{"id":1954,"date":"2014-07-24T08:23:12","date_gmt":"2014-07-24T12:23:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localkitchener.ca\/?p=1954"},"modified":"2019-08-31T07:04:02","modified_gmt":"2019-08-31T11:04:02","slug":"5-plant-based-changes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/localkitchener.ca\/2014\/07\/5-plant-based-changes\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Plant-Based Changes in My Life and a Book Giveaway"},"content":{"rendered":"

Several months ago I was given a book recommendation by the farmer\u00a0who runs the CSA that we joined this year, Fertile Ground Farm<\/a>.\u00a0 Shortly after talking with her about Farmacology<\/em>\u00a0I put a hold on it at the library<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Although\u00a0 Farmacology\u00a0<\/em>came out in 2013 it has remained popular at our local library so when I finally got a copy a month later I could only keep it for three weeks.\u00a0 Luckily\u00a0since\u00a0I was so enthusiastic about the book I was able to get my own copy from the publishers<\/a> along with two copies to send out as giveaways, boo-yah! \u00a0It turns out that this is my first time giving something away on this blog that is not just for local readers<\/a> and is not homemade<\/a> by me.<\/p>\n

More importantly though, I wouldn\u2019t host a giveaway for something that I wasn\u2019t totally excited about, and this book is just that kind of something!\u00a0 So enough about the giveaway, and on to the book.<\/p>\n

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Several years ago, family doctor Daphne Miller<\/a> decided to embark on a journey to visit innovative\u00a0family farms to explore what sustainable agriculture can teach us about health and our bodies.\u00a0 Her journey took her to a wide variety of farms with their respective farmers, and each helped her to see a different aspect of health and healing.<\/p>\n

The book has already been widely and positively reviewed by influential food and health writers, including Michael Pollan, Marion Nestle, and Alice Waters, and it\u2019s worth checking out a few of those reviews<\/a>.\u00a0 Thus, rather than walk you through the whole book in summary form, I would like to share with you a few of the things that have influenced me since reading the book.\u00a0 A few of these I was already in favor of but now have more support for, and others are brand new!<\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t Wash All Your Veggies<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
More and more people are talking and writing about probiotic bacteria and their importance in our lives these days, and the discussion often involves fermented foods.\u00a0 However, we can also get some good members of the microbiota from our local environment straight from the soil.\u00a0 The easiest way to do this is by NOT thoroughly washing all of our veggies.<\/p>\n
I have been incorporating this into my diet lately by only lightly washing the veggies from my garden.\u00a0 When thinning carrots and other root vegetables I\u2019m even making sure to eat a few of them right after picking them, after just rubbing off some of the dirt.\u00a0 This has meant a few mouthfuls of grittiness, but I\u2019ve also enjoyed the absurdly fresh bites!<\/p>\n
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Buy The Ugly Veggies<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
For the last 100 years or so farmers have been selecting and breeding vegetables and fruits mainly based on appearance. \u00a0This is because consumers have demanded produce that looks perfect and can withstand massive amounts of transport.<\/p>\n
Sadly appearance is pretty much the worst indicator of health and flavor when it comes to fruits and veggies.\u00a0 In previous generations seeds were selected from the fruits and vegetables that had the best flavor, as well as from plants that had the most vigor and ability to survive and thrive.<\/p>\n
It turns out that flavor is an important indicator of nutritional content.\u00a0 Furthermore, plants that have gone through some hardship actually produce more nutritional compounds which are found in their fruit.<\/p>\n
The problem is that grocers and markets reject produce that has too many blemishes. Ironically these are likely the ones that have the most flavor and nutrition! Luckily, in some cases these fruits and vegetables can be purchased as \u201cseconds\u201d or \u201c#2\u2019s.\u201d\u00a0 What\u2019s awesome about these seconds is that they are not only healthier but also\u00a0cheaper!<\/p>\n
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What\u2019s Good for Animals is Good For Us<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
In recent years there has been much more awareness about the horrific conditions within factory farms. \u00a0Not only are these conditions unethical simply regarding the treatment of animals, but they also create environmental problems.\u00a0 Furthermore, the meat, dairy, and eggs produced in factory farms is not good very healthy.\u00a0 This is one reason that my family has started getting eggs from our CSA that are not only free range but also pastured.\u00a0 Access to pasture ensures that the chickens are healthy and happy (this is actually research-based) and that their eggs have much better for us.<\/p>\n
However, what was cool about this chapter of the book was that Dr. Daphne explores the parallels between stress for animals and humans.\u00a0 It turns out\u00a0that the same things that help chickens to be healthier and happier are true for humans!<\/p>\n
It may seem intuitive, but access to the outdoors, and not being \u201ccooped up\u201d all the time inside will help us to have less stress in our lives, and lead healthier lives. \u00a0This is one more reason for us to shoo the young assistants out the door every day and encourage them to dig in the dirt.<\/p>\n
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Garden in the Front Yard<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
In a chapter focused on gardening Dr. Daphne explores the health benefits for whole communities when gardens are public and visible.\u00a0 My family has always done some (or all) of our gardening in the front yard and we were quickly made aware of how this would become a talking point with many of our neighbors (or in some cases something that was discussed without us present).\u00a0 Sometimes the reaction has been skepticism (that was more an issue in Atlanta than here in Kitchener), but mostly it\u2019s a positive reaction.<\/p>\n
What we weren\u2019t aware of was the fact that community gardening can actually have trickle-down health effects within a community, affecting even individuals who aren\u2019t involved in the gardening. \u00a0For example, children who participate in gardening at school end up influencing their parents to eat healthier.\u00a0 And neighbors of people who garden also end up eating more fresh vegetables and fruits.<\/p>\n
After reading this chapter I\u2019m more inspired than ever to continue ripping up the front yard and boulevard<\/a> and filling in the space with delicious and healthy edibles!<\/p>\n
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Use Plants for Skin Care<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Lately I\u2019ve been kind of annoyed with the endless talk on homesteading blogs about essential oils.\u00a0 Part of my annoyance stems from the fact that all the people talking about the amazing benefits of these oils are\u00a0also trying to convince their readers to buy them.\u00a0 There\u2019s really nothing wrong with selling a product, and I should be happy that the products are all-natural, and good for health.\u00a0 Maybe my other problem with it though has more to do with my own skepticism about the benefits of oils.<\/p>\n
However, I am a little more open to essential oils, plant-based health products, and skincare after reading about Dr. Daphne\u2019s own experience with a funny discoloration on her face.\u00a0 Her own personal health journey that begins with a lightening cream and ends with an atomizer. \u00a0In the end through trial and error she finds that what works best for her skin (and doesn’t destroy it like the chemicals she begins with) is a simple mist\u00a0of distilled rose geranium, in the form of a hydrosol.<\/p>\n
Part of the reason that plants are a better source of health and beauty products is somewhat of a mystery.\u00a0 Researchers often think they\u2019ve found a compound that is responsible for some cure or health fix but when it\u2019s used in isolation it no longer works.\u00a0 The health effects particular compounds from plants often only work when they are accompanied by all the other individual components of the plant.<\/p>\n
Since reading this chapter I\u2019ve felt inspired to begin learning more about herbs and plant-based healing, and to start making hydrosols<\/a>.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to see what I can put together based initially on designs like this one from Mama Rosemary<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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So, that is just \u00a0a little bit of what<\/em> I\u2019ve learned from this book but it\u2019s not really why<\/em> I enjoyed reading it.\u00a0 Dr. Daphne is a great writer and teacher, and this comes through in the book.\u00a0 It\u2019s an easy read yet full of tons of awesome and interesting information.\u00a0 Rather than being preachy, the tone of the book is humility, humor, and open-mindedness.\u00a0 The reader is left feeling inspired without feeling criticized. I can\u2019t wait for you to read it and tell me what you think!<\/p>\n
The giveaway is thanks to the folks at Harper Collins and I’m grateful to them! \u00a0I was not compensated with $ for this review but\u00a0I received a copy of the book in addition to the giveaway copies.\u00a0 I plan to pass that copy along to friends and family (first dibbs anyone?).\u00a0 The giveaway is open to anyone in the US and Canada, and there will be a winner in both countries.<\/em><\/p>\n
a Rafflecopter giveaway<\/a><\/p>\n
$\"5$ <\/a>