Earth Hour Tour: Small Sustainable Farming for a Cooler Planet

Written by Lil MacPherson, Founder, The Wooden Monkey Restaurants
On March 21, 2014 WWF’s David Miller moderated a panel discussion with a variety of experts, hosted by Dalhousie University. The topic: visions for a future where climate change is no longer a threat. We know that future is possible, and that the solutions are all around us – including in Halifax. And we want all of Canada to learn from their successes. We asked panelists to answer a critical question: what is the one thing we need to do today to achieve that vision? Here is one of the answers we received.

I truly believe if we educate the public on the impact of their food choices we will not only improve the health of our whole planet and everything that lives on it, but will create an epidemic of health for us humans too!
Out of all the industries in the world, agriculture will be the most affected by climate change, but our industrial food systems are also a huge part of causing it. If we are to eat in the future, we need to address a new way of feeding ourselves today.
I would like to talk about my favorite subject: food.  But I can’t talk about food unless I talk about the very foundation from which it grows, the soil. Soil and food, I believe, have the power to heal us and our planet.
Let me begin with some great news: rich organic soils capture and store carbon dioxide at much higher levels than soils from conventional farms. If we grew all of our corn and soybeans organically, we’d remove 580 billion pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – and that’s just two crops!  (If that’s not enough to convince you, this definitely will: Barbra Streisand agrees!
I see it like this: we have two foods systems on this planet to choose from. 
First door (take a deep breath, this sentence is long): Agribusiness and GMOs, which weaken and destroy the integrity of the soils and forests, threaten our seeds and farmers while producing a weaker product, using up huge amounts of energy, water, chemicals and harming the earth and animals (phew, that was a mouth full) while making millions and millions of profits for large corporations.
I like Door number two: organic farming that supports communities, nourishes the soil, producing strong healthy products with no harm to the earth or animals.  Organic farming that solves rather than creates environmental problems, and reduces the pollution of air, water, soil, and food.  Organic farming that produces richer foods that are better for us.  Ahhh…this one tastes better already.
Food fight anyone?

To get this ball rolling, we do have a few labels that support a better, healthier world – non-GMO Project Verified and Canada Organic. Maybe even entertain the idea in growing a few things on your patio, visit your nearest farmers markets. And don’t forget to support other global communities by purchasing fair trade organic coffee and tea – you will help clean up their world too. We are in this together, and our power is strong when we band together as consumers. Sometimes the solutions are right in front of you – right on your plate! 
Celebrate Earth Hour, 8:30-9:30 p.m. on March 29, and let us know what you’ll be thinking about during your #momentofdarkness at wwf.ca/earthhour.