sustainable living = sustainable families

A return to sustainable living solves the problems now inherent in our throw away society. Once upon a time children woke up early in the morning to slop the pigs, and milk the cows, and feed the horses, et cetera. The value of these animals was ever present in their minds, because those kids new the flavor of the bacon that those pigs would make. They new the work that the horse helped them and their father do. And when the children did not do their part, they felt the hunger pangs that come from not having eggs from the chickens, or the calf that did not grow up into many meals.

Unfortunately in today's society, many of us A) do not produce things that impact our sustenance, and B) have no visibility into where those things come from and so do not value them appropriately. Our society has had so much affluence that even the poor among us do not connect our actions with our comfort and pleasure. Children today when asked where chicken comes from answer that it comes from Wal-Mart. Suddenly "chips" seem like "food" and obesity, laziness, and obstinacy ensue. When our efforts no longer are the source of our comfort, then we have no motivation to channel our efforts into positive, socially responsible endeavors; or even put forth efforts at all. In short, when we stop living sustainably, living stops bringing us happiness and we have to look for it somewhere else.

I propose that we must make a return to sustainability. We need to have gardens to remember what home grown tomatoes taste like. We need to see sun, soil, rain, and seeds become food on our tables. We need to remember how wonderful a home cooked meal is (and I am not talking papa murpheys take and bake pizza.) our children need to participate in these pursuits and take pride in "their pumpkins" or the huge zucchini that makes that fabulous bread. We need to connect with the source of our bounty, that we may give true thanks for all that we are blessed with.