At basmati.com, we’re all about supporting our local community and eating fresh, seasonal, local produce. So, naturally, we’re all about Community Supported Agriculture – and here’s why we think you should be, too:
Globalization and domestic big agriculture have made it possible to get avocados in the winter, oranges that are actually orange, and out of season or imported fruit at cheap prices. However, this globalized demand for food also has its share of problems.
For those of you who are curious about these food co-ops that you see popping up, you should know that these grocery stores with a twist are called food cooperatives for a good reason—they’re all about cooperation. Food co-ops thrive in communities that are interested in working together for the common good.
I have a lot of fears. Most of them centering around physical safety. For much of life, I’ve tried to inoculate myself from danger by either not engaging, or by believing terrible things wouldn’t happen to me because I’m protected by my higher power. A few years ago, I was hit by a car as a pedestrian and that viewpoint shattered. It was a horrible time that shook me to my core. I realized being a woman of faith doesn’t mean I’ll escape all harm. Rather, it means regardless of what happens there is always a loving force with me.
Change, even when improvement, can be scary. Humans thrive in love. It is the lack thereof that stimulates the motivation for behaviors that seem not in alignment with such grace. The most effective and graceful way to foster change in yourself and in others is to hold space for that person (yourself or a loved one). Holding space means providing a “shelter” to explore the changes, rather than forcing the person to change.
Running an organic, sustainable garden is not easy to do solo, especially when you have a larger garden with plenty enough to tend to. Having support and assistance from others within your community can really lend a helping hand, and there are often people within communities who could truly benefit from gardens. For those looking for ideas on how to gain gardening support within your community, check out these 10 ideas for connecting your garden with your community.
1. Give and Share
When I lived in Germany, we subscribed to a biweekly delivery of produce from a local farm. It encouraged us to try new produce that we honestly never would have tried otherwise – especially in a foreign country! From the rare (and new to me): Jerusalem artichokes (sunchokes), black salsify, and kohlrabi; to lots and lots and lots of cabbage, carrots, and dill, it’s one of my favorite memories of my time in that country.
Spring will be blooming before you know it! Not far behind it will be the farmer’s market. I love visiting different farmer’s markets to check out all of the local farmer’s goods. Not all towns have markets, but there are more of them popping up every year. Not only is the farmer’s market a great place to buy produce, but it’s also a really great way to meet the people in your community.
This house is where I got my first taste of an intentional community. An Intentional Community (IC) is a community built on a foundation, so to speak, of people living together and working as a team. Many times the people living in a community like this share and hold common beliefs, such as religion, spirituality, politics, science, etc. There are also communities that are full of people with different opinions, religions, and outlooks.
In 2011, I moved from the lush greenery of Olympia, an hour south of Seattle, to Philadelphia, one of the densest cities in America. Never in my life had I seen so much brick, so much pavement, and so little green space. I loved the city—I moved there to pursue opportunities that weren’t available in a smaller town. But I missed the green. And something about that made me suddenly interested in healthy eating. If I couldn’t have much green foliage around me, at least I could have some on my plate.