31 July 2020

Reading the Fields

Topic: We are what we eat, eats.

I am sure you have heard the phrase “you are what you eat”. A phrase often portraying that a healthy body eats healthy food and an unhealthy body eats unhealthy food. While this phrase is a good standard to live by, it does not portray the truth. I would urge you to compare and challenge the mindset of “you are what you eat” to “you are what you eat, eats”.

Just as humans need a balanced diet of minerals and vitamins, so does the food we eat. To focus only on the phrase “we are what we eat” creates the opportunity to trick our minds into eating green, commonly known as “healthy”, foods without actually receiving the vitamins and nutrients we need. Suddenly we are eating what we believe to be healthy foods, but still lack the vitamins and minerals to be healthy ourselves. Unfortunately, we HAVE become what we eat — an appearance of healthy, but lacking the vitamins and minerals we really need. If we can change our minds and think that “we are what we eat, eats”, we must take a look at the inputs our vegetables, fruits, food and meats have received.

We are in a certain period of human existence where it is vitally important to take a look at what our food actually contains. This is where I cannot stress enough that organic, nutrient-dense food with no preservatives is so important to find right now. Find foods like this that have received attention to what is inside of them.

This is the season when we are starting to see lots of fresh veggies being pulled from gardens to be sold at your local stores and markets. I suggest you check them out and support locally, but don’t forget to ask the right questions. Are these foods grown without chemicals, have tissue samples been taken recently? What types of nutrition fertilizers are you using?

Are you certified organic? Remember, you must find out “what you are eating, eats.”

If you are growing your own vegetables at home, add some nutrients to the soil and to your plants. Foliar feeding things like Triple-Ten, SeaPack, and Fulvic70 can offer some much-needed nutrients to your plants, even days before harvest. You will also find that foliar spraying your plants early in the morning can give them a great boost, help flowering and add flavour.

For farmers, we have discussed soil and tissue sampling in the past. Check your plants for the vitamins and minerals they need to thrive, knowing you are helping the end consumer receive the vitamins and minerals they need as well. If you notice deficiencies, fix the problem.

A simple solution for your plants that are looking lighter than normal colour of green, apply 4-5lbs per acre of soluble Magnesium Sulphate. Magnesium is the central atom of chlorophyll and is very important in photosynthesis. This is the key to a plant’s life and some may say that photosynthesis is one of the most important functions in life as, without it, we wouldn’t have plants.

As I walk our farmers’ fields and enjoy the diversity I get to see, it has been great to hear all of the exciting news farmers share. I was on a great banana, lemon, avocado and strawberry farm and it was lemon harvest time. The picker and lead guy came to the grower, Andy, and I and said they were all done picking. Andy laughed and gestured to me, saying “let’s go for a drive”. So up through the orchard we drove, and the trees were absolutely loaded with lemons! The lead guy, Fred, just shook his head and could not believe it. Andy is organic and out-yields all of his neighbours to the point where he did not know if he could sustain the growth, but year after year he continues to see incredible, successful and healthy yields. Andy has taken NTS’s Certificate in Nutrition Farming course twice and he continues to apply the knowledge and insights that has helped him along the way, year after year. Not only does he integrate nutritional foliars to his inputs program, he also implements cover cropping throughout his orchards. I am always excited to see him and I wish him success daily.

As harvest starts to come and we smell our gardens, see flowering throughout our lands and hear the combines roar, I urge you to think about that next bite you take, “what did THIS bite eat? – What went into the food I’m eating?”. That simple question could very well change your life, your immune system, your health and your energy.

I wish all of you health and strength during 2020 and hope you see the value in assessing the nutrients in your food.

Sincerely,

Dave