Kody Hanner
This post may contain affiliate links where I earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Why Saying "Grocery Stores Don’t Feed Us, Farmers Do" Misses the Bigger Problem
Unpopular opinion: The statement that “grocery stores don’t feed us, farmers do” is just as frustrating as the statement of, “why kill your food, when you can buy it at the grocery store.” But why does it frustrate me? It is because it has become a party statement that is being ignored. Most people don’t really care where their food comes from (red flag). This is also where my frustration comes from.
Until you are the person that has stayed up all night with a farrowing sow, who then loses her whole litter, or spent hours of backbreaking work to plant hundreds of garden plants, you can never know what either of these statements truly means.
Convenience of Food
Food has literally become so easy to get, people have forgotten the hard work that goes into getting everything you eat to the local supermarket. And when less than 1% of the population in the United States is directly involved in farming (more in food production and transportation), those who are reminding everyone that food comes from the farmer, probably have little personal experience with farming.
The scariest disconnect is that just 100 years ago, 30% of Americans were farmers and 50 years before that, 60% were feeding the country. This is only those who were involved in “commercial farming,” and not those who were personally sustainable. This means in only a couple of generations, the overwhelming majority of society has the convenience of never having to grow food.
This has allowed for many advancements in society, but has also led to idle hands, obesity, diabeties, entitlement, and beleive in or not, more food insecutiry, as people do not now source or cook for themselves. This leaves millions of people residing in food deserts. Food desserts are inner city (and other area) locations that would run out of food in less than three days should supply chains shut down. Some places in less than 24 hours. And it’s not just that they physically can’t get food, they wouldn’t event know how to change that should they get the opportunity.
This needs to be remedied
So how do we change this? Similar to military requirements in some countries, could we consider food and ag requirements? It may have already been done, but remember, control the food, control the people. You can read more about that here. We can do something about that though!
- Put more emphasis on food education
- In schools
- At home
- Through groups (4-H, FFA, Grange, Scouts,Trail Life, American Heritaige, and grass roots efforts)
- Encourage communication farms and gardens
- Start vocational programs in your area
- Support the programs that are in place
- Look into local food options
- Take control of our food back!
Feeding to feed ourselves will never go away and we need to take ownership in that, not entitlement.
How would you like to say, the grocery store doesn’t feed me, I feed me?
Our Homestead Science Curriculum is designed to give your child a better understanding of where their food comes from. This allows them to take ownership in providing food for the family whether that’s understanding what they are choosing at the grocery store, helping you tend to the garden, or gathering eggs from your chickens. Check it out here!
