#sustainability

Going Green: What’s really REALLY on your plate?

Agriculture, Business, Conservation, Environment, Food, Motivation, Organic Foods, Sustainable Living, , , , , , One comment

As I dig further and further into this quest to find out where our food is coming from, I start to realize there is EVEN MORE to this story.

First, I learned about genetically modified foods. I thought if I buy organic local products this was really the best I could do not only for my well-being, but also for the environment.

Then, I saw a documentary called Vegucated . This film follows three average New Yorkers on a six week journey as they learn to live vegan. Throughout the documentary you see their lives transform as they start to really realize what they were eating. This film has inspired me in a multitude of ways. It showed the horrors of today’s factory farming situation and really shed light on the ethical line between business and slaughter. If you think your chicken fingers came from old McDonald’s little happy family farm then I STRONGLY encourage you to watch this film. This is animal abuse right in our own backyard and it has to stop.

Below is a trailer to the film. It is available to download through GetVegucated.com so take the time to watch it. Share it with your friends. It really shows you that ANYONE can go vegan and that EVERYONE should!

 

WE have the power to change this.

Organics are still very, VERY important. But according to the film, organic meat doesn’t actually have anything to do with how the animals are treated. We live in a day and age where animal products aren’t needed to keep us alive. Scientists believe humans began eating meat products when they moved into colder climates. Since we now have the power to grow plants in any climate, it is time to start reorganizing the food industry in America and eventually the whole world.

Also still be cautious about eating nonGMO. Most products geared toward vegans are made with soy. 90% of the soy in the U.S. is genetically modified, so read your labels!

The question is what can we REALLY eat?

The answer to that seems like such a small percentage of what is readily available in our super markets today. WE NEED TO CHANGE THIS. Ecowarriors strive to live a completely environmentally friendly life and since food is a major part, we must begin there.

This film inspired us SO MUCH, I decided to challenge myself.

Tag #ecowarriorschallenge to share your ways of going vegan!

This video shows the Dervaes family who have created a 4,000 sq. ft urban garden in their backyard! The garden can produce 6,000 POUNDS of food a year and includes a plethora of fruits and vegetables and goats, ducks, and chicken. The garden feeds the entire family of four and produces enough excess that the family makes $20,000 a year in sales to local restaurants. All of the food is grown organically and all the animals are cage-free. The garden includes it’s own compost heap, bee hives, solar panels, and a bio-diseal gasoline station.

Could you imagine if every household in America were like this? We would be able to stop childhood hunger, poverty and unemployment all in one step! Of course, each garden would have to be done right. If every backyard in America turns into a pool of pesticides and chemicals, then we really aren’t solving the problem. In the video, Jules Dervaes talks about creating a community that would be able to support each other. By creating a way people can share resources, it will be easier to convince them it is worth the work. A garden is certainly a lot of work, especially on this scale, but it is also WORTH the effort. By combining forces within your community, the labor is shared, as is the harvest. Think of your five immediate neighbors. Now if you needed milk or eggs, you would go across the street to the little old lady with the goats and chickens. If you needed berries and some apples, you would head over to your next-door neighbor. Each person has their responsibility. Not only would this help with food issues, but it will also reconnect communities.

Really great inspiration for any urban gardener!

Conservation, Environment, Sustainable Living, Urban Gardening, , , , Video Leave a comment