This past weekend we had the opportunity to visit Shalom Hill Farms in SW Minnesota. It's an amazing place where they raise chickens and lambs, have a great garden, live as closely to the land as they can and teach people about their options. While there we had the opportunity to visit two very different farmers; one a traditional cattle producer who raises beef cattle in a feed lot and the other who is an organic farmer and grows a variety of foods as well as cares for a small herd of beef cattle, chickens and other various animals that are raised organically. Both these men were passionate about what they do, how they do it and what it means for their families. It was amazing to see their passion and dedication play out in such a tangible way and it was even better to see where our food comes from.
Amidst this great experience was the opportunity to talk with classmates about food sustainability and how other students want to eat and live. I was amazed at the number of my companions who feel the same way I do, wanting to know where their food comes from, be connected to the land and to care for and steward the creation in a very tangible way. Many of us talked about wanting to one day have a large garden or small farm as well as wanting to raise animals. To me, it appears that this is not the norm, especially for 20 somethings. But then again maybe it is. Maybe more people than we think are trapped in cities and suburbs craving something more; a connection to the land and a desire to care for all of creation. Or maybe people don't think about this until confronted by the land itself, hearing its story and finding this deep desire to be a part of it.
No comments:
Post a Comment