6/17/2012

What's for Dinner?

" You  are what you eat." 
I first heard that as a student at University of Guelph eons ago. And I clearly remember thinking, "Uh, no. I am not. I am much more than that horrible slop just served up in the cafeteria, 
or the Thursday night draft beer, or the limp green leaves that pass for salad around here.
 I am possibly that rich and creamy strawberry parfait however."

Several years later,  as I watch friend after friend battle cancer (self included), diabetes, heart disease, and other ailments too numerous to mention, I now absolutely agree. "You are what you eat."

While not able to do much about the vast amounts of microscopic particles of plastic that we eat, drink and breathe on a daily basis, I am able to control the food I put in my body. In the past few years, we have started growing our own food, as well as purchasing it from local farmers who believe that the closer the food is to the farm, the better it is for you. They also believe that there are healthier alternatives to pest control than pesticides and chemicals. 

Rainbow Heritage Garden is a local organic market garden that we have bought shares in...Community Shared Agriculture or CSA..so every other week for six months of the year, we receive  a huge basket of vegetables and fruit that is lovely to look at, delicious to eat and good for us! 
Win, win and win.

 This is Zack, the farmer who grows our food, and he takes  our food safety very seriously. You can trust a farmer who eats the same food he sells to you, and  who gives tours of his farm so you can see the techniques that are used to grow such amazing crops.
Its's much more than a pretty place. There's a ton of work to be done, and lists to abide by to make sure that  all the details of crop production are noted, and attended to.
 This year's crop of garlic is going to be a good one. And the peas, carrots, kale, and  potatoes are also growing beautifully. Our  garden crops are flourishing.
The suspension means the tomatoes will be filling me. :-)

The peppers and tomatoes are grown in greenhouses, which means far fewer pests, protection from adverse weather, in particular hail, and a delicious crop of fruit!
You will likely never see a suit at a Shareholder's Meeting and friendly smiles abound.
And when share's are split, they look like this:

Who's your Farmer, and what's  he growing in your garden?