Thoughts and Actions
Posted by marisaehoward on December 1, 2009
On Monday of last week, my office held the annual benefits meeting. All of my colleagues, managers and peers crammed into our small conference room. Sales people, well dressed and glued to their Iphones, and warehouse employees, still strapped into their stretchy back supports, all together to hear the changes we will experience this year. My company has great benefits and the $1 per month raise in my insurance deduction was hardly worth even holding a meeting over. But one slide in particular stood out to me.
It read:
By 2012, 70% of Americans will be overweight.
My hand shot up as the presenter sped past this statistic.
“What does that mean?” I asked. “70% will be obese or just overweight?” He shifted his weight a bit.
“You know, I’m not sure” he replied.
“Do you know what percentage will be children?” I went on. Again, he shook his head “no”.
This overwhelming feeling came over me just then. I have to do something, I thought to myself. This is too important.
But what can I do? Where do I even start? Yes, I can cook a meal that’s healthy and have a kitchen garden and chickens in my yard. But what am I really doing? And why am I not doing more?
I don’t have the answer yet. But I intend on doing my part to find it and to bring awareness to the people who are actually doing something.
So, I spent today at the Port City Development Center urban farm. A truly joyful and inspiring experience to say the least. Port City is a center for adults with disabilities, a place where they go to work and to learn. As part of this program, they began a CSA and community garden in March of 2009. The $600 fee that is paid to join the CSA goes to paying the wages of the clients who work in the gardens and with the farm animals. The remainder is funded largely by donation. Here a couple photos from my visit today. Can’t wait to go back. 
