Thoughts on this time, food, and planet

As we sit in lockdown and face the challenges of boredom, claustrophobia and weathered patience, we have also been gifted the time to learn from our mistakes and to rediscover the simple ingredients to live a rich and meaningful life.

Communities appear to be rallying together to make this period as easy as possible: there are online gym classes raising money for charity, leading authors circulating free children’s books, and even live online game drives offered by various game reserves!

 As human distance has been created with the closure of our front doors, shops and classrooms, so too has human compassion & connection been birthed.

 Our wildlife is mirroring these acts of collaboration shown in communities. The ocean has come alive with pods of dolphins and whales. Birds are flocking together in orchestrated storms, celebrating their space that for too long has been dominated by humans. 

 There is no denying that our pollution, deforestation & mass farming have been making the Earth sick.

Our synthetic on-the-run convenience foods are having their places filled with nutritious home-cooked meals, because never before has our health and its value been so real to us. We have time now to connect with our bodies and to realise just how much food impacts the way we think & feel.

 Mealtimes are becoming sacred once again.

The importance of our local farmers is now being fully realised and appreciated by all. Not only is their supply of antibiotic-free, hormone-free meat & pesticide-free organic produce so vital if we cherish our health, but we can also assist our country’s fragile economy by supporting local, small businesses like these.

 As the Earth asks us to stop and draw breath, we are reminded that living a rich & meaningful life boils down to only a few simple things: our health, our families & communities and the planet.

 Featured above; The Great Karoo is a vast semi-desert region of more than 400,000 square kilometers stretching over the provinces of the Eastern, Northern and Western Cape.