Granola Crunchy

It's been quiet around here for a few weeks, hasn't it?

Life in the Real World has been busy - nothing earth shattering, just day-to-day stuff like laundry, getting the grass cut, an endless round of graduations (from pre-school to high school), and things like that.

And, while the 'chick was quietly minding her own business, living her own life, all of a sudden the economy took a turn for the worse and gas went up to almost $4.00 a gallon and all of a sudden there wasn't a whole lot of extra money anymore. The 'chick drives for her job and has to drive TO her job and Rockboy was between jobs and having a hard time keeping gas in his car . . .

Anyway, what is the point, you ask?

The point is this: All of a sudden, it seemed like everything was terrifying and falling apart and OH GOD THE WORLD IS ENDING.

Sound familiar? The mean reds, all over again.

But while everything was swirling around and looking desperate, the 'chick was smacked upside the head not once but twice.

By these:




Sometimes, it takes the equivalent of an anvil falling on her head for the 'chick to realize things. For instance, did you know that most of the food we eat comes from Elsewhere?

Elsewhere is usually Far Away. And takes a lot of fuel in the process of getting to where you are. And when the food gets to Here from Elsewhere, it's been on the road for at least 5 days, if not more. So it is not picked when it's ripe - it's picked when it will ship well.

And, did you know that you are probably eating more corn than you thought? You are. It's in everything. Including things like the hamburger you ate. Because They (large, corporate entities) force cattle to eat corn instead of wandering around pasture, eating grass like God intended. (Did you know that cattle are not supposed to eat corn? If you did, you get bonus points. The 'chick did not know. They are not made for it.) And while you were eating that hamburger, you also got a nice dose of growth hormone and antibiotics.

So, all of that good news made the 'chick panic just a little bit more, because, why worry ONLY about the price of gas when you can worry about a few more things like chemicals and feedlots and NO GAS TO BRING IN THE FOOD BECAUSE DIESEL IS ALMOST $5.00/gallon.

Did you know that if you go to a farmer's market in your town, odds are really good that you can get organic or beyond-organic produce that was grown by someone close to where you live? And meat? And eggs? And milk that is not full of antibiotics and growth hormone? And all kinds of cool stuff like homemade soap and candles and even clothes? And if you buy local, you're helping your neighbor while doing something good for yourself and your family.

Is this all sounding a little granola-crunchy for you and you're wondering if the 'chick has lost her mind?

It's possible. And the 'chick has not thrown out everything that was in her fridge or pantry only to fill it with brown rice and bean sprouts. She will still go out to eat, but maybe not as much and not to McDonald's.

But - the 'chick is going to think a little harder about what she's buying and WHERE it came from and how much it cost to get it here. And what is actually in it. And what that might eventually do to her health.

And she's going to the farmer's market this weekend, to see what the farmers have to offer. According to the list that was emailed - it looks like strawberries (locally grown) are in . . . and about 10 kinds of salad greens . . . and homemade bread . . . and some plants to stick in the ground at home. Heirloom tomatoes, anyone?