My journey to the simpler lifestyle has been progressing since I left home at eighteen. It was the early 70’s and Mother Earth News was in her infancy and we as a nation were exposed, many for the first time, to books like “The Silent Spring” an exposé on pollution. The organic movement was entrenched in Europe and making in-roads here.
I never lived in a commune but knew friends who left everything to live a self-sufficient life off the grid in communal bliss. I was always a show-me kind of gal and never could quite get why it was such a big deal to not kill the bugs with the strongest chemical available. My real resistance was to being told that organic chemical free living was the only correct path. I had great discussions with my hippie friends but still continued to use whatever worked best to rid my garden of pests and weeds.
Then I met Carol and her family. She was passionate about organic foods and products for your health but I never felt she was judging me for my lack of concern over chemicals. She just enjoyed coming to our homestead and spending time with her family as they gathered eggs and helped me plant that first garden seven years ago.
I decided to start planting a section that was chemical free just for her family as it meant so much to her to not take in chemicals. I researched some excellent books like “Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening” which gives a great explanation for natural and chemical-free gardening. Each year the chemical–free section has gotten larger until last year I could say we were all organic.
It was a journey that I resisted, as no one likes to be wrong, but watching the beneficial bugs and butterflies return along with toads and birds to the area convinced me, it was the right path. It is a joy to be able to share my chemical-free all natural produce with my family and friends.
I am thankful to my friend, Carol for her patience with me which has caused me to stay open to a different approach. So please, if you pull out the Sevin to save the zucchini this summer that your choice, no problem, just know that there is an all-natural, organic alternative that is available at your favorite Buchheit location!
