Why eat organic? Is it really better for you? What’s the point of recycling? Does it make a difference? Why pay more for the local, pastured meat? Does it taste better? And on and on…we’ve all heard these questions many times and surely have asked ourselves the same while navigating our way through learning to live more responsibly and sustainably. It’s a work in progress – there is always something new to learn, a new study published, the latest information to bone up on. And answering these questions (for others and ourselves) can sometimes be tricky.
There are many great resources to refer to when trying to decide what makes sense for you and your family. We have compiled some of our favorites to share with you. These are books, documentaries, films, and websites from which we have learned a great deal and found inspiration helping to shape our views and lifestyles.
We’d love to hear from some of you about things that have inspired your way of life – leave a comment to share!
Food, Inc.
(Documentary)
This is an absolute must see for anyone and everyone. Unquestionably, it will change the way you view your food and the choices you make regarding what you consume. “Food, Inc. exposes America’s industrialized food system and its effect on our environment, health, economy and workers’ rights.” The information is presently fairly and simply. It’s hard to imagine watching this movie and it not having a significant impact.
Fast Food Nation
(Book and Movie)
The book is much, much better than the movie. It is a research paper on how our food supply works. It explores in detail the conditions of the migrant workers who pick our food as well as the conditions of the farmers and animals involved. It is eye opening and disturbing. It may be one of few books out there that does an in depth analysis of the human and social aspect of our food chain.
30 Days, Animal Rights Welfare
(Documentary)
After watching this very painful documentary, the abuse and unhealthy practices that are used to process meat, poultry, and pork and the consequences to our health became clear. Carmen says this documentary pretty much sealed her family’s decision to not eat meat that has not been raised by farmers they know.
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
(Book)
An eye-opening and enjoyable read about a family who vowed to eat only what they could produce on their farm or buy locally for one year. It offers a realistic perspective on finding ways to eat items produced closer to home, offers great facts and recipes, and inspires to support your local farmers.
Super Size Me
(Documentary)
This documentary creates awareness of how detrimental fast food is for your health, especially for children. It is a wake up call to the effect that marketing has on our diets and our decisions to eat what and where. It is really graphic, very easy to follow, and brings thought to our day-to-day food choices.
Sugar Blues
(Book)
A colorful, hard-hitting, snarky history of sugar (and some other refined foodstuffs: white flour, white rice) and the devastation brought: the lengths to which people and countries will go to ensure a sugar supply; sugar’s role in slavery and war; and how sugar backfires on those who consume it.
The Dirty Life
(Book)
Very interesting and entertaining, this book is about a journalist from Manhattan who gives up her life in the city to start a cooperative farm with her boyfriend in upstate New York. It details the hard, hard work that goes into getting a farm off the ground, the continued hard work that is involved in maintaining and making the farm successful, and the joys of creating a self-sustaining farm. At the least it will inspire you to plan your spring vegetable garden!
Organic, Inc.
(Book)
A fascinating look at the origins of the organic movement and the conflict between the corporate interest in “organics” and the small, organic farms that were at the heart of the movement from the beginning.
South Beach Diet
(Book)
This book brought Sugar Blues (above) to reality with actionable ideas. It is great for anyone who is not familiar with why it is important to eat whole grains, eliminate juices, glycemic indexes in food, and how they affect your overall health.
Georgeously Green
(Book)
A silly title for an incredibly informative book, this is a beginners guide to living “green”. It includes “8 simple steps to an earth-friendly life” and offers a wealth of information for those wishing to make greener, healthier choices. The information is laid out very logically and gives great tips on how to detoxify your home, make your own cleaning products, and choose personal care products that don’t contain scary ingredients. From Melissa: This book is what really helped me get going with the lifestyle my family lives today. I’ve given it out to several friends and family members, and I still find it useful many years after reading it the first time!
Real Food Media
A blog network focused on whole, natural, nutrient-dense food. They publish stories about food and cooking, food politics, farming and producing food, health and nutrition, and green living. The network of bloggers are big believers in the Weston A. Price Foundation’s nutritional guidelines, so expect lots of references to pastured meats, raw dairy, and soaked grains. You can receive one email per day with links to all the blogs and just click on anything that piques your interest. It’s nice that the information in each post is focused on one topic so that new ideas can be absorbed and further research can be done on your own.
Don’t forget Michael Pollan’s books, plus the huge and informative Nourishing Traditions.