Tristan & Laura

Today started pretty early. Most Saturdays T and I go to the local farmer's market to pick up vegetables and other local produce for the week. Sometimes the food is more expensive than the grocery store, sometimes not. This morning we also stopped at Whole Foods to pick up a few things.

I'd say we did pretty good and I'm excited to eat all of these vegetables.

It's really important to me that we buy food that is grown responsibly, and organically when we can find it. I used to wonder why people bought organic food. It's more expensive, and everyone wants to save money, right? So I researched and learned more about organics, about factory farms, and just how much much cheap food is actually costing.

One of the benefits of organic food is the lack of pesticides and chemicals used to produce it. We ingest so many chemicals and not just from food. We take pain killers(chemicals), we breathe in air pollution, consume artificial sweetener(another man-made chemical) and of course all of the pesticides used on our food make their way into our bodies.

Another reason, one that is so awful to me, is the fact that buying cheap and factory raised meat is supporting an unethical and inhumane industry. Animals in these factory farms do not have a life. I do not see a problem with eating meat. I do see a problem with overconsumption in this country and the demand for cheaper and cheaper beef, chicken and pork.

It comes at a price.

The demand for meat is going up. As it does, these factory farms will become more and more common. I hope that we can learn more about this and become responsible consumers. We need to learn that we can consume less. In fact, we would feel so much better if did! Many of us consume almost twice the daily calories that we need. And red meat consumption is way higher than what is actually healthy or necessary.

Food Inc. is an amazing documentary that gives insight as to what we are eating and where it comes from.

This is not a life.

We need to be responsible for these animals and for our planet. Do it for the abused animals, do it for local farmers losing their livelihood to huge factory farms and big business, do it for your health and the health of your family.

I know that Tristan will roll his eyes when he sees that I turned a post about our trip to the farmer's market into a passionate post about the meat industry, but I just can't help it. And I know he cares too. God created a beautiful world for us to live in, we have a responsibility to protect, and respect, it and the animals we share it with. I hope that we can all seek to understand that better.

I'll step down off of my soap box now... Until next time....

-Laura Leigh