This morning I was just watching a video acknowledging all the connection and community happening even with social distancing. And, within this video, they honored all the people who are still working on our behalf- medical workers, lab researchers, cleaners, grocery workers, logistics workers, etc. In addition, I see A LOT about restaurant workers and aid for restaurant businesses that is needed as well as other small local businesses. Never once in any of these things lately have I seen a thank you to the farmers who are still growing food and working hard to figure out how to get it to people safely.
I had been thinking that social distancing and quarantine would awaken a new awareness to where our food comes from and connection with it’s sources. We’ve created food systems that have fostered such a massive divide between people who eat and how the food actually gets made. Even large scale farmers are disconnected riding atop large tractors and using machines to farm.
I had hoped that this current situation just *might* encourage people to grow a little bit more food for themselves. That health awareness and food access would shift culture a little bit more to local fresh foods instead of boxed and packaged things. That people might return just a little bit to a connection with where food actually comes from.
On the one hand, farms/ranches that ship their product have been insanely busy this week with increased orders (which means at least some people care about fresh, mindfully raised food) and on the other hand many farms, who already struggle to make ends meet in the best of times, have lost massive portions of their business due to schools and restaurants closing.
All this is to say that there is an opportunity for each person here to connect with their food. And what I know is that being in relationship with your food and how it is grown actually can enhance your health and wellbeing. Knowing the soil and land and family that all put care and love into your food means you know the full extent of the nourishment it can provide to you.
I follow A LOT of farmers in social media and what I want to say is that I honor each of you because I know that all of us are focused on continuing to farm food and get it to people who need it. And, I have a lot of customers and followers here— Thank YOU for choosing to be in relationship with me and thus your own bodies.
All of you give me hope this morning when I'm having a moment of feeling unsure about the future of food systems and humanity’s relationships to it. You give me hope when you choose to support Crown Hill through Patreon. You give me hope when you choose to call me for eggs rather than go to the grocery store. You give me hope when you sign up for our CSA farm shares. You give me hope when you follow my social media, comment and share with your friends. Your love and enjoyment of what I do gives me hope. For all of that, Thank You.
So, I’m still here, getting up every day and doing what I can to grow and raise the best, most nourishing and delicious food I can for whomever wants it. Giving it as much love, kindness and care so that in turn in can give that pleasure to you.
