Growing up in a city, you can become removed from your food source. The abundance of grocery stores and markets at your fingertips are so convenient that you don’t really have to think about how the food got there, and the work that went into it.
While that may seem like it makes your life easier, this agricultural illiteracy is alarming.
Some children living in large cities sit in classrooms all day and the only time they see a farm animal is in books and on tv. Even many adults do not know which meat comes from which animal, and that chocolate milk doesn’t come from brown cows!
What would you do if this convenience suddenly disappeared? Would you know how to survive if you had to take the responsibility of feeding yourself into your own hands?
Instead of focusing on how we let this happen, we need to think about how to fix it.
Empowering the next generation is the answer!
Luckily here on the Sea Ranch, children have an opportunity that many other city kids do not have and that is they get to not only watch their food grow before their eyes, but they can be hands on involved from start to finish – farm to table. When we teach our children to be self sustainable, we are giving them the power to take care of themselves and the families they will raise in the future. We are giving them knowledge that no one can take away from them. Even if they do not use these skills in their day-to-day life, they will always have it to fall back on.
Many parents know that when children are involved in making a meal, they eat more of it. Why is that? People feel proud to take part in creating something. It is like the old saying “When you learn to carry your own water, you learn the value of every drop” It is empowering to be able to take your basic needs into your own hands and that goes for people of all ages. Food tastes better and is healthier when you know where the ingredients came from and you put them together yourself. You are also less likely to waste anything when you are aware of the work that went into sourcing it.
How to be mindful of others as we deepen our connection to growing our food
It is important to realize that we are all at different stages on our life path and while some people might be experienced farmers, for others this experience can be new and sometimes challenging. The great thing about this world is that we do not all have to do the same things. We have choices in life and the right choice for one person might not be the same for the next. We do not all share the same values but we can still respect each others’ choices and do the right things for ourselves while respecting the different choices of our neighbours.
This means that when it comes to being involved in farming on the Sea Ranch, you alone know what is best for your family and are free to take part in whatever way works for you. It is essential that you determine what is best for your family without comparing yourself to others and feeling pressured or guilty to do more or less than what you are comfortable with.
Regardless of where you are in your journey of connecting to your food source, the Gambier Island Sea Ranch is a safe place where community members can learn and grow at their own pace and connect to nature on their own terms. We are proud to meet each individual where they are and ensure that everyone is able to enjoy the farm in a way that in meaningful to them.
