Saturday, March 22, 2014

The Big C

We've mentioned a few times on this blog that our ultimate food goal is to grow our own or source all of our food directly from the person who grows it. I'd say maybe half our meals adhere to this, and I feel like we're getting closer all the time. But there are a few things holding us back: chocolate, pasta, rice, some nuts, and beer.... That's basically it. The problem is that these things are staples in our diet, and it's hard to let go. It's also easy to slip up when what you're aiming for is just a vague set of ideas rather than an actual commitment, with rules.
100% community food meal - this is what we're aiming for
Recently, we received a kick up the butt which has prompted us to take the plunge into committing to what we're calling the Community Food Challenge: I've been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Now don't get me wrong. I don't believe that a local wholefoods diet is going to cure my cancer, but I do believe that eating as well as I possibly can, not giving in to my ridiculous sugar addiction, and cutting out alcohol is going to help me as I wade through months of treatment and recovery. I'm going to be having a mastectomy, and some combination of radiation therapy, and/or chemo. It's going to be crap, and it's going to be massive for our family. But one of the good things that's going to come of all this, is that we now have a pretty bloody good reason to cut the tempting and delicious crap from our diets.

So here are the rules for our Community Food Challenge:
All food in our diet is now going to be sourced directly from people in our community who are growing or value adding food products. Fruit and veg (that we don't grow ourselves), olive oil, and wine will be bought directly from the farmer who is growing and processing the product. Likewise for meat, though we currently have a freezer full of home-kill lamb and pork, and a paddock full of chickens and ducks, so we'll probably be fairly un-challenged on that front.

Value-added products, like bread, are also allowed, when we purchase them from the person making them. In our case, for bread, we're lucky to have a direct relationship with the lovely folk of Wheatley Lane Bread, so that's delicious sourdough taken care of.

We will also be supporting our local food co-op, Candelo Bulk Wholefoods by purchasing Australian bulk wholefoods from them. We realise that this might be seen as a kind of cop out, and that a lot of what we'll be buying from them won't be truly locavore in a purist sense. But we feel it's important to support them as an institution, because of the service they provide to our community, and to local growers (like us!) whose products are stocked in the shop.

So far, I'm feeling pretty good about the rules, because a lot of what we eat already falls into these categories. The things that don't fall into these categories - chocolate, beer, refined sugar, white rice etc etc - are things we don't need anyway, and things that certainly aren't going to help me to be as strong as I can through the crazy system onslaught that's heading my way.

So as far as I see it, the Community Food Challenge is a win win: we get healthier, and we move closer to our eating goals. The Big C (as in, cancer) prompts a deeper commitment to the other Big C (as in community). As much as I wish it wasn't cancer that made me do it, I am happy it's happening.

We're going to be doing a bit of documenting of this food journey as well, making note of the challenges and the pleasant surprises, so stay tuned for recipes and other musings!

99.9% community food breakfast. I used sumac in the sauce, but I know this is going to be just as delicious without the sumac. Recipe can be found here

25 comments:

  1. Man!!! No...WOMAN!! You just get more inspirational every blog! Now important question...what nuts to use in the pesto??? Or is it just off the menu?

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    1. Pesto, darling, should never be off the menu!! We generally use a combo of sunflower seeds and/or macadamias and/or almonds. Whatever we've got. Greens, too, the more the merrier - nettle (blanch to get rid of the sting), fat hen, basil, rocket, parsley, you name it! xxx

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  2. I'm so sorry to read about the stupid cancer. The treatment's bloody hard work, I've heard. Sending lots of strength and hope for you and your family.

    Love,
    Alexis, long-time-fan-of-this-beautiful-blog.

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    1. Thanks Alexis. Cancer is indeed stupid, it's true. Thanks for reading and sending nice thoughts! x

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  3. oh my!

    One can only imagine what you must have been through before you came to this point of writing such a beautifully pro active post....
    Gladness; that you, (seem to) live in a place of such green healing. That you have access to such amazing, real and loved food. That you have all created together such a nurturing nook...

    Such healing, wellness and blessings to you
    xo

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    1. Thank you - yes, we do indeed live in a beautiful and fruitful place full of energy and vibrancy. As one local said when I told her about my cancer - "well, it's a really good place to be sick, if you have to be sick". And it's true! x

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  4. Bloody cancer....I had my second bout of breast cancer last year, and it IS undoubtably a hard slog. No getting away from that, and it should not be minimised. But for me, there were some silver linings.....community, a better understanding of food and how to use it to support my health, a stronger sense of self and a much stronger engagement in life. Sending love. X

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    1. SECOND!!?? Wow - it's so wonderful and inspiring to hear about your silver linings on the other side. Any book recommendations re: food and health? x

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    2. I know, right? Second. But the excellent monitoring after the first bout, 8 years ago, meant the second bout in the remaining breast was found so early that although another mastectomy was required, I did not need any further treatment. No chemo seemed such a fab outcome! The best thing my partner and I did together after the first bout was to visit the Petrea King Quest for Life centre for one of her cancer programmes. Lots of excellent input about diet, lifestyle etc......she does a whole lot of juicing which was have continued with ever since. A good support network and good therapy was good for us both too.....it's a tough slog for everyone. All the very best. X

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  5. Oh my goodness - I am so very sorry to hear about the cancer. The treatment is so aggressive but how people's bodies react is also so very individual - you may well be surprised with your body's response - especially when you will be so well nourished and nurtured. Once again, I'm in awe of the beautiful commitment you and your sweet family are making to living and eating so well. I will be thinking of you and wishing you lots of love and all the care you need.

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  6. I'm so sorry to hear this. I'd wish you lots of strength and courage and truckloads of love and support as you go through this difficult journey but reading this I see you have all these things and quite a bit more. So I'll just send my own love instead. You're a bloody inspiration and I can't wait to read about your community food challenge. x

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    1. Thanks lady - "bloody inspirational" is a super compliment! I'm feeling a bit chuffed now... x

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  7. Wow - that is heavy news. The awesome thing is, there are LOTS of stories of recovery, especially from breast cancer. I recently went to a talk with a girl who has just overcome cancer (one they didn't think she would overcome). She has a video online of an interview she did, so I thought I'd share the link with you - she really is very inspiring.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN5B-l6NxZw&feature=youtu.be

    This is another inspriring lady that you might want to take a look at at some stage.

    http://www.johilder.com/

    Mel

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    1. Thanks Mel - I'll definitely have a look at these! Thanks for reading x

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  8. Sending you lots of healing thoughts and wishes - beautiful that you can make such a wonderful commitment to something important to you out of it! x

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  9. Always, always inspiring! I admire your positive and pro-active resolve in the face of such a difficult time.

    Sending you and your family my very best wishes.

    Nada

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  10. I'm sure that as the comments roll in you will realise that your community-building efforts extend into cyberspace. I've never met you guys but it didn't stop me saying out loud "Oh Annie!" when I read the post above. My husbands' reply was "Who's Annie?". "Pearl and Elspeth Annie" I exclaimed.
    This blog continues to inspire so many people and there is a little online (big C) Community here that will hold you in our thoughts and hearts during this tricky journey. It's not quite as good as real-life community but still ...
    We do so appreciate your thoughts and adventures and thank you for your sharing!

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    1. Thanks for your beautiful comments Shelley. It is SO great to see comments from our readers. We see the stats, and know we do have many readers out there in the big wide world, but it is still very special when people actually stop and comment on what we're putting out into the world, to know that what we put out is touching people in a positive way, and building Community, even if it is in a cyber kinda way. xxx

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  11. Oh no! So not fair. Sending you love and strength. I'm looking forward to following your community food challenge. x

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  12. Oh baby girl how awful. Absolutely amazed at the strength you are showing in your commitment to local eating and the way you are approaching the oncoming storm that will be your treatment. Thoughts and prayers are with you.

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  13. Thanks everyone for your comments, thoughts and prayers. Even though we don't know most of you, it means a lot to know that you're out there reading our blog and interacting in some positive way with what we've got going on here. xxx

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  14. Oh Annie, I'm so sorry. Bastard bastard cancer. I know you and the family are taking the challenge head-on. My love and best wishes to everyone.

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  15. I'm usually just a lurker here, but I wanted you to know how sorry I am that you're having to deal with this. Therapies have come a very long way over the last ten years or so, but they're still not much fun when you're the one having them. Best wishes.

    And good luck with both of your challenges; I look forward to seeing where your food journey takes you.

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  16. Hey Annie,
    I don't know you either but feel almost as if I do, having seen so many pics and read so much of you and Genevieve and the kids trotting around on your property; I can almost see it all in my head (I have an acquaintance at Bemboka, so it's the neighbourhood).

    Anyway do you have to go to Canberra for the treatment or can you go local?

    Take care and good luck,

    Simone.

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  17. oh this has given me a lump in the throat, it is like a friend of a friend has shared big news. I know that you are surrounded by good food, lots of light and love, but cancer is a big mountain to climb and I wish you strength and love to walk it loud and proud xxx
    Katherine

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