The body of our food system has a mutated gene. It places volume before safety, and consistency before quality. It demands we trust it, and requires that we as consumers be responsible for contaminants. It’s time we all become viral and start fixing the body we call a food system. (Bear with me. I’ll try to make this come together before we’re done.)
According to the Human Genome Project “gene therapy is a technique for correcting defective genes. A normal gene may be inserted into … the genome to replace a nonfunctional gene”; a mutant allele is replaced with a functional one.
My wife and I didn’t begin adult life convinced that organic sustainable agriculture was important. We didn’t begin raising our children on exclusively home made foods. We didn’t begin that short empty nest period taking control of our food supply. We began our life together eating fast food and cooking “home made” meals out of the box. Our children began their growth afraid that when Mom cooked the food it wouldn’t be the same (read processed) as it was supposed to be. (It wasn’t like “the Colonel’s” chicken.) We haven’t been able to put a date on when the change began but we’ve seen the changes in our family. Our adult children have done interesting things, like no longer drinking sodas and paying close attention to nutritional values in their foods. These aren’t changes we preached, they’re changes they saw and questions they asked.
As exciting as seeing our kids change has been, it has been far more exciting to watch friends and co-workers change. It starts with questions about our bag lunches at work. “What is that? Don’t you eat anything normal? Your beef is grass fed and organic? This is homemade bread? Your garden is how big? Can I have a bite?”
Our friends are starting to think that control of their own food supply is important. We’ve been the virus. Our enthusiasm and conviction is the new genetic material replacing the mutant allele which told them everything they bought was good, safe and healthy. Our friends are now planting their own gardens. Others are realizing the advantages of grass fed, pastured livestock. One friend that has five unused acres is considering raising livestock. The change hasn’t been instant; it has been the process of a growing infection. They’ve heard our discussions, they’ve asked questions, they’ve sought out more information and they've begun to change. We were the virus. We infected them by inserting corrected DNA into their genome. Now they function like us as a virus, spreading the corrected DNA to new cells.
We aren’t changing the system instantly, but as the infection and genetic correction spreads we will create a tipping point where the body must change: a point where the food system will focus not just on convenience and price, but also on quality, sustainability, variety and openness. We shall be the virus creating change in a sick mutated body. We are actively trying to bring about the change. We keep setting the example for those around us while they are spreading it further. Change will come as we work to alter the roots of the system because we can change the growth of the plant with our actions. We will continue to be the virus delivering corrected genes to a damaged food system
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I certainly enjoyed your piece and add our family's viral effect to your own. I grew up in a household wherein my mother was a "granola" long before it was fashionable. She grew up on a farm and made most of our meals from scratch. We succumbed initially in our married life to the fast paced, hurry up and work longer, then rush home, throw something together (quasi-food) and be done with it so everybody can get to bed and start over phylosophy. Almost a decade ago we made the conscious decision to take back control of our lives. Our food choices were therefore paramount in laying the foundation for a more sustainable and satisfying life. Our children are still at home and their school lunches are often questioned, bargained for and emulated. They have learned both by example and experience that MORE food isn't necessarily satisfying. REAL food is and they need less of it to feel sated. The fact that it tastes better doesn't hurt either. As we have become increasingly strict about eliminating heavily processed foods from our diet, our health has taken a dramatic turn for the better. In fact, my husband hasn't been to the doctor for over 2 years with the usual seasonally induced sinus infection or flu, because HIS body is healthier he can withstand those typical assualts from the outside. So, the benefits of our "transformation" were definitely not instantaneous, but well worth the effort.
ReplyDeleterpmartin
ReplyDeleteThanks It's nice to know others can find common ground with you. My wife and I can't put a date to our transition, but it has taken nearly 20 years of change. We continue to refine our behavior, always moving further away from processed foods. If we live in a capitalistic, consumer driven society i'm sure we can change the direction we are moving with our dollars.
Emptysandwich