Trying to Keep it Real – Birds and the Bees
We are living in an amazing age of technological advances. It’s hard to keep up with the latest phones, cameras and laptops let alone comprehend what’s happening with medical and scientific discoveries. But sometimes we try to outsmart ourselves and our planet to a fault. This is especially true with our food. Companies like Monsanto take a beautiful and naturally perfect seed and attempt to morph it into a Frankenstein that will resist their own pesticides and yield an unnatural amount of crops. Or in the case of a poor hardworking cow… produce more milk through hormones. Is this really better for us as consumers? Is it better for our farmers, animals and plants? More importantly, is it better for my family to digest these genetically modified super seeds or milk? No. It’s not ….and because it’s not… I’m going to do my best to “keep it real” when it comes to what my family eats.
Good cooking is all about the ingredients. Can we really improve the quality of a farm fresh egg or a perfectly juicy organic heirloom tomato? I don’t think so. So, rather then buy produce from large chain grocery stores I’m going to grow my own in my backyard garden. And because we’re in a rural location we can have chickens! Our eggs won’t come from Safeway (or even Whole Foods) but our own wonderful family hens.
Yes, I know we can buy “organic” produce now in the big grocery chain stores like Safeway and King Soopers or Kroger. But these stores are so huge and their suppliers are even bigger. There is a processing to everything they sell … even the “organic” foods. And with genetically modified crops surrounding these large organic growers, how do we really know what we’re getting? We don’t. But I do know what is coming out of my own backyard. Everything will be grown from heritage organic seeds. No RoundUp or other chemicals. No genetically modified or processed anything! And I know my family (and especially my son) will enjoy the fruits of our labors… literally.
To begin this quest, I have 18 baby chicks in a heated wooden box in my living room. Yep. You read that correctly… my living room. The basement just seemed so cold and lonely. The “girls” are hilarious to watch and have become part of our family. My husband and some of our friends are planning the construction of a chicken coop and a large fenced in garden. The chicks will move into their new “estate” in 2 months.
Next on the list… Bees! Locally harvested honey is one of nature’s best immune-building foods. Did I mention I have a 6 year old who brings home every bug possible from school? We need anything to help keep us healthy during the cold and flu season. Plus, bees are quite possibly the coolest and most important creatures on this planet. Some of our beekeeper friends say they are so much fun to watch. It’s kind of like being near a major airport runway each morning and evening. We have a new hive on order and are just waiting for a swarm to become available. Our wildflowers will love having them as neighbors.
Am I going “off the grid?” Nope. I like my modern conveniences a little too much for that! But I do want to go off the processed food grid as much as I can. Am I crazy? Yes…probably. This will take work.. and it surely won’t be as convenient as buying food in packages. I realize not everyone will have the space or desire to take these steps.. and that’s just fine. I’m not an activist and I don’t expect anyone to do what I do. In fact, I’m a big believer in freedom and “to each his own.” But maybe if we all pay a just a little more attention to the origin of our food… read the labels…. know the companies… understand the fine print…..we can make informed decisions for our families. Maybe we’ll be more supportive of our own local farmer’s, CSA’s and farmer’s markets. And we can give our families the best tasting and most nutritious foods…. kissed by nature but untouched by science. Prepared with love.
And that’s what it’s all about.
This is such an inspirational post & those chicks are darling 🙂
This is wonderful, I would so love to do this but I fairly certain it is against town ordinance in my town. We do have two garden plots and I hope that this summer’s salads will be entirely made up of homegrown foods!
I think this is awesome. This is the first year in my city that residents are allowed to raise honey bees, and there are petitions going around to allow us to raise hens as well. I’m trying to convince my parents do it (my tiny little patio only has space for a couple of pots of tomatoes).
Love it. Have had a garden for many years, we never use chemicals. Can’t have chickens, too many foxes in my area.
They are SO cute!
I am so envious of your plans! And agree 110% about the GM foods. I can’t wait to see what you grow this summer. We are going to sell our townhouse and move to an area where I can have chickens and a small garden next year. All I can really do now is grow herbs. We basically had a small farm growing up, and what we didn’t grow/raise, a neighbor or local farm did and we got it from there.