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As depicted in televised news reports from around the world, people can be seen risking their lives to obtain even a modicum of food to feed their families. Food insecurity drives people to extreme behaviors – even war. What can we do to become more mindful of the global crisis of inadequate food supply, and how can we act in ways that allow us to prevail over widespread starvation?
Worldwide, 800 million people go to bed hungry every night. And even though we produce more food per person than ever before in human history, simply distributing food to those in need is not an effective long-term solution. Instead, we need to implement resilience-based programs that address root causes of food insecurity including fundamentals such as building water wells and rehabilitating degraded soils.
“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” This proverb, whose origin has been attributed to both Chinese philosophy and folk religion, reminds of us the value of skill-building and of sustainable solutions over short-term aid.
Even though we in America are not regularly confronted with the immediate effects of famine, placing greater emphasis on ecological restoration and creating sustainable food systems within our own communities can make a difference. By doing so, we could reduce the food waste we generate while becoming more conscientious of the millions of people worldwide living with food insecurity.
Composting is nature’s way of recycling. It is one of the most powerful actions we can take to reduce our waste and build healthy soil. By turning our food scraps and yard trim into compost, we transform our waste streams into beneficial, value-added soil amendment and use it to protect the environment and create resilient communities. Composting, in a way, not only reminds us that we are connected to the earth and to one another, but also to be mindful of how our thoughts and actions have consequences.
Peter Wibell Rutledge