Today as the boys and I made a trip to the local bakery we stopped to watch a "big truck" unload. I call it a "big truck" because that is what the boys call out with glee each time they see a big truck. In any case, this truck was parked and the ramp was down. A man was using a pushcart to unload boxes of canned Italian tomatoes. We watched him as he carefully brought one cart and then another down the ramp. We watched how he then pushed both carts into the restaurant. The boys were fascinated and peered in the window as the delivery was taken.
Perhaps it was in preparation for this experience that I awoke this morning wishing that we had a working farm to go visit. I was thinking that somehow I would like the boys to be even more connected to where there food comes from. Yet sometimes its difficult to see whether that is just my need. My boys are learning each day. It doesn't have to happen all at one time- I try to tell myself. And where does our food come from? In some cases Italy- we wouldn't be able to make that understanding by a visit to just a local farm.
We returned home to play in our yard. I noticed the boys stopping and smelling leaves as we made our way back to the house. Then, in our yard they wanted to water the garden, feed the neighbors chickens, and play on a old stump. I had to drag them in for lunch, coaxing them with a lunchtime favorite- box of macaroni and cheese. They are fascinated with stirring the orange powder and milk as we wait for the noodles. Perhaps, trucks and boxes of food should be for delight now- at age 2. But, as they grow I hope that they will be able to think critically about each carton unloaded to our homes and businesses and someday realize that this oil based way of eating is not be sustainable or even the best for our communities.
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