Steering Clear of Unhealthy Food
Earthwise (March 27, 2012)
By Claudia O’Connell
True to my word, I have spent some time digging into the
blood and guts surrounding American factory farming, learning about how animals
are raised and brought to slaughter. I
am now more familiar with the conditions and treatment of animals at factory
farms and the toxins and antibiotics used to keep animals “healthy” enough to
reach slaughter weight. Throughout the various texts I have read so far, the C
words (cancer and carcinogen) have come up again and again. At this point, I
have read enough to be dangerous, but not enough to be thoroughly educated. Based
on what I know today, however, the reality is sobering and I am scared to
awareness for the sake of both my family and myself.
Not quite a vegetarian at this point, I am at the precipice
of change. I will keep you all posted. In the meantime, my grocery habits have
changed practically overnight. I spent $178 at the grocery store on Sunday, and
purchased no meat whatsoever. In fact, I loaded my cart with many items I have
never bought before. Looking at my menu planning in a new light, I also just
bought a share in a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture).
While my green thumb is still ripening, I can take advantage of experienced local organic farmers and reap what they sow. For a reasonable investment, I can buy a share in a local CSA farm for the growing season and get weekly payout in fresh, USDA certified organic produce for about five months, give or take. The freshness is unbeatable, and the taste (from what I hear from my brother-in-law) is incredible.
By buying into a CSA for the season, I benefit by knowing how my food is grown, and from where it comes. I can feel good about buying locally, eating healthier and supporting small family farmers. I also become a part of an important and supportive community of patrons that make the CSA model a successful one. Farmers benefit by getting paid early so that they can plan their growing season accordingly and invest their efforts where they are needed most, to meet the needs of the farm shareholders (shares in harvest, not actually farm).
The CSA model is designed to pass along the bounty of a
successful growing season to its members. By the same token, buying into a CSA
can also bring risk. If the farmer experiences a bad growing season, fraught
with disease or uncooperative weather, the harvest may be impacted and the
results are felt by the CSA shareholders. In this scenario, the weekly haul
could potentially be less than expected. With the premature emergence of
spring, I’m hoping for a horn of plenty including spinach, kale, tomatoes,
eggplant, potatoes, peppers, brussel sprouts, cucumbers, leeks, beets, green
beans, cantaloupe and much more!
If you live in Durham and Middlefield, local doesn’t get much closer than Starlight Organic Farm in Durham (www.starlightgardensct.com) offering their first CSA for the 2012 season. For more information about farms and CSAs in your area, visit www.localharvest.org.
