Food.

I have recently read the amazing book, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.
The novel is about an American evangelical baptist and his family, who move to the Belgian Congo in 1959.

It has got me thinking about a few things, as good books often do. 

Food, most especially. 

I find it incredible, that in the same planet, so many people are simultaneously dying of obesity, and of starvation. And of starvation disguised as obesity. 

The disease Kwashiorkor is caused by the lack of protein in a diet and the over abundant amount of carbohydrates in a diet. It causes a protruding belly, which is the result of stomach muscles not being strong enough to hold in the persons intestines. 

"Hereabouts, where we sit among such piles of leftover protein we press it into cakes for the pets, who usefully guard our empty chairs; here where we pay soothsayers and acrobats to help lose our weight, then yes, for a child to die from hunger is immoral. But this is just one place. I’m afraid I have seen a world." - The Poisonwood Bible. 

Sitting in my room reading, it was easy to feel overwhelmed by all of this information and the injustice of the situation. 

However, my overwhelmed self was put in perspective by visiting my local community garden with my little brother. 

They are doing an excellent job at being role models of a sustainable garden, and taking young kids through and educating them about gardening and food. 

I don't think that anyone who has toiled over soil, can take it for granted how much food we have access to in wealthy countries, isles of it, all waiting for consumption. 

So that's what I'm going to do: 

Garden more, compost, and enjoy my breakfast. 

Here's the point where I provide some ideas.
Composting is a good way to recycle the nutrients gone into vegies and fruit, and put them back into your garden. If you are lacking room to have a large compost, there are a range of systems, such as Bokashi, which are self contained and odor free.
Or if you completely lack a backyard, like I almost do, there are bound to be some community gardens that you can join near you.

If you want some more food for thought, (only a small amount of pun intended) check out some of National Geographic's 2014 issues ( September, August, and December definitely) for their global food articles.

Thanks for reading.
Grace.

Note: There was a large gap between my first post and this one here, because of my exams. Luckily, my last one is on Tuesday. I hope to establish a regular posting schedule in the near future.