Earth Connection

I have a favourite magazine that I receive monthly - Australian Country Style. I LOVE it. There are so many ideas, recipes, inspiring renovations of homes and gardens inside each issue. It tells of many people who 'up-stumps' and move out of the city limits.

Tree change, sea change. What's behind it all? There are several motivations:

• wanting to reconnect with the land
• wanting to escape the city and even the 'burbs' and associated fast-paced lifestyle
• wanting to make a smaller 'carbon footprint'
• wanting to become self-sufficient
• wanting to have a healthier lifestyle in growing one's own food
• looking for an inspirational canvas for all kinds of artforms

It's very appealing to me and to an increasing number of people Australia-wide. There's an upward trend towards producing and/or buying healthful 'low-mileage' food, and fighting against the huge hungry chains jostling for the biggest share in the provision of foods and household products.

The groundswell must have some influence, because even these huge and hungry chain stores are making room on their shelves for organic, biodynamic and non-toxic stock and even some well-known brands are helping - cashing in - by providing an organic version of their own merchandise.

There's a whole concept and mindset behind true 'slow food' those big chains simply don't have. They undercut the smaller providores - highly unfair. I try to buy as much from the little guy to help give them some buying power. Even in that sphere, there must be price-competition. Hmm, do I sell 100 to X Big Chain for $1 each, or 5 to Y Little Guy for $2 and possibly have the rest unsold?

There is so much information around about what's in food, how it's produced, and what energy goes into that production. It's a lot to take in, and it's never easy to pick out what is truth and what is just a marketing exercise. But common sense must prevail; should we be putting so many chemicals onto and into our bodies?

A few things to consider and look into:

• food is becoming increasingly expensive - drought is a big factor
• disease is becoming increasingly pervasive and prevalent at all ages
• social conscience is constantly pricked by the media, the government and lobby groups
• keeping or creating a sense of connection with the earth and it's produce
• teaching children to create that connection will have the flow-on effect of creating a concern for their whole environment

We have a small vegie plot (without fertilizers and pesticides) which I will expand shortly (bad timing considering summer is looming), five chickens which keep us admirably supplied with extra-large eggs (biodynamically fed of course). I missed planting some fruit trees in the winter for next summer, but will do that next winter for the summer after.

My next job is getting the kids more involved with these things - they enjoy the produce, but are yet to enjoy actual interest in the process. All good things take time.