This was last weeks CSA share. Glorious, right? All veggies are certified organic, locally grown by my NEIGHBORS. This is the bounty of the earth. GLORIOUS.
Because the fact is, our food is not what it once was. Despite all this genetic mutations that are supposed to enhance our crops, protect against crop destruction, and induce higher yields, our food is becoming chronically nutrient deficient. But I don't want to get started on the dangers of GMO's--in this post, anyway.
It starts with dirt. Soil wasn't created to be farmed relentlessly year after year after year with plants that deplete, not enhance, the soil itself. This nutrient consumption is not effectively replenished through fertilizers. There should be dozens of minerals and other nutrients in healthy dirt, but fertilizers and soil enrichment products contain maybe five or six of these essential trace minerals. Even when farmers fertilize with manure, this is often contaminated with antibiotics, growth hormones, and various other chemicals from the cows that actually damage the soil further. In addition, plants are sprayed with herbicides, pesticides and fungicides, which wash off into the soil and cause even further damage.
Herbicides, fungicides, pesticides and waxes coat supermarket groceries, reducing their permeability to pests and disease. But it is this that we later ingest when we finally get this food home and into our meals. The last thing our chemically bombarded bodies need is to be ingesting and absorbing these poisons off of our food.
Additionally, we don't eat fresh food anymore. Think about it-- lets say there's an orange farmer in Florida. He picks his oranges and puts them into crates. He then ships them out. They travel for a day or so, maybe more, then arrive at their destination. They are unloaded and put out onto shelves. A day or so later, you show up to buy your oranges for that summery fruit salad you've been craving. At BEST, there is a four day gap between when the fruit was picked and when it arrives at the supermarket. Your groceries will travel an average of 1300 miles.
The fact is, if the vegetable or fruit is no longer attached to the plant, it has begun decaying. Enzymes inside the food begins to slowly die. The longer the time it takes to get from the plant and into your mouth, the less nutrients there are.
So...what do we do? Well, we absolutely need to be taking a good multi-vitamin to make up for the depletions. No matter how well you eat, our food does not have the nutrient pack that it used to, and we have to restore this somehow. I know that a lot of you are making every effort to eat well for yourself and for your family. I know that a lot of you struggle to afford good, organic, healthy food. And a lot of you come in and say, "I'm eating organic, lots of raw food, I'm exercising, and I still don't feel right." Often this can be resolved with a good multi-vitamin.
We are so blessed in Madison. There are farmers markets on almost every day of the week, spread throughout the capital and all the suburbs! There are many CSA programs you can get signed up with, and many local restaurants that support local organic farmers. We have access to good healthy organic food--lets take advantage! You'll find that if you buy organic local food it tastes better (I PROMISE you, it truly does taste better!) and you need less to eat because you'll be getting SO MUCH more nutrients in the food! You won't be ingesting chemicals and poisons. You'll be eating food that can nourish and heal your body. You'll be eating to live well.
Just to help you on your way, here are some links to the various CSA share programs and info on farmers markets in the area.
FairShare CSA Coalition: http://www.csacoalition.org/
Full List of CSA Farms: http://www.csacoalition.org/our-farms/full-list/
Harmony Valley Farm: http://www.harmonyvalleyfarm.com/csa.php
Tipi Produce: http://www.tipiproduce.com/csa/
Troy Gardens Community Groundworks: http://www.communitygroundworks.org/what-we-do/troy-community-farm/csa
Madison Area Farmers Markets
Mondays: 2524 Rimrock Rd., 2-6pm
Tuesdays: 953 Jenifer Street, 4pm-7pm; Labor Temple, 1602 S. Park St., 2pm-6pm
Wednesdays: City-County Building, 215 MLK Jr. Blvd., 8:30am-2pm; Hilldale Mall, Segoe Ave. off of University, 7am-2pm; Gilbert Rd. at United Church of Christ, 3pm-7pm
Thursdays: The Villager Mall, 2300 S. Park Street 2pm-6pm; Agora Pavilion on Cheryl Parkway, 3-6pm; Greenway Station (Middleton) 8am-1pm
Saturday: Capitol Square 6am-2pm.; Labor Temple, 1602 S Park St 9am-2pm; Hilldale, Segoe Ave off University, 7am-2pm; Hill Farms DOT 4802 Sheboygan 7am-1pm.
Sunday: Town Center, Northside and Sherman 8:30am-12:30pm; Ahuska Park on Broadway 9am-1pm; Labor Temple 1602 S Park St 11am-3pm.
You can find more in your area at: http://thealvaradogroup.com/2010/06/08/looking-for-a-farmers-market-in-the-madison-wi-area/#sthash.Tgeymjmb.dpuf
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