Pondering Pandemic Plusses – Zettel Family Farms

Oh how the months go by! Can you believe that the first third of 2021 is already “in the books”? We are into our second year of Covid restrictions, and no end in sight. If at the start we were trying to just survive the unprecedented measures that have turned things upside down, we now should be asking ourselves how we can take advantage of new opportunities that emerge in this altered world. Personally, I could launch a considerable rant against the inconsistent, downright inexplicable and arbitrary rules. But to what avail? There are positive attributes to the whole fiasco, so let’s identify and run with them. (Insert Read More)

#1 – The highly vulnerable and unsustainable, centralized, industrialized food system is being exposed for what it is. Many people are waking up to the fact that it is better to be fed by the local farmer. Smaller facilities, tied to the immediate area farms and serving the consumers who live in this region are a better bet. When the world is in turmoil, it is plain to see that local is better!

#2 – Many people are eating at home. In terms of nutrition this is a step in the right direction. I’m not saying we should never eat fast food. I do it too, going through the drive thru at Tim’s when I’m on the road, but let’s face it – if you eat Macdonald’s or Burger King with regularity, you will not be doing your body any favours. The closure of restaurants is causing many of us to discover that cooking at home results in better eating.

#3 – Families are spending more time together. For a long time we have noticed that the typical parents with young children are too busy. Both parents working, jockeying between school, sports, music lessons, and eating on the run – never seeming to have time to just be together and “hang out”. Kids having their whole lives organized and scheduled – it didn’t seem natural. All that has changed. Families are forced to be at home with each other, and while it may be a painful adjustment, I can’t help but think that this is good.

#4 – We can choose to be more humble, more thankful, less entitled and complacent than we were. I say “choose”, aware that any individual could go either way. When our affluent society was rolling along and there seemed to be no end in sight, a lot of us were asleep to the fact that our 21st century Canadian lifestyle is not the norm either globally today or in terms of world history. Up until last March, who among us didn’t take for granted the freedom to go where we pleased and do as we pleased, gathering together for whatever purpose, and planning events with whoever we chose. But these precious rights should never be casually considered. History shows that they are fragile, delicate, and always in danger of erosion, and we are getting a first hand lesson. I for one am hoping that our negligence in protecting our basic freedoms is not irreversible. And I am thinking more about treasuring what we have.