Forum Post: Help yourself, help others:food
Posted 13 years ago on Nov. 21, 2011, 4:28 a.m. EST by hyarborough
(121)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Continuing w/ the theme that we're also to blame for what's happening. I've never understood why people pour money into the pockets of the 1% when they don't have to. Stop supporting the commercial music, sports, automobile, corporate food, and health industries whenever possible. Grow and cook your own food. It's healthier, cheaper, and tastes better. Organize community gardens. It helps those w/o land, and you learn from each other. Eating healthier should also help you reduce your dependence on healthcare. Stop drinking sodas. Get away from high fructose corn sugar. Drink tea instead. It takes an investment in time, but you CAN grow tea and it's good for you. The incidence of type 2 diabetes is reported to be on the rise. This is from the CDC.
"Diabetes Is Common, Disabling, and Deadly
25.8 million people in the United States (8.3% of the population) have diabetes. Of these, 7.0 million have undiagnosed diabetes.
In 2010, about 1.9 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in people aged 20 years or older.
If current trends continue, 1 of 3 U.S. adults will have diabetes by 2050.
Among adults, diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness, kidney failure, and amputations of feet and legs not related to accidents or injury.
Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death listed on U.S. death certificates in 2007.
A person with diabetes has a shorter life expectancy and about twice the risk of dying on any given day
as a person of similar age without diabetes."
This appears to be an unintended consequence of our "convenient" style of eating. Grow and cook your own. Know what you're eating. You can grow an amazing amount on a 1/4 acre lot. I've finally gotten to the point where I don't need to buy vegetables or meat. If you're going to eat meat learn to grow, slaughter and butcher your own.
I've experimented w/ making cheese, beer, sausage etc. etc. and they're all superior in flavor and quality to commercially prepared and purchased food. Plus you know what's in it, and how it was handled, and once you get past the initial set up, cheaper. Have you read of the number of food recalls because of contamination?
In a lot of areas it's possible to grow year round. In areas where it's not possible, you at least have free cold storage. Reduce or eliminate your dependence on corporate farms. Buy local when necessary.
You all have access to the information you need. Learn how to help yourself, and help others.
Self reliance,and self sufficiency, Solar,wind electric cars, horses,rabbits,gardens, General Assemblies{Community, State ,National} End Wasteful Election Cycles, to elect more corporate shills to legislate our lives away..Distribute $100,000 ,to every man woman and child in the U.S. We will stimulate the economy. Return to gold backed currency, Cancel the Debt, Public and Private, Fake Money=Fake Debt..
A little more on the subject. I have chickens, two breeds of ducks, quail, geese, fish, rabbits, snails and hopefully crayfish. On 1/4 acre. The duck poop water will be fertilizer for two aquaponic grow beds. The chicken, rabbit and quail poop go into the garden. Waste nothing.
I've also been buying dairy goats for a couple that own a small amount of acreage nearby. I've given away over 90 ducks this year. The agreement is that I'll be able to buy raw milk at, or near cost in exchange. There's been a trend towards buying "goat shares", and my daughter tells me there are "farm shares" now too. BTW she's been involved in helping to get community gardens started. Get as far away from corporate farms as possible. Beef is a luxury. I find that duck breast is a good substitute for beef, and you can grow it in your backyard. Buy local whenever possible.
I've also managed to get at least two others started in this direction. Admittedly they were already open to doing this type of thing anyway, but weren't fully aware of how much can be done on a little land. Stop supporting corporations that are hurting you.
Viva Michio Kushi. Keep spreading the word. Slowly it will ripple and eventually Neanderthals will become extinct.