The push for change across our Nation began long before the President made it a household mantra. The economy has been in a changing pattern for years. People have been increasingly beginning to gear their lifestyles away from the fast paced, competitive lives we have created and going back to a simpler, happier time. It seems we may be facing a little of the whole “Be careful what you wish for” cliché. People are trying to live healthier with less stress. They are tired of being tired and feeling bad. Not to mention being overweight, anxious and depressed much of the time.
One of the most noticeable changes that is sweeping the country is that people are attempting more and more to eat healthier. Nutrition is getting noticed and more and more people have a desire to eat only locally grown, organic food. The Catch 22 here is that the expense of healthier food may be too much for most American’s wallets to stand at this time and it is not yet as convenient as fast foods or processed foods that can sit indefinitely on a pantry shelf. Eating healthier means eating fresh.
A new solution could be on the horizon. Actually, it isn’t a new concept, but an old one that is coming back around. Here it is…you don’t have to quit your job and become a farmer to grow your own food! Even if you have limited space or live in an apartment, you can grow some of your own food. You can start with window boxes for an apartment. Get together with your neighbors that are probably in the same type of situation as you and grow different things. Then, swap and share so that everyone is getting some of everything.
For those that have more space to work with, cut that yard in half and start a big ole garden. Plant as much as you possibly can. If you can grow more than you can use, you can freeze and can it so you have healthy food available to you all year long. Still have lots of extras? Great, share it with your family, friends and neighbors. Earn some extra money and put up a little stand somewhere to sell some of the extras. One of the best ideas that I have heard of to do with excess food that you have grown that needs to be used up is to donate it to your local food banks. There are food banks all across the country that are turning people away because they don’t have enough food to take care of everyone that it is need now.
Don’t let a lack of gardening knowledge stop you. A couple of good books from the library or some searching on the internet and you can quickly learn what you need to know to get started. So, help yourself, help others and relieve your stress by starting your garden today.
–Ray Reggie–
