Hi Folks - The gardens are really growing beautifully now. We're harvesting spring-greens for the S. Benton Food Pantry and our CSA boxes and busily planting out crops - both inside and outside the greenhouses.
This post features a link to a very important video by an amazing doctor, Zach Bush who details the connections between the health of soil and our physical health.
Over the past thirty years, our food system has become increasingly more toxic at the same time that there have been radical increases in many chronic illnesses. It's only reasonable to assume that many of these disease conditions are the result of depleted soils and ever more toxic chemicals in our environment. Many people have become increasingly dependent on the so-called "health-care" industry (which is often more about "disease-care" if you really look at it!) - seeking health through dependence on pharmaceutical drugs and a woefully misinformed medical establishment rather than taking responsibility for healthy life-style choices.
This video contains important info that you won't find through the main-stream media or from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization or other main-stream health professionals. We hope you'll take the time to watch the video all the way through. We think you will find this info both informative and inspirational.
LINK to video: Chemical Farming & The Loss of Human Health - Dr. Zach Bush
Dr. Zach Bush (image: below) is as an MD
who specializes in internal medicine and endocrinology, who is also an
internationally recognized thought leader on the importance of
microbiomes when it comes to health, disease, and nutrition. He’s doing
remarkable work to save our planet, and he believes that we still have
an opportunity to reverse the damage done and create the most verdant,
bio-diverse planet to have ever existed.
Dr Bush says on his site:“My work is dedicated to the health of humanity and the planet we call home. It is critical that our pursuit of optimal health and longevity begin with an effort toward a collective rise in consciousness such that we would begin to thrive within nature, instead of fighting that nature that is life itself.
If you'd like more info, here is a beautifully written post
about Dr Bush's work published on the Natural Blaze news aggregate. It
features several other video clips as well.
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| We've begun sending out CSA boxes of early spring greens! |
If you're local and would like to increase your family's consumption of organically-grown fruits and veggies, it's not too late to sign up for a CSA membership. LINK
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| We're not doctors but we do operate a "farm-acy"! |
Vitally important to see this video. Clear, concise, scary as hell.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the "thumbs up"!
DeleteDear Llyn,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the Zach Bush video. I always appreciate your sharing your current thoughts, even if I don’t always get back to you right away. Several things he says I don’t think are right. But his motivating people toward healthier eating through more fresh organic vegetables is so important for good health and battling against the junk food, sugar-loaded foods over-consumed in our community and country.
I disagree with Zach when he says “Politicians are not the solution.” That was disappointing. I think our government’s policies that enable and promote pesticides and the under-production of organic vegetables is a big factor in the poor diet of Americans, so we must guide our politicians to make better agriculture policies. Stop subsidizing grain production for animal feed and start promoting healthy vegetable production. Their decisions have huge impacts we cannot ignore if we are to reach our goals. And in our democracy we are not helpless. It’s our responsibility as adult citizens to get involved in public policy. Changing the minds of our politicians is within our power when we join together with like-minded individuals and take action through national advocacy groups, like Beyond Pesticides and others. Changing the minds of a few individuals to eat better is good, but we must not think we can stop there; that alone is insufficient to reach the 16% organic consumption Zach says will change the whole agriculture orientation of this country. Let’s keep our eyes on the prize --how are we doing in the big-picture, on the big stage, too?
Love to both of you, WildBird
Dear Wildbird - Thanks so much for posting your comment. You make some excellent points.
DeleteThough we realize that changing ones diet is insufficient alone to address the many environmental challenges facing the world these days, we DO see it as a key area in helping us move towards a healthier world for ALL (including all the beings in the natural world). The reason we repeatedly post about the importance of eating organic foods and the connection between diet and health is in large part due to the unique vantage point we have in being 50 feet from our local Food Pantry doors and watching week after week the obese, diabetic, crippled and heart- and liver-diseased recipients line up for their weekly USDA handouts of commodity-foods such as beef, chicken, milk, eggs and margarine (along with lots of other canned and packaged items that didn't sell at stores and are nearing their pull-dates): The USDA commodities are all GMO/chemically drenched foods that are highly subsidized by the U.S. tax-payers. Food banks are required to distribute these foods in order to receive any other Federal assistance. In the case of these demographics, a change in diet would make a HUGE difference in their overall health.
So, we know that by sending out a post about eating organic foods to folks who are already doing so won't likely make much difference in your own lives,we hope perhaps it will motivate folks to go the next step beyond being a conscientious consumer, to taking a stand within the political realm, as a journalist or through ones social networks to help shift our nation's dangerous partnership between big-business, government and food production. We also see ourselves as a voice for the environment and wild critters who can't speak for themselves. It's not just about one's personal health but the health of the planet too.
We are members of Beyond Pesticides, Organic Consumer's Association, Institute for Responsible Technology and other advocacy groups such as these who make it easy to communicate with our politicians and we encourage others to be active in whatever ways you feel inspired to take a stand for what you believe in.
Thanks again for taking the time to comment. Llyn and Chris
This post generated more than the usual number of comments though many of them came into our email inbox. We decided to add an amalgamated version of our replies here for the benefit of other readers. 'Bee' well, Llyn and Chris
ReplyDelete"Several folks critiqued Dr. Bush's video for being too narrowly focused. We wonder though if these reactions were primarily to our Intro (where we expressed criticism of the medical establishment) or did people actually watch the video. It seemed to us that Bush made some compelling connections specifically between the increase of the use of Round-up and the corresponding rise in neurological issues: autism, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's...though we do understand that correlation is not causation...
We agree that healthy diet, exercise and other lifestyle choices meant to promote health will not protect you from all of life's threats and, in the end we will all shed these bodies no matter how healthy our choices have been all along.
And yes, modern medicine DOES have its place and there are some issues for which it is the ONLY effective solution. There are some great and pioneering docs (such as Zach Bush) who are advocating for healthy lifestyle changes and not just pushing pharmaceuticals. We DO question however, the deep ties between big-business/pharmaceutical companies and many hospitals and doctors steeped in the medical industry. There are many obvious conflicts of interest inherent in those relationships.
It does seem hard to argue with the fact that chemically-drenched and nutrient-void soils can not lead to health for people or the natural environment so we will continue to advocate for fundamental changes in how food is being grown till we see these changes being adopted on a wide scale.
We are grateful to those of you taking the time to share your perspectives. It really matters to us. Love, Llyn and Chris
Hi Llyn:
ReplyDeleteWe watched the video. I wonder why he didn't call it Regenerative Agriculture because it sounds similar to the talks and films dating back 6 years ago at the U of O Environmental Law Conference which covered Regenerative Agriculture and its importance for human survival. And there's the recent discussion and film we watched for the second time about a week ago on Regen. Agric. -- titled "Kiss the Ground". It's good but has major flaws.
The first film I saw about this was 16 years ago titled The Real Dirt on Farmer John is a 2005 documentary film directed by Taggart Siegel about the life of Midwestern farmer John Peterson, operator of Angelic Organics. It tells the history of the eccentric farmer's family farm in rural Caledonia, Illinois.[1]
Bush's main point is very good, and of course we have always thought Glyphosate to be wrong-headed and have not trusted Monsanto's claims about it. Many media outlets have been featuring warnings and reports about the danger of cancer from Glyphosate. Tests are proving that out. CBS's program "60 Minutes" loves to expose big corporates' lies and missteps and does so on a regular basis. They were among the first to call out cell phone companies as a purveyor of lies -- many years ago -- re: the then newly invented cell phone. Tests back then were pointing strongly to damage in the brain. So "mainstream" media (whatever that is) has been doing some high quality work - esp Oregon Public Broadcasting and CBS thru "60 Minutes".
Bush narrows his talk down to one main reason for illness - when there are many and diverse causes.
Over the years I have seen major films on health - we have showed some at the Unitarian Fellowship, or I've seen them sponsored by local non-profits. These films focused around the obvious decline in general health over the decades, and the rise in many conditions and diseases. However each film picked one cause as the reason --- one said it's all due to GMO's. They had multiple charts to prove it. I think they were partly correct.
One featured electromagnetic frequencies from signalling devices - cell phones, smart meters as the main cause of ill health. This is everything Families for Safe Tech is concerned about, as am I. They focused on common and increasing illnesses including Autism, with the film setting out to prove that EMF's are the cause. I do think they were partly correct. I personally experienced that.
All of these films hold kernels of truth, but are single-minded, as they miss the larger picture of the complexities and nuances of modern health and disease.
Bush falls into this same category --- laying out his single reason for why people are sick. However, like too many others, he is an
either/or thinker. He fails to tackle the big picture that there are multiple reasons for such a steep rise in modern diseases. Just sticking with soil and farming --- there are many more pesticides and herbicides than just Glyphosate. And there are other harmful agricultural practices
that contribute to poor soil. And there is the power of the big Ag. companies which push mono-cultures, sugar, corn syrup, and unhealthy foods. (plenty of films just about that) -------to be continued below
Then there is the issue of guns and the constant stress on families and neighbors whose health is affected from murders and suicides, within families and communities because of gun ownership. (Many conversations on public radio about this.) There is increased violence in homes with the increase in poverty. That and the gun problem are screaming for us to get involved in government. Bush says nothing about these health factors from living in poverty and fear of violence -- born of our failed capitalist structure. There are mass shootings almost weekly in this country. Is Bush just not paying attention to that and its health effects? You cannot pretend that personal stress and good health are unrelated.
ReplyDeleteThere is racism at the core of much of this - as many POC (people of color) are confined to communities that are called "food deserts" - without food stores that carry produce or healthy food at all, let alone organic. Many lack automobiles and can't drive to a decent food store and a bus trip would be a significant part of their day - and often they work two jobs, have single parent households and leaving for a 15 mile round trip bus journey is out of the question.
Bush ignores this and blames the citizen for not eating healthy when they (and many whites too) lack the tools to do so. (money, a car) This is a significant portion of POC in some communities. POC live shorter lives and die from ongoing stress and the daily rejection which happens in a white supremist culture. Bush ignores that, though there is much on respectful media about it and their constrained access to healthy food, health care and advice, adequate housing, and adequate education for POC - all traced to a "me white - me first - you are lesser" thinking at the core of our culture.
This isn't just a few people. POC will in the near future make up 50% of Americans in the U.S. like it does in California right now.
Bush is coming from a white privilege viewpoint as he ignores that millions of Americans live without one scrap of ground on which to grow food. Many live in high rises of low quality and low maintenance and unsafe drinking water in big cities. He shows no concern about that, yet blames them for not being healthy.
Most U.S. citizens live in cities and these are huge issues in the cities.
If he is selecting only a few people for his own media listening, and media of all one mindset, he misses much of what is happening in the country. POC and their needs and struggles are featured regularly on public radio and public television and other media as well - like The Guardian, Democracy Now! and The Nation and many others.
Oregon Public Broadcasting has recently shown a movie (through Frontline -- a big punch program which works to reveal truth and expose wayward corporations and show new controversial info that overturns current assumptions). It was a film showing the importance of the gut bi-ome in healing disease and certain conditions. A doctor in the film actually removed some gut material from a very healthy person's gut and put it inside the sick woman's gut -- and she became immediately well....in a couple of days. Modern medicine is exploring these new approaches. Many within the system are as critical of its pharmaceutical bent as you and I are. There is much diversity of thought and approach within our medical system. Example: I personally know three doctors who are highly concerned about the effects on health of electromagnetic fields that you and I are concerned about. to be continued below
So I tire a bit of the characterization of the medical establishment as all bad. Many doctors resist prescribing pills --- they truly want the patient to lose weight, and eat right and exercise. That's their first line of action. My doctor is clearly partly alternative and can be mainstream when needed. She heartily approved of surgery for a ruptured appendix of course, and to do anything else would have ended in death, almost guaranteed. It took some serious meds to get through that surgery. Thank God for those meds. Without my eye drop medicine, I would be at high risk for blindness by now -- no matter how much spinach I ate. My Dad had eye problems also. I double checked with other eye docs before taking eye meds. There is NO alternative method or food plan for reducing interocular eye pressure. Bush ignores such factors and the true breadth of the nation's citizens and their health concerns.
ReplyDeleteI would also say that Mr. Bush would be better believed if he subjected his video script to be vetted by another journalist -- one who questions him and tries to poke holes in his theory. That's what journalists on OPB and professional media do. But Bush had himself interviewed by someone who totally agrees with his bllanket assessment about health needs. That reduces his credibility and the validity he would need for serious minded media.
But the biggest disappointment was the way he undermined his own theory's success by discouraging his readers from being involved with government.
We need to follow his advice PLUS be involved with government.
Our job as citizens in a democracy is to know our Members of Congress and to speak to them about our opinions. Democracy fails when we fail to be involved.
The alternative leads to dictatorship. Then we'd all have a lot to complain about with government. Bush is seriously unaware of this.
Well - this is too long; thanks to the two of you for all you do. We love and appreciate you and your wonderful vegetables. You are absolutely on the right track with your work.
Hugs,
Karen
Dear Karen - Thank you so much for your detailed reply to our post featuring Dr Zach Bush. We've replied to some of the comments you made in other replies (below).
DeleteYes, there are many diverse causes of disease.
Yes, some doctors are waking up to prescribing fewer meds and helping people make healthier lifestyle choices.
Yes, Dr Bush's presentation would have been stronger had he been interviewed by someone who challenged his assertions and called forth more impartial evidence to support his claims.
And yes, it is very important for those of us who are not living at the poverty-level, to engage politically to catalyze societal changes.
To expand on that latest point: it is very important that we refrain from "blaming the victims". Many people living under financial duress would like to eat healthier but they are trapped in a cycle of poverty that makes it very hard to make lasting, healthy lifestyle changes. Many poor people live in food deserts where fresh, unprocessed food is not easily available. Fresh produce is often more expensive per calorie and unprocessed foods require more time for prep and clean-up.
ON the other hand, people have to want to change...We get disheartened by how few people avail themselves of the fresh produce we provide at our local food pantry. Last week we took over 9 bunches of beet greens and 6 heads of romaine lettuce. There were three of each left at the end of the day when 25- 30 families had a chance to take these veggies home for free.
We'll continue to do our part and hope our readers will do the same. Love, Llyn and Chris