In (Long-Overdue) Praise of My Mother and Organic Food

Growing up in a small town in Nebraska, my family lived pretty close to the land.  I would guess that at least half of our food came from my mother’s enormous garden (fresh in the summer, home-canned or frozen for the winter) and venison and fish that my father hunted or caught.   Although my mother outwardly appeared much more church-lady than hippie, deep down she was all about the peace, love and natural foods.  I think my sisters and I were the only children in rural Nebraska who had ever eaten tabouli (homemade, no less) and Sunburger (which my mother purchased in bulk at the natural foods co-op).  You might think I would have appreciated this, but no – my sisters and I were completely ungrateful and oblivious to the wonderful gifts my mother was giving us in raising us this way.  Rather, I was insanely jealous of all the kids at school who were given Twinkies and Doritos in their lunches, when my own Bionic Woman lunch box contained such wholesome goodies as homemade granola, fresh fruit and carrot sticks.  Occasionally, my mom would bake homemade cookies as a treat, but do you think I even appreciated that?  Oh no, all I could dream about were Pop-tarts and Oreos.  To make matters worse, my sisters and I felt like indentured servants, spending countless Saturday afternoons under the hot sun in my mother’s garden, pulling weeds and picking vegetables amidst mosquitoes, bees and the occasional garter snake while our friends were at the roller rink (probably drinking soda and eating Skittles).  My mom thought we’d feel a sense of accomplishment in eating a dinner of fresh stir-fry made from vegetables we had grown and harvested ourselves, but again, this subtle pleasure was lost on us.  We really just wanted McDonald’s. 

 Lucky for us, my mother persevered in the face of all kinds of complaints, ingratitude, hunger strikes, and full-on temper tantrums in the supermarket begging for sugar cereal.  On some level, she must have known that all her determination would pay off in the end.  She may have been concerned for awhile, because when I left home and went to college, I spent the first couple of years bingeing on pizza and all manner of chemical-laden processed food like a crack addict.  But sooner or later, I naturally gravitated back to my roots (I'm sure to my mother's relief).  Other than the time when I was pregnant with my son and getting back in shape afterward (and the occasional wild salmon caught by my dad), I have been vegetarian for over ten years, and I buy organic whenever possible.

 This summer, however, I decided to kick it up a few notches.  Inspired by my sweet David (and by a recent Andrew Cohen retreat we attended, during which time we deepened our commitment to choosing consciously in every daily decision and action), I have made the transition to eating vegan, and if it’s not available organic, I probably won’t buy it at this point.  I’m fortunate enough right now to have a light work schedule, and I always love a good project (especially if it’s spiritual), so I have made it a cornerstone of my practice this summer to nourish my loved ones with fresh and healthy meals that are kind to the planet and the animals.  I believe that food is infused with prana, and that by preparing it with gratitude and a loving intention, I increase its vitality and nourishing qualities for the bodies and souls of those who eat it.  For my five-year-old son, I’ve decided for the time being not to go totally vegan, but many of his meals are.  What dairy he gets is consciously chosen from sources I know to be organic, and from small farms which treat the animals well.  Sometimes this means a little extra running around from store to store for me, but there is no question that it is worth it.

 I’ve been making it a part of my routine to shop each Wednesday at the amazing Santa Monica Farmer’s Market, where beautiful and vibrant locally-grown and organic produce abounds.  I also picked up a copy of a Vegan Planet, which is a fantastic cookbook and a good jumping off point for my own culinary creativity.  I’ve been having so much fun, and it feels so deeply satisfying to take care of myself and those I love in this way.

 Last night, when I was cajoling (okay, bribing) my son to try his organic tofu and veggie stir fry (which I just knew he would love, and he did – once he finally tasted it), it dawned on me that I have become the urban 2006 version of my mother.  And this realization made me feel so wonderful deep inside.  Honestly, I could not feel prouder or more grateful to have been raised by this amazing woman who so quietly and gently instilled me with all kinds of wonderful values – never preaching, always just leading by example (okay, maybe there was a little coercion when it came to church attendance and garden servitude).  Who knows what’s next for me?  Maybe next summer I’ll be ready to start my own garden.  Well, maybe not quite – to my shame, I still have a hard time keeping house plants alive.  (I felt compelled to admit this because of my humility – another value from my beloved mother!!)

Today I am wishing a very happy 65th birthday to my beautiful mother.  May she enjoy another healthy 65 (and she just might, due to all that clean livin')!

And here's to moms everywhere, making sacrifices and tough decisions, showering their children with love and care, and rarely being thanked (or even noticed) for this.  Eventually, we do appreciate it (usually when we become mothers ourselves)!