Published January 8th, 2010
I think vegetable and fruit gardening is going to become quite fashionable over the upcoming years. It’s a classic case of trends coming full circle; growing our own food is a tradition here in Adams County so suddenly we find ourselves on the leading edge.
Concern over food safety, inflation pressure on food prices, and a trend to home improvement instead of vacation travel all are contributing to a surge in home gardening. So is the “slow food” movement, a growing awareness of how important it is to really savor and enjoy what we eat. For those of us already accustomed to eating fresh home-grown fruit and vegetables, this is not a new discovery. What’s next? I predict a resurgence of interest in home canning. Imagine that!
The general public is starting to realize how much we’ve lost in our pell-mell rush to embrace factory-made “convenience foods” and the “drive-up” fast-food industry. After all, eating is one of the most important and central aspects of life, so why rush it? Why eat mediocre, dumbed-down adulterated processed foods? Particularly when we know full well that a processed food diet is a major contributor to obesity, sickness, and disease?
Our grandparents set an example for us by growing and serving fresh vegetables and fruits at home, preserving enough to last all winter. They did it because they had to in order to survive; buying food wasn’t always an option. Today, most of us can afford to buy food produced by strangers and shipped thousands of miles, but the quality of home-grown and home-canned food is now a luxury. Maybe it’s time to rediscover the pride and satisfaction that come from managing a home garden.
Is there a better legacy we can pass along to our own children and grandchildren?