In a recent conversation with my dear friend and colleague Misty we covered a wide range of topics. From eating for wellness and our careers as holistic nutrition professionals to dreams of a more connected-to-our-food life and making real food in a small kitchen.
We had a delightful conversation and she shared some really wonderful thoughts and memories. I asked her if she'd be willing to share some of that with you. I'm really pleased to share her article with you.
Pursuing the Farm Life Dream
As a young girl I grew up on a small farm in the country. Once I married and had children, I was faced with the decision to leave my farm life completely and sell my horse.
I was busy with small children and while having a farm was the life I knew, it seemed a distance memory of a future dream that I would not attain as a young wife and Mother. I live in Northern California and the property values are great. This dream just didn't seem possible until my husband and I agreed that if planned simply, this dream can in fact become our reality.
My husband and I had become increasingly nervous about living down river from what is known to most as “Wine Country.” While there are several organic vineyards in the area, most were large commercial wine grapes that surrounded us and our lovely little river. Our water came from this river and the thought of what chemicals were likely entering this water supply during wet weather run-off was frightening. Growing up on a farm, I was used to having our own well and never had I depended on a public water source.
Just 3 years ago while the housing market was still in flux, we began looking for our piece of the farm pie. We didn't have the money for a developed farm or even a piece of property with a home on it. We are resourceful, hard-working people and decided that we would just build our home. We decided to begin looking outside of our increasingly expensive county and found a 40 acre parcel at a price point we could afford. It seemed too good to be true and I knew the breaking point on the cancellation of this escrow would come out of my water test. Imagine my excitement when my water test not only came out clean without over growth of bacteria’s but to my surprise, 100 mg of magnesium per liter of water!
As a nutrition professional, I am keenly aware of the importance of fresh air, clean food and a solid water supply. While we knew it would take some time to build our home, the sacrifices would be huge but we swallowed our pride and decided to purchase a large 5th wheel travel trailer to use as our temporary home.
Imagine standing at the top of the mountain with views for miles and miles with the vision of your little piece of heaven. It was a glorious thought and an exciting feeling.
My husband and I have had our share of life's ups and downs as young parents so we're fairly hearty and solid as a couple. The thought of living in a trailer temporarily didn't frighten me and in fact, it was a sacrifice I was willing to make for 40 acres with a prolific spring. Yes, my very own water supply and it’s a natural spring containing the minerals we needed and missed after years of consuming water from a public supply. My parents thought I was crazy. My commute isn't an easy one and in fact, there are 2 miles of dirt road just to get to my driveway. I know they thought I had lost my mind but I know what I have, for I feel like the richest Woman on earth!
Adjusting to a Simpler Kitchen
I moved into our little trailer slowly and eventually gave up my newer custom built 1800 square foot home. My biggest fear was telling my Dad because he helped build it and I felt like I was giving up a piece of him. It's crazy I know but the time, diligence and love that he put into it meant the world to me but I really needed more. More room, more sun, more freedom and the ability to walk away from "the grid". Yes, we are sustainable which means I have no public power, water or sewer so we're on our own. Currently we run off of solar panels and a gas powered generator so imagine my disappointment when I realized my slow cooker would become a distant memory.
We've worked out many kinks and I've figured out how to successfully make my bone broth with an Instant Pot pressure cooker for now. I look forward to the outside kitchen we plan to build with a brick oven and fire burning stove so that I can have my slow cooked broth, but simmered traditionally.
My girlfriends laugh because I have successfully brewed Kombucha and Kefir, fermented vegetables and even made sprouts in my tiny little kitchen. I have an area right behind my sink that is approximately 2 square feet and when the entirety of your home is about 300 square feet, this is quite a lot of space to give up to the ferments and fruit flies. Don’t forget, I also use the Instant Pot so processing the broth in my smaller than usual sink is also a bit of a chore but I now have a system and I don’t have to give up my favorites due to a bit of inconvenience in space.
Embracing Sustainability
This all seemed so overwhelming in my previous huge kitchen but what I realized is, we have drifted as a society from the independence of home grown and fresh preparation of our foods. What we sacrifice in return is knowledge of ingredients, lack of education for our younger generations and ultimately, our health. We seem to be involved in a rat race that chases wealth first and health last. It is my wish that we stop and consider what we put into our bodies, what decisions we can make to take a few more minutes each week to gain independence from the chemicals in both our food and water. What small changes can you make to ensure your family has access to the cleanest food and spring water possible? As you read above, it’s not as difficult, nor is it a distant dream if you consider micro gardening, preservation of that food and obtaining water on a smaller scale.
If you have small spaces, rather than flowers, consider planting seasonal food in planters. Easy choices include greens, herbs & spices, strawberries and tomatoes. You can easily dry herbs and spices as well as sun dried tomatoes on a window screen, freeze your strawberries or just pick and eat. Once you have your little herb garden, and step out to grab your “pinch” while cooking, you’ll wonder why you never maintained this fun, dependable practice in the past.
If you have a larger space but can’t find the time, share your space with a friend, relative or neighbor who might really love the idea of helping you plant and maintain the garden for an equal share of the harvest.
I mention above the idea that our water supply might not be the healthiest choice so consider a whole house filter, a heavy duty filter such as a Big Berkey, purchasing spring water or even better, locating a spring by visiting http://www.findaspring.com/. In my study of minerals, it has come to my attention that with the incorporation of public water systems, our mineral intake has decreased a great deal. When nature provides for us, it’s usually in perfect harmony. Not so much when Man is involved with this process. From water to the soil, these changes are increasing our need for supplementation so if you have access, it is wise to consider obtaining spring water. If not, you can purchase a multi-mineral supplement and add it to your water to replace what has been lost.
No matter your sourcing, if you can etch out a bit of sustainability in your little world, I promise you the reward is worth the effort. This is especially important if you have children. We now live in a world where our children have no idea how to prepare meals and intimately know how to use a microwave.
As a child, I have great memories of picking blackberries, gardening and subsequent baking and preserving with my now deceased Grandmother. I plan to give my grandchildren those same warm memories.
I’m off to source non GMO seeds for the family garden we are planning for the first time in the 3 years we’ve been on Snow Mountain.
If you'd like to know more, Misty can be found online at Healthy Transitions.
