Today we all are living in a hybrid world of ever increasing technology and population. And this directly or indirectly reducing our standard of livings. Hereby I want to draw the attention only on food products.
As an environmentalist and nature lover we like to think about our earth. But because of the pressure of increasing population and desire to earn more profit farmers have increased the use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides are add-on to increase the production. This reduces the fertility of soil which results in many natural disasters like soil erosion, landslide, floods and even climate change. But how many are following them or more prominently how many can afford them as increment of profit is possible from quantity not quality.
Many peoples like to include vegetables in their diet, but most of us are fond of junk foods. Apart from that I would like to ask, are we noticing the quality of the food and obviously its origin? The answer will be no for the max and yes for few.
When we visit a supermarket of bargain in a local market we overlook the quality and buy those food products only because of misleading packaging and promotions. And most of the things we eat comes from a far off overseas where welfare and environmental laws are mostly non-existent.
How to produce?
Yes it’s a good question, it will help us to grow public awareness to connect them to the root of the Earth. A sustainable and good farming landscape needs to do many things. It needs to feed us all affordably, to keep soil healthy, to provide micro-habitats and even protect what is left of precious habitats such as grasslands, rivers, wetlands and woodland. If a farming landscape does all this well already, then it is perhaps enough for us to talk about it being “sustainable”.
For this reason we need to ask for “regenerative” agriculture, which means boosting soil health and encouraging biodiversity by working with natural processes as we grow food. The best process in it is the Permaculture. It also become helpful if there is a use of grazing animals in “mixed” farming systems. Livestock, if well managed, repair soil, trample or eat crop residues and waste, provide fertiliser and control weeds.
So what could be the solution for us?
Solution is also lying amongst us. Here we are in need of self-sufficiency i.e. we need to produce our own food as much as it is possible. And for that we need to have a garden or at least a kitchen garden. There we can grow a variety of vegetables and in different season. Moreover we can get a relive from the harmful effects of pesticides and inorganic fertilizers.
On the other hand many of us are unable to have a garden because of time or lack of place. Then we should remember that we are the consumer and the goods you buy are based on your demands. For the next time if when you buy food products try to check its production details or ask the seller about it. If you don’t get a satisfactory result then obviously it will have harmful effects. So the best is to order directly from the farmers who cultivate in sustainable way or in permaculture form and they mostly do home delivery too.
The whole world is in crisis, and to support yourself financially it you can make a garden for your own.
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