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| Amy, pregnant with Padwa, & Paige at La Milpa Organica, 2010 |
Plight of the Honeybee
(as published in CityBeat, April 2011)
Your story on Malaki Obado’s Asali Honey was the most important article in your April 13 Food Issue, yet it missed many crucial points.
We have the hard-working honeybee to thank for every third bite of food we eat. Cross-pollination helps at least 30 percent of the world’s crops to thrive, and more than $15 billion a year in U.S. crops are pollinated by bees, including apples, berries, almonds and more. However, the U.S. honeybee population has been experiencing colony collapse disorder (CCD). In other words, our much-needed honeybee is dying off due to a loss of habitat, malnutrition and the use of toxic pesticides. Albert Einstein himself once surmised that when the honeybee disappears, human civilization has only four more years left to live.
Also missing from the Food Issue was critical information pertaining to food security. Food purchased at most conventional grocery stores (Albertsons, Vons, etc.) travels upwards of 1,500 miles. Everyone can relate to feeling the pinch at the gas pump these days. With analysts estimating $6 gallons this summer, we will finally begin to feel the true cost of food. Food isn’t cheap, and oil is not an infinite resource. What happens when we can no longer afford the gasoline to fly old food from agro-industries located in South America, Africa and elsewhere?
Rather than sit around to find out, we can buy locally grown and organic food from local farmers. Purchase a weekly community supported agriculture (CSA) box from one of San Diego’s family farms, such as JR Organics (jrorganicsfarm.com) or Suzie’s Farm (suziesfarm.com). Chock full of fresh produce, one box can feed a family of four for as little as $34 a week, while students or individuals can band together for a half-box. You can even grow your own food in containers. For hands-on learning, City College has a sustainable ag program (seedsatcity.com) partially taught by one of San Diego’s most humble beekeepers, or you can dig in and volunteer at Wild Willow Farm (sandiegoroots.org). For the carnivores out there, Sage Mountain Farm (sagemountainbeef.com) has created a beef CSA. Composed of locally raised cattle that is fed greens (versus grains) and is hormone-free, it’s the healthiest, most delicious alternative. Best of all, by implementing these small steps in your day-to-day, you are helping to preserve the homes—as well as the lives—of the vital American honeybee.
Cara H. Cadwallader,
creative director and founder,
The Prosperity Hive,
East Village
JOIN US THIS WEEKEND FOR
HONEYFEST SAN DIEGO
and let's build toward a harmonious world for ALL of US to Buzz Around In.
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| Malaki at the Cultivating Food Justice Conference, 2010 |
