Resolutions

I am not normally a person who sets New Year's resolutions... but going in to 2013, I am setting three:  to spend the year eliminating BPA from my life; to perform proper maintenance on all I have been gifted with (mind, body, spirit, as well as "stuff"); and to eliminate genetically modified organisms (GMO's), which I believe to be dangerous, entirely from my diet. 

I live in the Cleveland, Ohio area, and did academic research on GMO's my first year in college as a term paper project.  Suffice it to say, my research made vegetables as unappetizing as meat (I have been a long-time vegetarian), and I started to do a LOT more organic purchases! Fast forward eight years and two degrees, and it's time to do what I know to be right and eliminate GMO's from my diet.  I am hoping to inspire my family to do the same.

I was deeply disheartened that Prop 37 failed in 2012 in California.  Monsanto spent over $40,000,000 on that campaign alone to ensure that we are all unwilling (and many times unknowing) lab rats in their giant GM experiment.  Since it does not seem that labeling, a moratorium, or bans on GM crops are going to happen any time soon in the States, it is time for the people to act.  We have a huge amount of power with our purchases!  I am sure you've heard before that every dollar is a vote-- and I am voting NO on GMO's.

I am a permaculturist, and have enjoyed a wonderful organic garden in my own yard for the last three years.  We focus on heirloom variety seeds whenever possible, and do not buy GM seeds at all.  We have raised chickens for eggs the last three years as well, and feed them only non-GM feed. We preserve a lot of our yield, and will do as much growing and preserving as possible to aid in the quest for a non-GMO lifestyle.

For the most part, I think this will be a little bit of research and a shift in buying certain things.  The biggest challenge I see at this moment is how to eat in restaurants!  We like to go out to eat quite a bit-- and although we have avoided places like McDonald's for a long time, I am not quite sure how to ensure I can still have evenings out while sticking to my guns!  We have a couple of restaurants in the area that use organic when possible, and I am hoping to discover more, but I think it may mean less evenings out and more cooking in. 

I decided to start this blog as a sort of diary for myself; a place to record what my struggles and triumphs are in my quest for healthier food options, and a place to (hopefully, if I can figure out how to make it work) post links to articles, retailers, and resources that are important in the quest.  I am NOT interested in making this blog a debate site about whether or not people believe that GMO's are dangerous.  If you don't agree, feel free to move on to another blog and keep believing whatever is right for you. 

If you are on the same path, I'd love to hear from you!  It's nice to know there are others out there on the same journey, and the more we can all share, the more successful we can all be.

Happy New Year!