Organic Living

Organic has become a word that we have all heard and fallen in love with. There is wave sweeping the world using terms like green, organic, sustainable, fair trade, post-consumer, hormone-free. Organic is not just a food choice, it has become popular clothing choice, even building material choice. I must say that I love these trends - I buy organic milk (it is awesome - sweeter, smoother, and stays good for about a month longer). I buy hormone free meats and I often eat organic fruits and vegetables. Interestingly, I bought 100% recycled post-it notes a couple weeks ago.

I guess I first fell in love with all of this in the 6th grade when I had this amazing samba-playing ponytail wearing all honors teacher named David Matthews (that's him on the left in the picture) who took us on all the adventures we could handle in a year. We picked up trash and recyclables on the hike and bike trails around Austin, we picked up trash down along Padre Island National Seashore, explored caves and springs at Westcave and other nature preserves around Austin, and watched a few Texas bald eagles overhead on the Vanishing Texas River Cruise. Now Mr. Matthews continues his work at Small Middle School in Austin. I found this great article on some things he has been up to.

Twice this spring I watched a news segment on Alice Waters. She is a chef behind major organic and "slow-food" movements and was a powerful influence in getting the vegetable garden planted at the White House. I think I agree with her and David Matthews that programs in our schools that educate our students about our food, where it comes from, protection of our resources, healthy living and eating, are great for our future. I want a garden so badly but, unfortunately, 3rd floor balcony cement makes for terrible topsoil.

Organic took on a different meeting for me a couple of weeks ago. As we were going through our AP training, Dr. Ferrandino, our theory professor and AP consultant for the week, continued to use phrases like "learning organically", referring to the natural processes of discovery, teaching in context, and guided discussion.

I think maybe all of us need to consider the way living "organically" - by natural process and development - could affect the way we interact with the world. I think we could all use a good dose of sustainable, growth-hormone free "slow-food" in our work, our play, our goals, our relationships. I do believe that we are seeing the effects of short-cutting, attention-grabbing, over-stimulating, curbside-to-go, mentality not just in our children and our future, but here and now in ourselves.

What do you think?

5 things that "organic living" could mean:

1) S-l-o-w D-o-w-n... should you really get mad at that person going three miles under the speed limit, or be frustrated because you're 25 and single, or 25 without a graduate degree?
2) Plan more. It's amazing how much we can raise quality and save ourselves in time, money, and energy.
3) Invest some real time into real people. Desire to grow a relationship, not pop one out of the freezer and stick it in the microwave.
4) Set aside time to actually do the things you want to or should be doing (reading that book, cooking that meal, working out, spending time with someone) not just dream about it.
5) Devote less time to media. Of course some things are great, some things are necessary, but some things are simply way out of control.