This picture might not scream eco friendly to some but for me it does, for me it provokes questions that in return demand change. I drive past this local dairy farm twice a month, only seeing the cows on occasion. On a day I had extra time, I stopped and talked with one of the farmers. I asked him what time the cows came to the part of the field where the road was, that I wanted to take a picture of them. I was told that the herd only came there once a month and that they rotated the pastures they grazed in to keep them moving and eating in fresh fields.
We live in an age where eco friendly, natural, and organic have become trendy. The trend has forced the hand of many companies to change the way they operate. One of the many benefits of more companies getting in on the eco friendly fad is that the price of earth friendly products becomes less expensive for you and I. As a single parent, I am grateful for the price drop in buying products less harmful to our earth and body.
A problem that arises is that there are companies and marketing teams that know how to give the appearance of green without ever changing their impact on the earth or wellbeing and treatment of the animals on their farms. These companies are greenwashing us, they are allowing us to believe their impact on the earth is much less than it truly is. They are getting in on the trend without joining the cause.
While talking to the farmer of the cow in the photograph, I realized I didn’t really know how the farms that produce the product for my cheese and ice cream obsession were treating their animals or how far my dairy products traveled to make it into my fridge. I recognized as much as I am a label reader, I don’t know if the animals giving the milk ever see real grass fields. I now want to know, what are the farms I am buying from doing to lower their impact on the environment, how are they treating their animals, and are they a part of the trend or are they truly a part of the cause and change?
The questions and changes I am now making for my family are what make this simple picture of a cow eco friendly. Now go out there, ask the questions, demand that companies are honest, and visit your local farms!
We spend a lot of time on this blog talking about toxins, the environment, and how we can live healthy lives. I think all of this is very important, and is often overlooked. However, I think it’s also good to stop and remember why this is all so necessary. This past week was Thanksgiving, and hopefully everyone had an amazing time with family and friends, good food, drink, & possibly even a bit of football. I know I did. Thanksgiving is actually one of my very favorite holidays, because it’s a time when everyone gathers and it’s really all about being together. I hope as we enter into this holiday season, we can keep in mind, though all the stresses and traveling etc. that our loved ones are what make it all worth it!
