Mother Nature set off the fire alarm last week. Not so much a loud ringing in the ears... more of a stomach-turning knowing that every living being could instinctually feel.
The unprecedented heat storm, that blew record highs out of the water last week, solidified the urgency with which we need to act if we want to continue this precious life on Earth.
It seems daunting to even try, right? If we look too closely at all that is wrong, it can feel like our only choice is to curl up in despair and live life out as pleasantly as possible.
But! Just like any shadow area in life, if we allow ourselves to see if fully, we can move through the despair and arrive to the other side propelled with a readiness to take action.
Which is exactly what each of us is here, at this time, to do.
Living on Earth at this time comes with a great responsibility. We are the ones that must make the change to support the healing of the Earth and begin to live in symbiotic relationship with all of life, including our beautiful planet.
As much as it seems so, it isn't an impossible task and the number one way you can effect change is through food choice.
While most of us shop for groceries through the lens of "what is healthiest for my body?", the focus needs to shift to "what is healthiest for the Earth body?". Turns out, what is healthiest for the planet is usually also what is ultimately best for the individual body. Win/win.
So, here they are. Top 5 food choices you can make to help save the planet:
Find and support farmers utilizing regenerative farming practices. Regenerative farming is all about regenerating soil health with methods that bring soil back to life. What happens when soil is alive? It pulls carbon out of the atmosphere and back into the soil where it belongs! Growing plants in a way that supports soil health is one of the most promising ways we have to actively lessen the carbon load in the atmosphere, quickly. You can use this regenerative farm map to find farms near you. You can also google "regenerative foods to purchase online" and you will find a full list of online suppliers.
This includes animal farming! Regenerative farming relies on animals as part of the equation. So, while it is true that we need far less animal protein than is currently being consumed, procuring animal protein from regenerative farms is very supportive to the environment. It is also true that eating conventionally raised meat is one of the very worst things you can do for the environment. In fact, conventional animal agriculture is right behind fossil fuels as a top contributor to green house gas emissions. It is far better to skip meat produced in conventional ways or, at a minimum, find ways to reduce the amount consumed.
Support local farmland. Local farmland creates a biodiverse landscape, which is essential for all parts of a thriving eco-system to survive. These farmers support the many forms of life that require undeveloped land, and also prevent more invasive infrastructure from moving in and covering the soil.
Buy organic. Many people have wondered whether it does any good to buy organic. Is it worth it? It is. When organic methods are used, soil is healthier. The healthier the soil, the more carbon is pulled back into it. This makes the plant healthier, which means it is richer in nutrients, which means that it is also healthier for you!
Waste less food. Approximately 30-40% of food supply is wasted in the United States, which adds up to around 133 billion pounds of food. Not only does that waste create its own green house gas emissions, but is also very wasteful to our precious food growing resources. Make a plan before hitting the store, buy only what you need, let go of concerns around not having enough, and, most importantly, cook with what you already have.
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