Rohan Anderson's Blog, page 3

Wonder twins activate!

Hey guys!

Just wanted to share some news.

My clever partner has been working furiously on all things nerdy and computery and has created us a new site. We have joined forces and now have one place online where you can order a whole bunch of stuff. Click here to order your veggie boxes, custom workshops with me (at my place) and even spend a baking day with Kate. You can buy my old book or a dozen eggs! (I’d go for the eggs) and if you’re feeling a tad carnivorous, you can order some pork or lamb from our mates at The Farmers Larder.

Custom workshops with me, in my garden and kitchen!

I’ve had a number of people ask if I’d run small workshops for just a few folk at a time at my place. I’ve really enjoyed these backyard days! The one on one type workshops have been mega enjoyable for all parties involved. It’s just me and a few peeps casually hanging out for the day in my garden or kitchen, where I share practiculture skills and we talk all day up in the troubled clouds of food philosophy or on the subject of the realities of striving for self sufficiency (which is a myth people….let’s talk more about this over a cuppa).

I really want to use some adjectives like ‘personal’ or ‘intimate’ but I don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea! Really it’s just a day with me where I teach you the stuff you want to learn. And where better to learn it than in the garden or my kitchen where I do all my stuff! And we get to cook up a big afternoon lunch!

Instead of buying a new tablet or Wii for Christmas, buy someone a workshop! Then they can come to my place and play a game of WHOLELARDERLOVE on the Wii.

The site is here, go check it out.

NB. Veg boxes, meat and egg deliveries resume in January.

Food Process

Don’t you think there is some element of irony in the fact that in my efforts to exclude processed food from my diet, I’ve fallen hard for processing food?

I recall a conversation this past week with someone about the enjoyment I get from food processes. No I’m not talking about adding sulphites to my food, I am instead referring to processes such as podding peas or threading summer beans for dry hanging.

These food processes and tasks force me to sit down, to focus and get lost in monotony. There is a constant list of ‘to do’ here at the old farm house. But every now and then these food processes appear, they demand attention and I find myself sitting down, squeezing peas from pods or slicing mushrooms to hang and dry. I wouldn’t dare suggest that it’s always fun, at times it’s downright frustrating. But this way of living, well she’s the boss and when she tells me to sit down, I sit.

I do what needs to be done because the alternative simply no longer appeals to me. I prefer to embed myself in tasks which result in my food being preserved and stored for future use. The goal that drives me is a reduction my reliance on someone else processing my food. The result is I’m eating real food and there is a satisfaction of being responsible for my food that’s difficult to describe. It isn’t measurable in money or stuff, but simply a feeling of purpose.

Today I set up my work station. I put on Waylon Jenning’s album ‘I’ve Always Been Crazy’ on the player. Fill a basket of beans, warm a pot of boiling water and fill a bowl of ice cold water. I pod the beans, blanch them, then finally I bath them in the cold water. They’re now ready to freeze and won’t loose much of their freshness with this technique.

While I’m waiting for the beans to blanch, I whizz last summers now dried chilli to top up the chilli powder jars. Having those jars filled gives me a sense of wealth. In fact, having food in my larder from these food processes is as reassuring as a well balanced savings account.

I think these food processes have been integral part of my saving. It’s the process of working with the food that I’ve worked for to create that’s the key. I planted these broad beans from the seeds I saved from the previous years crop.

I’m whizz dried chilli that once grew in my poly tunnel. I slice wild mushrooms I searched the bush for, or process corn kernels from a bumper crop, or I stuff chorizo with pork I butchered. Every one of these food processes is a reward for me. It’s a reminder of my efforts.

It was never explained to me in the brochure. Instead it’s been a gem I’ve discovered by embracing this way of living. It’s comforted that year in, year out the same food processes return and present themselves in my world. I welcome them back like a long lost friend.

Tale of two Cakies

I love a good metaphor. And I reckon the one in this story is a pearler.

I’ve lived two adult lives.

Life #1. I ate processed food. I was unhealthy as a result.

Life #2. I ate real food. My health improved.

This past week my dear schmoopy poopy honey bunch cuddle pie ran another segment in her series of ‘Lunch Lady Vs The World’. The idea is to compare two versions of a dish, the packaged processed version and the real food version.

This week she challenged a packet carrot cake mix.

This segment states the full ingredient lists of both meals, which often has my mouth dragging on the floor in disbelief. There is also a stop watch which records the exact time both meals take to make, and there is a breakdown of the process involved to make both versions of the food.

The purpose of this segment is to present two versions of food, and allow the reader to decide which version is applicable for their life. Maybe there’s also an element of hope, hope that the information may inspire someone to cook real food from scratch.

The carrot cake segment was a challenge for me personally. It reminded me of my old way of living, cue metaphor. The carrot packet mix had 2% carrot in it. Yes you read correctly, I said 2% carrot!

It’s just plain disturbing that an item of ‘food’ called Carrot Cake can actually be promoted to us even though it only contains 2% carrot. The carrot cake tale IS the metaphor for our current food system.

Now lets not get caught up in the carrot cake mix itself. Let’s look at other food examples. Like ham products. Some ham is actually made not just from pork meat, but reconstructed parts from other animals with ‘ham flavouring’ added to it. No, that’s not a joke. A guy from the pork factory near us shared this info with us the other day. Or the good old chicken nugget. Google that one for an real stomach churning eye opener.

The point I’m trying to make is that a lot of what my generation has grown up to think is food, isn’t actually food. It’s some weird concoction of mixed ingredients and additives that’s not doing our health any favours and is hard on our environment.

I get plenty of comments and emails telling me to shut up and stop preaching, but the 2% carrot cake is what drives me to continue. This is clearly not right. How can I not stop saying this. It concerns me. It’s not right that we are fed these products, the cost to us is too high. And I say that proudly because I’ve lived through it.

I have about 2 weeks of tablets remaining of blood pressure medication that I’ve been taking for about 6 years. My blood pressure was off the charts as a result of my diet and lifestyle choices. It’s been quite a journey to fix myself. Earlier this year my doctor was shocked to see how much my blood pressure had dropped (I had been avoiding him for a few years). He halved my dosage and asked me to return in a few months (I avoided him again, it’s been six months). He said there is a very high chance he will be taking me off the medication. He said what ever you’ve been doing, it’s working.

After I finish writing this post I’m calling the doctor to make an appointment. My hope is that my blood pressure has normalised and I can finally stop being medicated for my lifestyle induced hyper tension.

Over the years writing on Whole Larder Love I’ve shared my food and ‘good life’ journey. It’s only now that I feel like I’ve reached a milestone of improving my quality of life. No longer do I eat the 2% carrot cake style food, I eat real food. And the results speak for themselves.

I want people to now see how much of a positive difference eating real food and living the good life can make to a life. And it’s not necessarily about moving to the country and living off the land. It’s about making better choices where ever we live, be it city, coast or country.

Thank God for that 2% carrot cake mix to remind me of my past. I wish for more people to see the light, to taste and enjoy the benefits of eating the real carrot cake.

Joel Salatin talks about the value of understanding food and the Nursery Project

We fell very fortunate that Joel agreed to set aside some time for us to record his little message of support. Joel is someone that we really admire, value and respect. His values are in line with nature and creating a better world. The positive impact he has made for our world is phenomenal. So when he agreed to film a clip for us we where over the moon. Please share this link and help the momentum of the project continue. We still have a long way to go.

Thank you to Meg who travelled to Joel’s farm to record this clip.

Sorry about the editing and wind noise. We may know how to grow food, but audio visual is definitely not or forte. I’ll never get an oscar for ‘Best Editor using iMovie’.

Pledge your support here.

JOELS MESSAGE from The Nursery Project on Vimeo.

If we want to live in a world that’s less shit, then we need to be less shit.

The simplistic approach is often the best approach.

We as humans over complicate things. It’s often the case that when a choice is presented to us,we inadvertently choose the complicated option.

In my ideal utopia there would be no bad food. People would enjoy eating and living well, and we would keep our industry systems, they’d just be cleaner and greener. Oh and people would be nice to each other instead of killing one another. A nice world eh?

I know I can’t make that happen for the entire world. But what I can do is change my own little world. I may not be able to get everyone eating real food or being a little lighter in the old consumer department, but I can make that so, within my house. I can feeds my kids good food, I can buy mostly secondhand and recycle, I can reuse and invest in things that will last me a while. I can make my world less shit.

My world was shit years ago. Sure there where some good elements. But the shit outweighed the good, so I changed it. It’s never going to be perfect. But it’s way better. And thats all we can do.

Identify the things that are shit and make them less shit.

I cooked a meal this week that optimised this mantra. Home grown beans, a rooster from last springs clutch, some backyard herbs and spinach. Roster, beans and greens was a meal that represented the change I wanted to see in my life. I raised the bird, I grew the food and I learnt how to cook. These are things that I wanted in my life to make it less shit. And when I ate that meal, all the negativity of the outside world subsided, even for just a few moments.

Peace. Out.

Ro

The State of Things

Last night I went one of my daughters school concerts. On stage the kids did a great job reciting some classic Australian Banjo Patterson poetry, that classic Dorothea Mackellar ‘My Country’ they even sang a great rendition of ‘My Island home’ and ‘I am, you are, we are Australian’ (which had most parents welling up with tears). The kids where dressed in the ‘traditional’ Australian outfit of flannel shirt, denim jeans and boots. Some even donned the wide brim hat complete with dangling corks. When the time came for them to sing ‘Happy Little vegemite’ I realised how far removed I have become from the Australian mainstream. I sat proud of my kid, which is to be expected right?

It was other thoughts going through my cynical mind that disturbed me. I couldn’t help think or the irony presented in front of me. Here the kids where celebrating all things Aussie which is cool. I get that. What is ironic is that it’s fairly certain that every piece of clothing those school kids where wearing was made either in China, India or Bangladesh. The shirts, belts, jeans, everything. What happened to Australia? What happened to ‘Made in Australia’. Free trade agreements aside…Who are we and what do we represent? How are we viewed by the rest of the world? What do we stand for? What do we strive to achieve?

The paradox had me thinking of the absurdity, just like when I see that sticker on the back of Japanese made cars and 4WD’s, you know that outlined map of Australia with the words ‘Fuck Off, We’re Full’ written inside. Just one of many reasons why I refuse to stand or sing the national anthem. Call me un-Australian. Please do, as that’s exactly how I consider myself to be. Borders mean nothing. Borders are a human invention. The reality is that regardless of colour, faith or culture, we are all simply humans. We’re all born little defenceless shitting and pissing machines. We grow older, do some stuff, then we all die. We all suffer the same shitty fate. Therefore we are all brothers and sisters on the same team right? That is a hard pill of many of us ‘ozzies’ to swallow.

The motivation for the school concert was undoubtedly based on learning about Australian culture. What culture do we actually have to celebrate? Ok, we have footy and rugby, which we all must agree is the very life blood of this country. And apparently you’re odd if you don’t follow a team. I missed that memo. Oh and we have Four n’ Twenty pies, made from the finest off cut, low grade meat.

We sure have an interesting history, with both good and bad elements.

We remember the ANZACs. The coalition of Australian and New Zealand forces that attacked the sovereign country of Turkey. We attacked them on their soil! Turkey was not a threat to Australia or New Zealand, but we attacked at Gallipoli because the English told us to. I don’t think anyone can argue with that. But I’m sure it’s considered Un-Australian to bring up this very topic. While it is very important to remember the lives that were lost in this battle, it’s also Important we understand what actually happened in our past, so we as humans don’t make the same mistake again. Oh what’s that? We’ve done it again?

Australia is an interesting place. It has spectacular natural wonders. Of which the kids talked about last night. They mentioned the Great Barrier Reef and how beautiful it was. And it is beautiful, I swam in it once and got chased by and angry grouper. The sad reality is that by the time these kids are my age, much of the reef will have disappeared due to the effect of global warming.

And to take it one step further, statistically speaking (based on current trends), it’s likely that many of these children will end up with health problems from diet and lifestyle choices.

So what can we do about this? Well the answer lies in our individual choices. Let’s consider a few issues at hand and the very reason these issues exist.

The only reason supermarkets sell 30,000 (predominately highly processed) food products is because people keep buying them

The only reason we still send troops to fight in foreign countries because we choose to elect politicians that make poor choices

The only reason race horses die on the race track is because people continue to support that industry by placing bets

The only reason an individual becomes obese, is because they choose to put certain foods in their body

The only reason impoverished workers die in third world clothing factories is because western customers buy cheap new fashion clothes that support that industry

The only reason we have a bleak outlook for climate change is because we continue to be a consumer driven culture that relies heavily on natural resources.

The only reason racism exists is because people let fear and ignorance override human sensitivity

The only reason we have global warming and an overall unhealthy environment because there are too many people in the world and we’ve grown to rely on industrial process that have negative effects on environmental health

The only reason your car runs out of petrol is because you forgot to fill the tank

For each of us we have the opportunity to make changes in our lives that can influence some positive change. Pointing this reality out is confronting and it challenges us as individuals because we may feel that someone is having a go at the choices we make. It can become overwhelming to consider all the things in this world that are fucked.

However we need to remind ourselves that right there in front of us, are some things we have the power to change.

And really there is no excuse not to make the change.

After you read this post don’t strip naked of your imported clothes, discard your device or laptop and go live in a hole. No that’s not the solution.

Change will come about by individuals being mindful. If more people thought about their consumer choices for example we might encourage some positive change from the companies that supply us.

For example, it is possible to support a local farmers market. It is possible to chose to buy fresh food instead of processed food. It is possible to ride to work, or car pool. It is possible to hold back from buying more clothes than you need. It is possible to sit down and share a meal with you’re family without the television on. It is possible to politely smile at a lady wearing a burka and break some social tension.

There are lot’s of things we can do to make this country, and this world a better place.

I’m no saint. I’ve done my hard times. I’ve made some poor choices in the past. I’m still flawed in many respects and I don’t have all the answers. And what I do isn’t the answer for everyones problems. But it what works for me.

I can see some things that I can help with. And so I take action. But if we as a people don’t take action, if we just sit and wait for something to happen, nothing will happen. No change will occur.

So if you want to see the world become less shit.

Be less shit.

With your help the project will succeed

Quite simply, I love the simple life. It took me half of my adult life to figure it out but I’m here now, and I love it. If you’ve been a long time reader here, you’d know about the journey I’ve been on. You’d know about the personal challenges, the failed crops, the successful hunts, the days spent doing tasks that revolve around food the good life.

We are a family that actively tries its best to live lighter. We eat real food and we celebrate nature’s beauty. I was asked recently how I came to be where I am. And I don’t really know myself. I guess it’s just been a number of years, one after the other, learning new things, finding out new information and building a skill set that’s imperative to make it in this simple way of living.

There isn’t much to our ‘team’. Just two adults and four little girls. Everything us adults do is primarily to provide a good world for the kids. It’s so very important to us. And that’s what drives us to make the Nursery Project happen. Our goal is to share our lives, the ‘good life’ with as many people as want to attend. We want it to not only be about teaching food skills but also a place for people to escape, to be free, to contemplate, to question and leave feeling either of clear mind or loaded with more questions. We live in a world we’re constantly told what to buy, what to think and how to act. Personally speaking, I’ve not been listening to that mainstream message, and my live is better for it.

We want the Nursery to be a place we’re you can become free (and also learn a bunch of interesting skills).

Today, whilst working in the veg garden, we got our film crew together and made a little video. Our family made the video together. On our high tech telephones! As you can see we have a massive budget We really need you’re help. The ‘success’ of this project is about positively impacting peoples lives. We haven’t invented a drone hover camera or a glow in the dark toaster, what we’re trying to achieve is providing positive experiences for our fellow humans.

I know what we’re doing in the rewards system for this crowd funding project is not normal. And I guess I thought that there where people out there that wanted to see something good like this happen. And I hope you’re out there. Because right now, our world could do with something good for a change.

If the project is to have any success it will be your doing. It will be because you helped get it off the ground. If you can’t support the project, please share it online.

Oh and we’ve reduced the amount we’re attempting to raise. We have been offered some very amazing support for the project. But we still need capital to build loads of infrastructure.

The silly season is coming up soon. Billions of dollars will be spent on useless items that will end up as land fill. Use you money wisely and invest in something that has a social benefit. Or buy a Furby. The choice is yours.

Everyone that contributes now gets a temporary ‘Kale and the Gang’ Tattoo and your name etched on the honours wall in the mess hall. Please help. Every dollar counts.

http://wholelarderlove.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/IMG_4676-iphone.m4v

I like doing it

Confused and indecisive is the most appropriate way to describe this spring. We’ve had a warm spell, a storm spell and now it’s back to a cold spell. More spells than an episode of Charmed. The warm spell did weave some magic though. It got me motivated to get the house in order for the coming summer. Last year I was a few months behind. We’d just moved house and I was still forming the garden beds, and the poly tunnel was still a pipe dream.

This year is different. I’ve been looking forward to the growing season. I’m prepared! This house is on high alert, cocked pistol, VEGCON 1. The poly tunnel is fully operational, it’s power should not be underestimated. It’s potential as a food production facility is practically imminent. Seeds, poised at the ready, germination sequence has commenced!

In 4 months time our bellies will be full with fresh zucchini, tomato, eggplant, watermelon, basil, squash, coriander, corn and many other summer crops we thrive on. The very thought of not having to eat kale or chard is enough to have me jumping for joy! Anything but kale please! This winter has been slow like every other, and we rely heavily on hunted meat from the freezer, dried beans, cured meats, excess frozen summer crops and yes kale, kale, kale with some chard. The two edible plants dumb enough to grow in our winter climate.

Soon we shall once again pick straight from the patch and into the kitchen. It’s a bloody beautiful time of the year for food. Everything feels positive, alive and natural. Sun warmed cherry tomatoes, flavour bursting peas and zucchini so fresh you can peel it straight into a salad.

All this is possible because I decided that I wanted it and I decided to ‘do it’. I never had a singular energy saver low watt, light bulb moment. It’s just something that’s been growing over the years (no pun intended). I wanted it, (a veg garden) so I did it. I also didn’t want to be a slave to a desk job, so I figured out a way to escape the rat race. I figured that if I got rid of all my debt, focused on living light and actively made my food, then I wouldn’t need so much money to survive. And it seems to be working. Sure sometimes it’s scary, like when rent is due, or when bills need to be paid. But we manage to get by because we just ‘do it’. We do odd jobs to make a living and thankfully our food bill is minimal, thus we survive. I figure that life is too short not to ‘do it’.

I’ve wanted this lifestyle most of my adult life, I once sat at my office job, day in, day out, dreaming of this lifestyle. It feels so good to be here. Someone on the internet recently told me to “get a job!”. I have one, but thanks for the suggestion. My job is surviving. My job is no longer being a slave to a consumerist lifestyle. My health is the better for it and my impact on the environment is reduced, but overall life is just way better! As far as I’m concerned it’s a win win.

I know it’s not the norm, and that some people think I’m a slacker because I don’t have a regular job, but what’s a real job anyway? I question the great Australian Dream, is really all that rad? I don’t dream of owning a brand new car or massive new house full of brand new stuff. I like that my house is full of op shop purchase’s, my veg garden constructed with timber I found rummaging at the Daylesford tip, my cars old and simply engineered so I can repair them. Call me a bludger, but I’m happier than I’ve ever been. And I’ve never taken a hand out.

My new job will be running the Nursery Project. Oh and by the way, I won’t own it. We won’t own it. We don’t want to. We’ll still be living right here, renting away at the old farm house. The organisation will own what ever happens, the land, the stock, the facilities. A not for profit organisation has to have board members, it has to report to the tax department, it has to operate within a self governing charter. And as much as I’d like it to be a bit more free and hippy like, it just can’t. It’s 2014 and everything fucked. So we have to follow the rules. But rest assured, we won’t be gaining any financial assets from this ‘venture’. We just driving the project. The reality is that we are two idealists, wanting to share what we love in our lives, which is basically, the good life. That in itself is pure gold. A big thank you for everyone that has helped thus far. You will be amazed when we tell you our news. But lips must be sealed until then. Except when chorizo is around. Then lips open wide for chorizo happy time.

News Flash – shit food equates to shit health!

Look, we can’t kid ourselves any longer. We’ve known this basic formula for years. If you eat bad food you will inevitably be unhealthy (even if you’re skinny on the outside, Dad I’m looking in your direction ;-)).

I started this blog years ago to document the process of real food discovery and the search for a better lifestyle. In the beginning it was about an individuals efforts to live off the land (even if it was simply my urban backyard). It was about dreaming of pretty log cabins, cosy plaid woollen hunting jackets and old pickup trucks. Well let’s face it, that’s never going away. But I digress.

Here I am, 38 years old, and finally I have realised something very significant. I’m not at the end of my ‘food’ adventure but I have had some very big light bulb moments along the way.

Even though, yes I’m still carrying some ‘legacy’ weight, I am happy to say that from my changes in life have had a positive outcome. How I treat my body with the food I consume and my lifestyle choices has in fact made dramatic improvements to my health and wellbeing. And as much as I hate to use that phrase ‘health and wellbeing’ the actual physical manifestation of that term is very imperative to me now.

So whats all the fuss? Why be healthy at all? Well the obvious benefit is that I may now live longer than somewhere just in my mid-forties (which was where I was heading). This is not really an air punch moment, but it is a personal celebration of showing what is possible for the individual.

I know there are people out there that are sick because of the food they consume and the lifestyle choices they make. I’m not judging anyone here, let me make that perfectly clear! I’m simply suggesting that I’ve shown at least to myself that life can be way more rad when you’re healthy. I know at times, personally speaking it’s been like pushing shit up a hill. So many times in my early days I’d mix bits of bad food in my diet. I’d be hungover and opt for take away. Or I’d buy a cheap nasty supermarket option. We are but humans. Flawed, beautifully flawed.

I’m also not suggesting that I’m perfect. I’m not some Venice Beach example of the perfect male form. But hows this for improvement. I can now jog 3km. The Rohan of 6 years ago could not. I probably couldn’t have walked it, I was that sick. I can now spend a day of physical labour digging soil, fencing, cutting fire wood and I don’t stop until the sun drops low. I love that I took that second, third and fourth chance to look after myself. And I will continue to share that story.

That’s why I’m so damn keen to get the Nursery off and running. I’ve been gifted with this experience. I know there are people out there that would love a taste of it. And even though I speak at different events around the globe, there is nothing more powerful and real than showing someone first hand. Showing them what is possible by sharing, skills, experiences and ideas based around this amazing lifestyle that is ‘the good life’.

Here is a video from a song I was very lucky to have been asked to sing at the phenomenal DO Lectures in Wales earlier this year. Thank you to David and Clare Hieatt, and Naomi for believing in me and getting my almost skinny ass to Wales to share my story.

NB: Language warning, oh and I do get a bit heated at the end.

Rohan Anderson – Shit food equals shit health. And how I used food to improve my life from The Do Lectures on Vimeo.

The Last Hunt

The Story

A few warm spring days snuck up on us like a snake in the grass, in fact the odd snake and shingle back lizards have been seen basking on the hot roads. Had spring finally arrived? All of a sudden it appeared as though the chilly winter blues were finally moving on. It got me thinking about sorting out one last hunt for the year. Tramping through the dry bush on foot in summer is not my idea of fun. Not only is it hot and sticky, but the hunters mind is focused on the prize of deer, not the venomous brown snake lurking at their feet. Summer for this hunter is reserved for nurturing vegetables, berries and fruit tree’s, and of course the odd wad up a river with the fly rod. I leave the deer alone to grow fat on summers goodness, then I’ll return when they go mad in autumn.

A few calls were made and the last hunt arranged. A quick overnight trip with the opportunity to hunt one dusk, one dawn.

Jack and I talked most of the drive up. The country was flat, with the rare slight undulating hill an exciting feature on the landscape. We passed mostly barren looking land, marginal farming at it’s worse. The low rainfall of the past winter showed plenty of stunted and failed crops. Many dusty roads and blistering highway we drove until we came to the farm we’d been invited to.

By the time we arrived, the sun still sat too high to hunt, so we said our hellos to the boss and set off down the bush to explore. The block seemed to go on forever, we crossed flat pasture, tilled soil and thick scrubby bush. It was perfect habitat for Fallow deer. We spent the warm afternoon walking and driving the various tracks and trails. We found deer tracks, worn down by repeated journeys of exiting the scrub to feed on nearby green pasture, which they do with the safety of darkness. We found scats, skulls and prints. This was definitely deer country.

We set up a position, hidden in long grass we waited. Mosquitoes buzzed and bit any exposed flesh. Sugar ants snuck up from the grass for a quick nibble, and the warm sun blessed us with warm rays. It fell like a lifetime for the sun to dip low. It was at low sun that we hoped for something to appear from the bottleneck of deer tracks in the bush, out to feed on the pasture. Patiently we lay. Nothing but kangaroo! The sun dipped far too low to hunt, we packed it in and hunted hare in the evening, of which we also failed to see.

Late that evening, almost at midnight, we set a fire and cooked a meal. In between bursts of conversation we rested silently in our chairs, contemplating the days hunt. We agreed we’d done everything right to make the hunt work. We lacked one vital element, Luck. We just weren’t at the right place at the right time. It’s one thing about hunting that can challenge your resolve. The thought of coming home without meat for the freezer. Even worse is the jibes from your partner. “Gee that seemed like a long way to go not to get a deer”. So supportive.

Thankfully we have enough food to get us through. This hunt was more about getting food for Jack’s freezer, not mine! I guess he’ll just have to take more care with his veg garden this summer! We also hunted the dawn, but got stuck without luck once again. The drive home had my head full of thoughts about the reality of being a hunter. It’s a reminder from nature that we don’t get to choose when we get meat. That’s the way it works in the real world. But in the ‘man’ipulated world things are very different.

The background

(warning- this article contains some honest colourful language)

I started hunting for meat years ago. I don’t know exactly when, in any case that’s irrelevant. What is important is why I started hunting. I knew I was eating poorly. I was eating meat that hadn’t been raised real well. I knew that most of the farmed animals I happily consumed, had lived a shitty existence. I knew that corners where cut so that we the consumer, could purchase the meat at a low price. So I made a personal decision that I’d rather eat meat that’s come from a wild free animal than eat meat from one that’s been treated poorly by human hands. But let’s put that issue aside for the moment.

 

I want to address the big driver behind Whole Larder Love. The philosophy behind how and why I live the way I do is based around the fundamental idea/reality that no major food corporation or government will have my nutritional diet and health in their best interests. They also don’t have your health in their best interest either. They do however take making money very seriously. Last night on the ABC iView was a phenomenal example of this very depressing reality. The industry body, the one which has the best interest of the food companies in mind, is the puppeteer of bad health. They believe that it’s ok that fast food and processed shit can be sold to us. They believe it’s up to the individual to self regulate what they eat. HELLO! IT’S NOT BLOODY WORKING!!!! We are getting fatter, sicker and dying younger. And it happened to me.

 

I myself only exist online because of this very dilemma. I got sick, I got ‘all of the above’ sick and I then started to change my life, hence the catalyst behind the blog. I didn’t self regulate, I just ate what I wanted. I’d eat a take away home delivered pizza late at night after a few bottles of wine and a packet of cigarettes. Not a pretty picture. With my hangover the following day, I’d head to another fast food outlet to eat me take away McHangover cure. An even uglier reality.

 

It’s estimated that 70% of Australian adults will be overweight or obese in ten years. We need to do something. The government isn’t being proactive. The big companies don’t give a shit about anything else but money. We have to take the initiative and do something.

 

This blog has been evolving for years. It now has mega clarity in it’s aim. To communicate the story of an Aussie bloke that changed the way he lived from Macca’s to mountains of kale. From Burger King to Rabbit Stew. From KFC to home grown vegetables. From supermarket junk to dirty but sweet home grown carrots. I am proud of the changes I have made. Why? Because I’m a living, breathing example that lifestyle change and nutrition can improve an individuals health. I’m proof that a person can make positive changes in regards to food and lifestyle. Ok my story may be a bit extreme and I’m not suggesting everyone do what I’ve done, the whole grow your own thing, but at least may I suggest we eat real food. That is achievable for everyone.

 

Oh and one last thing. That hunting mate of mine Jack. He often tells me his sulphite stories. So you know what sulphites are right? You know they’re added to most processed foods and drinks right? You know that they cause asthma, allergic reactions, and disrupt our gut bacterias right? Australia is the most under-regulated country in regards to sulphites being added in foods. The sulphite story goes largely untold. But the good news is that once it’s cut out of your diet your body repairs itself. Jacks personal story is encouraging but even better is the tale of one of his relatives, who had been relying on ventolin for years. After changing the diet to whole foods, and no sulphites the puffer sat in the draw for a year. Now I’m not suggesting it’s a cure for asthma, but what an amazing tale of overcoming something by simply eating what our bodies have evolved to eat.

Now isn’t that an amazing way to approach living well. Eating what our bodies have evolved to eat. No way! What an outlandish idea.