The Simple Life
Summer is the perfect time to simply daydream
and just be. I love its essence—including sunshiny hot days with an occasional
cool ocean breeze to fill our sails; an abundance of garden-fresh salads packed
with local, seasonal ingredients; bathing suits and garden gloves drying on the
line; no need for socks; the warm ground welcoming bare feet; long evening
walks accompanied by fireflies and crickets; and wide-open windows helping to
recharge our batteries and remind us of the expansiveness of nature.
Each
new day offers the fresh opportunity to change our trajectory, individually and
collectively. The actions we take to care for our bodies are also an important
step in reconnecting to Mother Earth and her ecosystem. The human gut
microbiome, critical to fighting off disease, and soil microbiome, which
enables plant growth, are vitally intertwined to maintain life on the planet.
As
agriculture and food take center stage this month, our feature story outlines
how important regenerative organic farming practices are for developing robust
soil rich in nutrients and beneficial microbes. With this improved soil health
comes increased water retention, less soil erosion and a higher volume of
healthier crops. Plus, farmers don’t need to use chemicals, because the microbiome
creates disease-resistant soil to fight off threats. By imitating natural
systems (biomimicry), planting diverse crops and avoiding toxic chemicals, we
can create a better food system that benefits the environment today, as well as
for future generations to come. It’s a win-win situation.
But
mainstream food systems everywhere are undergoing major changes in quality and
accountability, largely because of an industrial agriculture and commercial
food system that ships food, in or out of season, to places hundreds or
thousands of miles away. While the need for a shift to regenerative practices
is the obvious answer, support from consumers is key to tipping the scales. We
urge you to vote with your dollars, because actions like supporting local farmers
and markets that stock local, sustainably grown food do set trends and tell the
market what is good for business and what is not.
Food
also has such a special way of bringing families together. We find that cooking
and taking the time to savor meals as a family makes for a natural slowdown,
another joyful simplicity of the season. If the dog days of summer eventually
lead to boredom and over-snacking, consider creatively offering up healthy,
diverse foods, presented in ways to please even the most finicky palates. Our
Healthy Kids department offers up ways that parents can support microbiome
health while establishing a lifetime of good eating habits with many helpful
tips and tasty recipes.
As
the lazy days of the season glide by, we hope you will take some time to ponder
the ways even one small choice you make today could have a positive impact on
your own health and the longevity of our planet. Ultimately, connecting these
daily decisions and actions to a larger and greater good can help us feel better
and be in control of our lives, meaning we’re happier and healthier, too. It’s
that simple.
For the love of freedom, simplicity and happy
healthy summering,
John and Trina Voelle, Publishers