Aj Schwanz

My book group has chosen to read Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemna for next month’s selection.  As with many of the choices, someone asks, “Have you read it?” My response:  “Yeah . . . well . . . I started it, and then [insert some excuse which I find very valid in my head, but sounds a bit weak when is verbalized].”  This time the excuse was my profound sense of melancholy that descended over me within engaging the first few chapters.  That, and I had just given birth, so there might have been some hormonal issues.  And sleep issues.  But I digress.

My remembrance of what I felt at the time was Doom.  Doom, because there were no good answers.  Doom, because no matter what I did, as the Manager of Consumption in my household, I would be making some wrong, or hurtful, choice.  Doom, because I come from a long line of people with blood sugar issues, and my children MUST be fed Frequently (as with the Mama:  I’ve been told that discussions will be continued only once I’ve eaten some string cheese), and I didn’t think it would be feasible to say, “Well, kids, we’re abstaining from food until I can find local, organic, healthy, low-carbon-footprint food sources.  Oh, and affordable.  And don’t take up all of my time, because those important activities in my day must be maintained:  Facebook can’t just surf itself, you know.”

My friend Jenn finished the book (I can’t tell you how many times we read the same books, but she finishes where I poop out).  She said that it got more hopeful towards the end, that the author didn’t necessarily find “the right answer”, but at least he had some options for moving in a healthier yet doable direction.  And he still seemed a bit confused, which is always nice not to be the only one.

Today I found another picture of what may be a healthier, doable direction.  A woman wrote an article about the Boise Vineyard Church, which I’ve already been interested in, but this just seals the deal.  They have a Garden o’ Feed’in at their location in Garden City.  Sounds like an ideal spot, right?  A garden in Garden City:  so picturesque.  Except if you’ve been to this area, you know it’s like the armpit of the Treasure Valley.  The history of the church location involves being on a site that had contaimated water (GREAT story – pastor gets a word to sprinkle salt in the water and pray like one of the OT prophets – next thing you know, clean water).   Hello:  story of redemption!  Gives me chills.

Looking at the author’s website I came across a link to God’s Gardens in Boise:  “Proclaiming the love of Christ through benevolence, stewardship and community.”  Ah, joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.  These pictures give me something to move towards, something to look forward for, something to share with and promote in my community, something that gives me an option other than spending all my time rolling my homemade tortillas (that’s for you, Jenn ) or all my money buying a four-pound free-range organic grass-fed fryer chicken.  My dilemna is still present, but at perhaps it’s forcing me to move towards a healthier, doable option.

[HT:  Evangelical Ecologist]