to get a little girl a box of strawberries. It could as well with slight changes have served for an ad explaining global climate change (the cost of all our consumerism) – if they so chose.
These images are highly disturbing for e also and I am familiar with them. They represent the destruction of not just Mother Earth, but our topsoil and ultimately our very habitat!
You have summed up the ugly truth beautifully Collette, this catastrophe in the making seems unstoppable. I’ve just read this article in the Guardian which is about 4 years old, see link: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2013/jul/10/slug-pesticides-metaldehyde-drinking-water?CMP=share_btn_fb
so clearly many kow of the chemical poisoning of our earth and all its life forms yet the powers that be keep not only ignoring it but encouraging it. Yes, many of us little people can make substantial changes in how we grow food, respecting the Earth and all its creatures and bringing it back to life. But on a large scale, it’s probably going to go on until it can’t go on. It makes me very, very sad.
The tipping point of any change occurs at around 10%…yes, that means 10% of all people! I am very optimistic that change is not far away!
Love your new header, glad you are ignoring those trolls on YouTube, I am with you all the way. On the subject of growing we are only living in bungalow with a medium sized garden, but we have a greenhouse, and raised bed, I am growing potatoes, courgettes, peppers,garlic, tomatoes, 5 different types of salad leaves as well as herbs, nothing tastes as good as home grown.
Thanks! David continues to work on the map! You’re doing well with all that planting…and I bet it tastes lovely too!
Yeah ! Goddess yes lets save and share the seeds. Beautiful pictures lets share the knowledge Permaculture for life great work it starts with you.
An excellent post Colette, I agree wholeheartedly. The catastrophic loop between “hunger” food and prescription medicine is undeniable and is indicative of the failings of the capitalist system. Everything comes back to personal responsibility if we want to solve this catastrophe and starting with sprouted seeds is a brilliant way to take the first step.
We love the art work and would love to see it in all its glory. Great work.
The artwork is ongoing and will be completed soon. I’m beginning my own seed-sprouting as from today! They’re delicious in stir fries! Blessings X Colette
Thank you i never thought of the concept “hunger food”, most interesting.. I hope your work will wake up people and realize this..even if one cannot grow in canada we can shop exclusively at a farmers market or farm gate…foe me I cannot imagine not growing food. Thank you again
Yes, I’ve been to Canada and loved the Farmers Markets. Visited one in Schomberg, north of Toronto…great stuff and even brought back a small sack of flour!