michelleponders

The food chain in this country is in trouble. The cattle population is the U.S. is equivalent to what it was in the 1950’s and our population is twice the size. The “fresh” vegetables you get in the produce section has been grown from seeds and plants that have been genetically modified. And anything that says organic still is not organic because it has something on it or in it to give it a longer shelf life. Then there is the price of food which steadily goes up despite being 6 years post the scamdemic. And do not get me started on processed food and everything that has come out about that. No wonder we are all fat and sick!

I have fallen for the lies told to us by the USDA and our wonderful government for years. The convenience of processed food made cooking so much easier and I did not bother trying to learn how to make as much as I should have from scratch. Now, I do not have a photographic memory and I struggle with numbers because I have dyscalculia. So measurements and translating them from liquid to dry and vice versa has not been easy my entire life. I have to write down everything or have a recipe handy until I have made the dish enough times that I have it memorized. And even then I usually end up altering the recipe slightly because I forget things. Luckily, everything still came out in my favor.

Another huge problem is our ranchers and farmers are in trouble. We are importing beef which is competing with our cattle ranchers. Cattle is being imported from other countries and we have no idea how the cattle was raised. The imported beef passes inspection upon entry in the U.S. and then is processed here. That is why you see the “Made in the USA” stickers on the beef in grocery stores because the beef was processed in the U.S. But the beef was not raised in the U.S. This is very troubling to me. There is also a huge issue with having enough slaughter houses in the U.S. The slaughter houses are owned and operated by four corporations(shock shock) after buying out individual owners. The strict laws and rules for slaughter houses are made specifically for large corporate slaughter houses. The scamdemic exposed the problems and look at beef prices now. Farmers are struggling to grow crops because there is a nation-wide drought right now. Mountains that usually have snow have none so there has not been any snow melt. Regions that see rains in the fall/winter/spring seasons have not seen normal rain fall amounts, if any. This drought has been an issue for several years with no end in sight. There is also the issue of fertilizer prices going up every year. The main driver is geopolitical instability such as the Russian/Ukraine war and all the squabbles in the Middle East. These conflicts make it difficult to import the chemicals needed to make fertilizer.

Now is the time for us to become more self reliant when it comes to food. There are ways to do this. It will take time, patience, and money initially but once everything is set and in place, it will help all of us in the long run.

Grow a garden. You can churn up an area in your backyard or set up an above ground bed and grow your own vegetables. It does not have to be a big area either. You can also use containers, food-grade buckets and pots. The veggies you use regularly can be grown yourself so plant what your family will eat. Be smart about it. If there are certain herbs you like to use regularly for certain dishes or just everyday cooking, grow them. Learn about preserving what you grow if you have a surplus. There are veggies that are grown in spring/summer and others in fall/winter. This makes growing food a year round adventure. Your entire family can get involved. Get with a few of your neighbors and grow a community garden. Everyone contributes and gives time and resources and everyone can benefit. There are videos and blogs as well as your local county extension office to get info relavent to the area you live in. These sources are valuable for being successful. If you want truly organic food, this is the way to do it. You can also plant fruit trees trees that grow well in your area. If you do not have space or are not able, get dwarf versions of fruit and grow them in buckets and pots.

We can help ranchers here in the U.S. by buying beef directly from them. Look for local cattle ranchers in your area who have cows they raise for individuals to buy. There are also small beef businesses in the U.S. who offer special plans, monthly offers and subscriptions delivering beef directly to you. These businesses are run by family ranches and/or local butchers. The beef is grass-fed and raised right here in America. These ranchers usually slaughter their beef onsite or have a butcher that works with them. You know where the beef comes from, how it is fed, and that the standards by which the beef was slaughtered is organic and humane.

We are at a place where becoming more self sufficient, when it comes to food, is a must. It is obvious that what has been allowed to happen to our food has not been to our benefit. It is another area where the government and these corporations are working together for their benefit and to fill their pockets. These entities have made money from our poor health and the results have been devistating to the general public. But we can make better choices and help each other in the process. We can save money on what we buy on a regular basis and know what we are putting in our bodies. Our body is a temple and we must take care of it.