Thoughts on Food and Eating Local

This past Saturday I volunteered with Hands In Helping Out (HIHO) and Ho’oulu ‘Aina.

I learned how taro is harvested… what parts you eat, discard and replant.
I picked wing beans straight off the vines they grow from.
I pulled small carrots from the dirt with my hands.
I cut a big, beautiful squash right off the vine.
I learned about harvesting mint and how to grow your own.
I enjoyed a baby asparagus straight from the plant.
I ate delicious vegan sandwiches and chocolate cupcakes with new friends.

And I had a short discussion about our disconnect from the foods that we eat.

While munching, I talked with a sweet gal who had recently gone vegetarian… being new to the vegan world myself, I asked her what her motivation was for changing how she eats. She said something along the lines of, “Going to the store and buying packaged flesh bothers me. There’s a real disconnect from the animal that I’m eating. If I were to raise my own chickens or catch my own fish, I would feel more comfortable eating it.”

Most of us don’t even think about where our food comes from or how far it had to travel. We don’t think about the actual animal, what that animal was fed (or injected with), where it was kept and what effect it’s life and death has on the pieces of meat that we are putting in our bodies. It’s just bacon… Sausage… Hamburger patties. Just the same as when we see produce in the store… big, brightly colored, genetically-enhanced fruits and vegetables. Where was it grown, what was it enhanced with and how nutritious is it really by the time it reaches your mouth?

I’ve always thought it would be really great to grow my own food since I’m passionate about self sustainability and reducing my carbon footprint. I’ve also been wanting to find a great local farmer’s market that sells all local foods (because yes, I’ve seen non-local fruits and vegetables from the grocery store… marked up). But after seeing the Ho’oulu ‘Aina garden and learning more about the food that I was pulling form the earth with my own two hands, I am even more passionate about gardening, eating locally and supporting the organizations and people that work to create native, sustainable gardens within their communities.

How amazing would it be if every community learned more about native foods, community gardens, self sustainability and the powerful impact of eating local?

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