Zombies, Food Security and Little Shifts

“Control oil and you control nations; control food and you control the people.” – Henry Kissinger

‘Food security’ is a phrase one hears more often these days. When mainstream news or government sources discuss the topic, it’s generally in terms of subsidies for big ag, testing GMOs in Africa, tighter ’safety’ controls on food production – clearly it is within the Oligarchy’s intent to control the world’s food, and they do it in the name of ’saving’ us but in reality…well, if you’re here reading this, you know what’s really going on.

How simple to provide everyone their daily bread, in the form of federally regulated, poisonous, addictive, mass-produced, cheap and accessible goodies. We have already forgotten our grandparent’s knowledge of the land. We are too busy with chips and sodas, iPods and Idols to care about such fuddy-duddy things. We figure we won out, no longer isolated on a dirty, back-breaking farm, but free to roam the brightly-colored plastic prisons of our future. The entire scheme was brilliant, really, and took only about 50 years. Amazing how quickly – and happily – we forget.

Slowly, though, the pendulum is beginning to swing back, whether due to a rediscovered consciousness and respect for the land, or a lingering vision of a post-apocalyptic nightmare complete with marauding bands of cannibal zombies. Food security is something families and communities are beginning to rethink, at the local level. Down here in the trenches, is is dawning on many more people how unbalanced our present high-industrial, corporate system has become. It is fragile, because if for whatever reason any link in that mega-chain fails, millions of people will find their only source of food – grocery stores – empty. It is also toxic on multiple levels, from the chemical-laden, land-scorching, seed-stealing, slaughterhouse-nightmare production practices, to the preservative-laden, neurotransmitter-deadening, nutrition-parched, Frankenstein-food products themselves. Not to mention the millions of individual packaging materials that end up in landfills and floating in the middle of the ocean, or the loss of an important spiritual connection to our planet.

If evil aliens from outer space had planned the whole thing to lure us into their waiting arms, I certainly would not be surprised. It’s patently insane.

How could we have allowed this to happen; participate in it, even? In truth, we are already zombies. A la Hansel and Gretel, we have allowed ourselves to wander without thought towards the promise of cakes, candy and the ‘easy life’. And we wonder why cancer and obesity rates have spiked. It would be easy to remain lulled in this hypnotic trance with Cheetos and snack-paks. But it is time to wake up. There’s nothing ‘easy’ about discovering you cannot make your own food or find your own water.

Some are making the radical transition ‘back to nature’ in its fullest sense, but even the Amish use the occasional tractor. Ultimately, if there really were a massive frequency shift into a higher level of consciousness, we probably wouldn’t need to think about alternative fuel sources or recycling plastic. But until then, it just feels right to make little shifts, however we can, to hitch a ride on that giant pendulum. No one really knows yet what will happen. What we do know is that we absolutely cannot sustain the way of life that has evolved since our grandparents’ generation.

The good news us, these past 50 years did not go to waste – not by a long shot. Many incredible technologies and solutions have come of age which will make our transition back to a sustainable lifestyle less back-breaking than our grandparents could have imagined. We have the benefit of a massive revolution of industry and science behind us now, and I believe it’s possible to return to our roots, without losing some wonderful resources. We just need to get our priorities straight, make some compromises, and – well, do a little initial work.

I originally began this post by describing many of the sustainable efforts we are putting into practice around here in detail. But if you are keeping up with the subject, it’s clear that the p-t-b are apparently still not gung-ho about such endeavors, Obama or no Obama, and irrespective of any organic White House garden (though I must snicker at the Daily Show’s recent skewering of the big ag response to that.) So I deleted it. But since our efforts have been taking all of my extra time, which has left this blog sorely neglected, I decided my readers deserved more. I’m also reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and I am decidedly jealous. My vision far exceeds our tiny space, at least for now.

So I will say, we are sprouting all sorts of interesting heirloom vegetables and exotic fruits, have met some really helpful and knowledgeable local folk who have shared information on organic gardening in Hawaii, and even received various seeds and plants we are incorporating. Mind you, we live in a suburban neighborhood on a ¼ acre plot with two houses. But you’d be surprised what you can fit in. We also got a late start; it is Hawaii so our growing season is all year long, however we do have mini-seasons, and one does have to pay attention to what varieties grow better in any particular microclimate. We are definitely in the experimental stages, and I find encouragement from all the wonderful gardening resources both locally and online.

There are also some new additions of the common poultry variety to our blossoming backyard endeavor. We’re hoping the neighbors won’t mind. We won’t keep any roosters, but at least in Hawaii we can rest assured that with a goat over one fence and a beekeeper across the street – not to mention the rooster crowing up the street – we’re not likely to be too off the charts.

I am beginning to think about local networks of trade, it would be cool to trade some eggs or tomatoes for some ahi or honey for example, like a modern ahupua’a. Likely the old-fashioned coconut wireless and local farmer’s markets will be our best bet out here, but I was surprised at the lack of online resources in that regard. The Internet would be a great way to establish some new relationships, now that so many more people are getting involved (at least until the power fails ). I did find some which trade vegetables, but it would be nice to include other items as well, which they do not allow. Here is an interesting site on bartering all kinds of things. I will definitely be investigating further.

Our location makes true off-the-grid living only a dream, though the previous owners installed solar water heaters, we’ve switched to low-energy light bulbs, unplug our appliances when not in use and try to recycle every scrap we can. Hawaii has a redemption policy so we usually even make a few bucks. There are no curbside pickups here on the Big Island; we must cart it all to the local dump/recycling center, but it’s not far away and I simply can’t stand the thought of contributing to a landfill on such a limited patch of land in the middle of the ocean, apocalypse or no apocalypse.

The nuisance has got me thinking quite a bit about packaging. Walking into a Walmart, all I can see are the inevitable piles of rubbish, with all those ridiculous individual, throw-away boxes and bottles. Consider the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, one of the many truly tragic results of this way of life. Here is a short list of facts about plastic pollution that might surprise you, even if you think you already know how bad it is. Some communities are stepping up programs to eliminate the plastic shopping bag. Recycle This has some good suggestions.

Certainly it would be sensible to either 1) use 100% biodegradable plastic or 2) provide a way to refill the container, rather than buying an entirely new bottle. Soaps, shampoos, cleaning supplies, you name it; there should be refill centers in our local stores where we can make use of our containers and pay by weight. Or something. In the long run it would make a huge difference. I wonder why the “geniuses” who started this whole thing didn’t implement something sensible to begin with. (Oh, right, they didn’t care about sustainability; only profit, as well as the world government they would foist upon us to ‘clean it up’ and have us believe it’s all our fault. Sorry, I forgot.)

There is an eye-opening short called The Story of Stuff that is worth watching.

Some ingenious inventors are thinking outside the box. Free energy technologies continue to lurk in the background. One will know the government is truly ‘transparent’ when such knowledge is finally released to the public, instead of being either continuously blackballed or tightly controlled in secret. (Likely why UFOs are also still an enigma.) The wisdom of the ancients, if understood and used correctly for peace and harmony in the world, could be our saving grace. Some people close to me are quick to point out, however, that perhaps humanity is not yet ready for such power if it includes the power of destruction. Some are; many are likely not, if our world’s wars and conflicts are any evidence.

In the meantime, there are many, many other alternative technologies to look for. Solar ovens are a great idea, as are rocket stoves, and would be good additions to the emergency kit. How about a generator that runs on used vegetable oil? A student developed a solar fridge that is already helping people in developing countries. Researchers are making car parts out of coconut husks. Shipping containers are getting makeovers into affordable housing. Wind generators are becoming more affordable. How about a green cell phone, or at the least, a solar cell phone charger? Frankly, that last one should be de rigueur. And this is only the tip of the iceberg.

There are options out there, though they are typically not found at the local convenience store yet, and can be more expensive. One can find recyclable toothbrushes, for example. Put your used plastic bottles to work with the Solarbulb lamp attachment. Invest in a good reusable water bottle.

We must also think about the unthinkable. How about reusable toilet wipes? Here in Hawaii one can grow a Melocia tree or ‘toilet paper tree’, with large, soft leaves. Many Moons Alternatives can even suggest some ideas regarding women’s personal care. Important considerations not only for the environment, but for survival situations as well. Toronto’s “Green Bin” program is recycling not only the usual plastic and glass, but also kitty litter, animal waste and even dirty diapers. Kitty litter is actually a really big problem, as the clay mined for it strips the land, it’s toxic when inhaled and disposed of, and not typically recyclable.

Precycling, or simply not purchasing or using items in the first place, is a great thought. Little shifts, dontcha know. I would love to have the time to also make our own soap, toothpaste, cloth and much more…but alas, I, like many others, am still a slave to the society I was born into, though I am working on it. Perhaps we can merge into a balance at the center, supporting smaller companies who use local, nontoxic ingredients, a much smaller carbon footprint and eventually, little or no fossil fuels.

Initially this shift will take some expense, forethought and compromise. The journey of a thousand miles began with the first step, and if we make it that far, our grandchildren will thank us. Do zombies even have grandchildren? I don’t think so. Find local sources of fresh unadulterated vegetables, even meat and fish if you go there, and buy what you can when it’s in season. Refuse to buy packaged junk food and unnecessary trinkets, recycle and buy recycled goods if you must, get off the couch and water a tomato plant. That alone could move mountains, save you a few pennies, and even knock off a few pounds.

This series of small shifts could lead to a greater shift. It would be the start of a larger transition towards balance between city and farm, between humanity and the planet. We would have more time, and resources, to explore space – both inner and outer.

It has always been my vision that it is possible to reconnect with our land and our community in a profound and sustainable way, without losing access to some great innovations. First, we must seriously consider a return to local food sources, however we can manage. But if we were smart about it, we wouldn’t have to hitch our covered wagons on the way back to isolation at the homestead; we could just press the ignition on a small, solar-powered flying car, and continue to trade gardening tips with our friends in the Far East.

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