"The Farming Systems trial shows clearly that organic farming is not only more productive than chemical farming (especially during times of drought and flood), but that soil farmed organically is a key component to solving our climate crisis." ~Maria Rodale, CEO and chairman of Rodale Inc., "third generation advocate for organic farming," and author of Organic Manifesto: How Organic Food Can Heal Our Planet, Feed the World, and Keep Us Safe
If someone were to ask me who my one true hero is, I'd first say Al Gore, but a close second would have to be Maria Rodale. So, it's interesting that Maria's organization published An Inconvenient Truth. You've probably also heard of many of the health and wellness magazines her company publishes, such as Men's Health, Women's Health, and Prevention.
Maria's grandfather, J.I. Rodale, launched the organic movement, along with Organic Farming and Gardening magazine, back in 1942. Her father continued on with the mission, and together they brought us Prevention magazine in 1950. He also started researching the differences between chemical and organic agriculture over 30 years ago, in what is referred to above as The Farming Systems Trial. Now, his daughter is sharing the extensive research with all of us. It's never been more important for us all to hear what she has to say.
Whether you currently support organic farmers or not, reading her book will allow you to understand the lesser-known side of this debate. The side that is not heavily funded and promoted by a few very powerful organizations. The side that believes we CAN have a strong economy and create jobs and products that do not contribute to the destruction of our people and our planet.
That's why I'm recommending it to you as my second book that is an absolutely essential read, not just for parents, but for people of all ages, from teenagers to grandparents.
Organic farming is not just better for the planet (besides not relying on chemicals, organic soil actually stores the carbon that is causing global warming), but for the health of our people, too.
"The sad truth is that we, and especially our children, are the guinea pigs in a vast chemical experiment." ~Maria Rodale
Is there anyone who has not been touched by the challenges and complexities of food allergies, autism, autoimmune diseases (of which there are over 100, many of which are posing puzzling symptoms for doctors and patients), asthma, autism, and cancer? Is there any way to prove that all these chemicals are NOT contributing to our health care crisis?
Please. Do yourself a favor and read this eye-opening book. You may not want to know it all, but it could save you a lot of heartache in the long run.
I'm not trying to scare you, but we all have to come together and reverse the synthetic direction we are going in. Reckless disregard for nature is NOT okay, and we can not support it any longer. And we all do so without even realizing it. It's impossible not to.
I'm not sure I'll write another post or two to focus more on specific details of Maria's argument. Please let me know if you'd like me to or not.
In the meantime, you can learn a little more about this visionary by reading an Interview with Food Revolutionary, Maria Rodale, which was recently published in Huffington Post.
And here are some more resources (3 documentaries and a book), if you'd like to dig more deeply into the topic:
Food Beware: The French Organic Revolution
The Future of Food
The Unhealthy Truth: One Mother's Shocking Investigation into the Dangers of America's Food Supply-- and What Every Family Can Do to Protect Itself, by Robyn O'Brien
Oh, and I just happened to find another extremely relevant one that sounds like it connects the dots even more. I'm putting The Hundred-Year Lie: How to Protect Yourself from the Chemicals That Are Destroying Your Health, by Randall Fitzgerald
Please feel free to add resources to this list. As always, comments are always welcome, no matter which direction you're coming from!
