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Eating close to the earth, connects us to her as we allow her to nourish our bodies. The food we eat is a multidimensional aspect of our lives. Food
provides us with the energy that enables us to grow and prosper. Yet it can
be, and frequently is, much, much more. Our food can be an experience in and
of itself if we allow it to be. The dishes we remember from childhood offer
unmatched comfort. The act of preparing meals can be an art form of the
highest caliber. And the nourishment we derive from this fare promotes
wellness within us. But many of us, distracted by daily affairs, forget that
the profound pleasures of eating go beyond simple sustenance. We eat foods
that are convenient or we eat unconsciously, snacking on whatever happens to
be on hand. To understand the true value of food and the impact it can have
on our lives, we should acknowledge and honor it by eating close to the
earth. If you have ever shelled and eaten garden-grown peas or bitten into a
sun-warmed apple freshly plucked from its tree, you likely understand that
there is a marked difference between these foods and those that are processed
and stacked on supermarket shelves. Food recently picked contains more of its
original life force and thus has a greater store of energy and nutrients. You
can ensure you are eating close to the earth--and enjoying the many benefits of
doing so -- by shopping at a local farmers market and getting to know the
individuals who grow your food. If you make the experience of shopping in
this way enjoyable, you will be more apt to reject more convenient canned,
packaged, and frozen foods in favor of the real delight you feel while
browsing stalls of fresh foods nourished by the same soil you can find in
your own backyard. You will soon learn what foods are in season in your area
and how to prepare them.
As you savor the vivid flavors of juicy ripe fruits and the hearty crunch of
unprocessed vegetables, you can also take pleasure in the fact that, by
eating close to the earth, you are supporting farmers in your region,
connecting with your local ecosystem, discouraging those who would waste precious
fossil fuels by carting produce cross-country, and helping to preserve
healthy culinary traditions that have existed for centuries. |
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