Editor, The News:
Re: Growing food could be salvation (Along the Fraser, Feb. 1).
Jack Emberly’s article made me think of a quote I mention to my customers at the Haney Farmers Market: “Imagine for a moment if we once again knew what it is we are eating, where it came from, how it found its way to our table, and what it really cost.”
Personally, I have been growing my own food for a long time, yet I’m not a real farmer, just a concerned citizen.
Thirty-three years ago, I began farming on half an acre here in Maple Ridge.
At that time, I had three small children and my husband was the only one who worked full-time.
Imagine for a moment living on one pay cheque, feeding five people, and paying a mortgage. It was not easy.
Today, I take care of two- acre property, growing my own food, and teaching grade 6/7 students full-time.
My students and I visit Save On Foods, Roots, meet dieticians, business owners, health food staff, who educate us about food and the industry.
Students in my class are well informed and perhaps one day they will find vitality in local food.
Just like the community Ben Hewitt describes in his new book, titled The Town That Food Saved. The author promotes food systems that are better for health and society.
After 33 years of practice, I now sell my produce at the Haney Farmers Market, feeding senior citizens, families with small children.
As well, I teach people who are interested and willing to listen and learn.
I think that the Cree prophecy would make great headlines. It states:
Only after the last tree has been cut down,
Only after the last river has been poisoned,
Only after the last fish has been caught,
Only then will you find you cannot eat money.
Zdena Novy
Maple Ridge
Little dramatic
Editor, The News:
Re: Growing food could be salvation (Along the Fraser, Feb. 1).
Jack Emberly’s column was correct that, “the more we connect with food locally, the healthier our community will be.”
But the quote he used from Albert Einstein, “The world is a dangerous place, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it,” was a little dramatic just because one doesn’t grow a garden.
There are much worse things to be apathetic about.
Cherryl Katnich
Maple Ridge
