Hello Farm Friends,

In case you missed it, I wrote a blog post on Inauguration Day talking about the much needed awareness about American health that stemmed from the election. And I gave some opinions on why I didn’t think Making America Healthy Again was going to come from the halls of the Federal government. I just think there is too much corporate influence and power that will resist any meaningful change. But time will tell.

I think the only real way for America to become healthy is by each individual taking personal responsibility for our own choices and behavior. Boooo!!!!! I know, that’s a tough sell. Would it be helpful if the American government forced the food industry to remove harmful ingredients from our food, and promote forms of agriculture that produced nutrient-dense food with no toxic chemicals on them? Could we improve public school lunch programs? Certainly. It not only would be helpful, but I think it would be the solution. Is that going to happen? I would consider it a miracle if it does.

I have always agreed with the saying “Nobody is coming to save us”. At the end of the day, it comes down to our own personal choices. It is very easy to go through the day making bad choices that undermine our values and our goals for ourselves, either because they are impulsive or just feel easier in the moment. And I think the Meme about “choose your hard” really gets at the crux of the choice.

Paying more for good food is hard. Not feeling good and paying more for healthcare is hard. Choose your hard.

Paying more attention to your choices is hard. Paying the price for bad choices is hard…..choose your hard.

Finding time to unplug and focus on our mental health is hard. Running around with high stress and anxiety is hard…choose your hard.

You get the gist.

And so I think we need a change of perspective. Many of us feel like taking personal responsibility is a hardship. But it’s also very empowering. And it’s the only place in our lives where we really have any control. Taking personal responsibility becomes an anchor for us where we can live our values, even if the rest of the world doesn’t seem to follow suite.

And so at the end of the day, the only way I believe we Make America Healthy Again is by awakening to the idea that we each need to do that for ourselves. We need to make the effort to seek out the good food, to have good habits, and to be disciplined in reaching that goal.

Which leads to the million dollar question…..Are Americans are willing to change their lifestyles to find solutions? History shows that we are very resistant to this idea. But than again, what everyone else does is not important. What we do as individuals is what is important.

We are very fortunate in this corner of Montana to still have access to really good food. We still have local farms and ranches that produce organic vegetables, fruits, and meats. Many places in this country do not have this type of access. And for those of you who are CSA members, your support helps keep these healthy options available in a world where good food is in decline.

Earlier this year, I sat down with Melissa Bloom who produces The Sisters Bloom Podcast.

If you’ve seen the “Who’s your Farmer” bumper sticker around town, well here’s your chance to learn a bit more. So if you have a few minutes, I encourage you to give Episode 14 of the Sisters Bloom Podcast a listen!! Melissa and her family have created a beautiful Stop Motion Animation studio in downtown Kalispell that is eco-focused, including an amazing podcast studio, and this episode was one of my favorite podcasts I’ve ever been a part of. I listened to it again yesterday, and in these more chaotic times, the first thing I picked up on was the equanimity in my voice. I cannot say I would sound the same if interviewed now, but it was a good reminder for me to stay balanced.

As I say in the episode “Hope and probability are not the same thing”. Hoping for a better future is important, but so is taking ownership of our choices, so that regardless of what the future holds, we can find peace of mind in this life of ours.

I hope you are all well and thanks again for all your support,

Todd