Roots of a Southern Kitchen

I saw Annette Thurman speak at last year’s homestead festival and was so happy she was back this year to speak! She and her husband, Jared, did this session on “Why You Should Grow More Food in the Next 12 Months”.

The overall health of United States citizens has deteriorated quickly over the years. 60% of Americans have at least one health problem, which is A LOT of people! Being healthy and nurturing our bodies is the best thing we can do for ourselves in the long run.

The Food We Know

While grocery stores are quick and easily accessible, how nutritious is that food? Well, not very nutritious at all, actually.

Most foods in grocery stores have been shipped from other states, even other countries! By the time your food reaches the shelves of your stores, it has been days or weeks, even MONTHS since it was picked, meaning the nutrients in the food that would benefit our bodies are dead.

We can eat what we think is “healthy” from the grocery store, but we may not feel any better because the nutrients are already depleted. This also explains why store-bought food isn’t as flavorful as fresh products.

The most nutrient dense foods you can get will be foods you choose to grow at home. Farm fresh eggs have less cholesterol and saturated fat, and more essential omega-3 fatty acids than store bought eggs.

The Cost of Food

As we have all seen over the past year, food at the grocery store is not getting cheaper anytime soon. And have you noticed that organic food is more expensive than foods that have been raised with pesticides, poor soil conditions, early picking, and preservative sprays? We are paying less money for food that has more product used on it. Such a backwards system!!!

I’m sure we all have experienced a food crisis before. Here in the south, anytime it snows or freezes, people are emptying the bread and milk shelves! I have seen empty shelves more than I’d like to admit. It’s chaos when this does happen.

People that grow their own food, though, experience less crisis when food shortages happen. This doesn’t mean you have to go plant 50 different species of plants in your backyard–start small with things you love to eat most.

Being Outside is Good for the Mind, Body, and Soul

Have you ever heard someone tell you that being in the sun is “bad for you”? It’s actually quite the opposite.

Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that we can get from the sun. According to Medical News Today, vitamin D is beneficial in supporting bone structure, regulating calcium levels, reducing inflammation, and supporting a healthy immune system and glucose regulation.

Sunlight also helps people sleep better by resetting circadian rhythms, which regulates levels of serotonin and melatonin.

While the sun can be harsh on your skin with prolonged exposure, sunlight has too many other benefits to pass up on! Getting outside in the sun for just 30 minutes a day is a start to a healthier life!

Being outside also helps lift our mood! Nobody is ever sad after a harvest from the garden. Getting your hands in the soil is actually good for you.

Soil produces mycobacteria vaccae, which is being heavily researched today due to its mood-boosting properties! The bacteria gets into your system just by touching it. Scientists are now researching how this bacteria can be used in individuals with PTSD, cancer, and other medical conditions.

United States Soil

There is no chance the US will stop being a global superpower anytime soon due to our geography. We are the only economy to grow every decade for the past 150 years. This is due to the many methods of transportation within our country. The Mississippi River is the largest natural waterway, and has been used for hundreds of years to ship foods and other materials across the country. We deliver food more cheaply to markets across the nation than any other country! The US also has prime farmland. We currently hold the record for the largest section of continuous farmland.

To take out the United States, you’d have to take out our soil…but that’s already happening. Over-tilling, herbicides, pesticides, chemicals, and other factors are depleting our rich soil of its nutrients, leaving us with dirt that is depleted of everything plants need to thrive.

To save our soil, do your best to use no chemicals, only till the dirt when absolutely necessary, and make sure to rotate crop locations each year. Soil is like every other living thing, it needs to rest! Using natural things like compost, worm castings, kelp meal, etc. are natural remedies to help keep our soil healthy.

Remember, there is power in community. Don’t be afraid to ask others for advice or help! If we don’t work together to keep our land healthy, we will soon have nowhere to grow the food we need.