Who decided many years ago that grass lawns were to be deemed more important then vegetable producing lawns? We grow it, we cut it. We burn fuel, fertilize it, add pesticides and receive no visible returns except for complaints about who has to cut the lawn again. Let’s say we are spending a lot of our time, energy and dollars on the lawn with few positive returns.

This year we are feeling a huge stress on our food system here in Ontario, across Canada and the United States. Spring began with huge crop losses. Cherries, peaches, plums, nectarines and apples were affected by a severe cold snap. We will have little or no local apples this winter and, for farmers like Spirit Tree Estate Cidery, how will they be able to produce their awesome cider this year?  The drought we are experiencing now is affecting our corn, zucchini, all squash and pumpkins. Some local farmers have already written off fall crops.

We spent some time this weekend  travelling to Mount Forest and across Ontario to South Hampton. The signs of drought are so obvious. The corn is scorched on the bottom and looks like it is stunted, certainly not photo worthy. Unfortunately, without rain, we are going to experience more troubles concerning local foods in the upcoming season.

It is becoming so important that we change our ways we source our food and stop relying on commercial farms  and commercial pre-packaged foods to feed our families. Frozen foods- boxed and pre-made food purchases at the large grocery stores are on the rise.  Frozen Pizza’s are the most often bought frozen food product here in North America. One local factory  can make 50 million frozen pizzas per year  for the Canadian and US market alone! That’s a lot of pizza’s man!

Here are 5 tips to get you on your way to “help take the stress off a global food system.”

1/ Grow your own garden, use pots, planters, raised garden beds, the front yard or the back yard.
2/ Buy local, visit your local farmers’ markets as this supports the local food system and your local farmer.
3/ Buy as much fresh local food as possible, it is healthier and far more sustainable than boxed foods.
4/ Freezing (Going Fro-cal) canning and storing your own food is a great way to get local produce to the table.
5/ Utilize CSA’s in your area-Community Shared Agriculture, living fresh, local and healthy is easier than you think!

And this is the what’s happening in the Fokas Garden now! The lettuce is almost done, but we have Swiss Chard, beet tops, celery, tomatoes, fresh herbs and zucchini to eat until the peppers, cucumbers, eggplant and squash mature.

We are going to pay higher food costs than normal because of the weather this year. It starts with simple foods like corn and will affect all fresh foods, meat, poultry and all processed pre-packaged foods.

It is our responsibility to teach our kids about living better through education. Creating awareness around healthier lifestyles begin at home around the kitchen table with fresh, local foods picked fresh from your own garden. Growing a garden is a one of several ways to eat local.

Let’s hope that if you decide to grow a garden this year that you are not challenged by your local town to remove it like these people are. Read this Huffington Post article for more and check out their video.

Think fresh*Live local*Eat healthy

Photography-Stacey Fokas

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