It begins

I grew up two miles down a dirty road. My parents chose our 22 acre piece of the planet for its location nestled in the Alabama foothills against the base of a long ridge. My father’s dream was to build an underground house and he found the perfect location. The lack of bankers with imagination and a growing family came between dad and the dream, but the land sprouted other dreams. I have vivid memories of gardens, rabbits, geese and a few unlucky ducks. I remember friends coming to tend the garden and help us can, freeze or cook its bounty.

As I entered my teen years, the country became seriously un-cool. All I wanted was to live in town close to friends and my all-important social life. I was so excited when we sold our land and moved into town.

While my early teen years were blissfully urban, as I matured the seeds of my early childhood began to emerge. On long car trips through Alabama and neighboring states I would gaze out the window at the fields. College photography classes found me in search of barns, rural fairs and farmers markets.

My adult life brought me the excitement of the advertising world with its fast pace and ever changing trends. I became a working mother (half the time) when I married my husband and his two children. This is the time when the seeds of my childhood began to grow. I fussed and fretted over their nutrition. My step-son once announce to his mother that, “Keelie curses us with weg-e-ta-bles.” He was right. It’s only gotten worse after the birth of my daughter two years ago.

I began to read more and more. The more I read, the more the plant of curiosity grows and I long for a food system that makes sense to me. I am drawn back to the wholesome food from our simple garden. But, I now have a full time job, 3 kids, an average American home with average American dogs tearing up my back yard and a gas guzzling SUV. How did I get here? How do I get back? How far do I want to go? How far can I go before my family plans a full scale revolt? We’ll see…..