Sustainability

Reluctantly, we’re back reviewing the “news”.

Probably better to watch grass grow and actually, watching grass grow might be more interesting given the “news” that the main street media is having their next cow about – that being the current POTUS firing the FBI Director (great stuff to keep that Russiaphobia shyte going), and the former POTUS  pulling in bank for a speaking fee, and then spouting off that “You get the politicians you deserve,”, starting his lecture tour, doing his best “Father Knows Best” imitation – and this from a president who was the first one to serve eight years with the U.S. at war nonstop – from the beginning to the end of his presidency.  And he even said it without a wink of his eye!  All of which reminded me of an article recently read, entitled:  THE SUBTLE ART OF NOT GIVING A F***!

There are more important things to give a f*** about than the firing of a FBI head or the ramblings from a former POTUS of how great he was.

The food we put in our bodies would be one of those things.

Recently, I watched a wonderful documentary on “farm to table” type stuff. Being one who is not impressed with much of anything, I was prepared to turn if off after the first few minutes.  I stayed with the full 1 hour and 30 minutes. It’s a fascinating exploration into sustainable agriculture.

And what is “sustainable agriculture?

From sustainabletable.org

In simplest terms, sustainable agriculture is the production of food, fiber, or other plant or animal products using farming techniques that protect the environment, public health, human communities, and animal welfare. This form of agriculture enables us to produce healthful food without compromising future generations’ ability to do the same.

The film is Sustainable – A Documentary and  is available on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Netflix, Vudu & VHX – or you can rent and watch the movie at the following link:

Sustainable – A Documentary

A vital investigation of the economic and environmental instability of America’s food system, from the agricultural issues we face — soil loss, water depletion, climate change, pesticide use — to the community of leaders who are determined to fix it. Sustainable is a film about the land, the people who work it and what must be done to sustain it for future generations.

The narrative of the film focuses on Marty Travis, a seventh-generation farmer in central Illinois who watched his land and community fall victim to the pressures of big agribusiness. Determined to create a proud legacy for his son, Marty transforms his profitless wasteland and pioneers the sustainable food movement in Chicago.

Sustainable travels the country seeking leadership and wisdom from some of the most forward thinking farmers like Bill Niman, Klaas Martens and John Kempf – heroes who challenge the ethical decisions behind industrial agriculture. It is a story of hope and transformation, about passion for the land and a promise that it can be restored to once again sustain us.

Sustainable isn’t one of those documentaries that hits you over the head with guilt for whatever eating style you may be accustomed to. There are no brutal scenes of animal mass production or slaughterhouses, no high-brow lecturing on what to eat, how to eat or even if you should eat at all!  Just a truly enjoyable and educational film on what sustainable farming actually is and how we all can benefit from this beautiful art.

As Chef Rick Bayless so appropriately says at the beginning of the film,  “we have gotten so distant from the food that we start thinking about it as a commodity…for goodness sake, it’s our nourishment as human beings”.

And it is a visually beautiful film!

Photo Credit (front page)  via commons.wikimedia.org – public domain

Photo Credit:  By Elina Mark (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons