One evening, as we sat at dinner, I started thinking about how many people must have been involved in the growing, processing, distribution and selling of the foods we were eating that night….I started writing down who might have been involved, for each ingredient…and filled an entire page, in tiny print, just with the obvious people…and there were probably 1000’s of other people contributing to that meal…people from all over the world.
I found that to be an astounding realization!
Thousands of people were contributing to each bite that I was eating!
And so, for me to start offering thanks to all of those people…
but particularly to the people
near the beginning, or maybe even the middle, of that chain…
the farmer…
And so…with a sense of tremendous gratitude,
I thank the farmer
for every morsel of food
that has brought health and sustenance
to my family and me
throughout our lives...
I thank you…
*
If anyone knows people who farm, please pass this page of thanks along to them!
Pocket Perspectives 
It’s amazing to contemplate.
Great reminder!
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To even to begin to fathom the immensity of that idea of interconnectedness is often beyond me…and then when I think of my home, family, friends, belongings, activities…it goes so far beyond my everyday levels of awareness. And yet, if I don’t try, I won’t understand how interconnected we all are..and so, I start at the level of “thank the farmer”…
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It’s good to be reminded that on our own we are nothing 🙂
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Oh, so true…!
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A friend and coworker of mine, owns a family farm. Because she is a teacher, she plans field trips to her farm where the kids have the best day of the year! I have learned to respect all that farms represent for our future, the kids become completely engaged in the ‘real life learning’ and that field trip has now become an annual event.
We have also started a sustainable garden in our classroom courtyards! The science of it all has the kids excited! And excitement to learn is what keeps them hooked.
Thank you for naming the farmer as a source of gratitude!
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Please pass along my page of thanks to your friend…and ask her, perhaps, to consider passing it along to others who farm. It occurred to me, after I posted, to ask people to pass it along to any farmers they might know.
And yes, it’s so special and important for kids to get the opportunity to visit and participate on a farm, or grow schoolyard gardens…they really get to develop a greater understanding and appreciation. (and of course, it’s fun for them too!)
I did that appreciation “chain” with kids in my class, right before Thanksgiving, and they were also amazed by how many people, from all over the world, had contributed to the many ingredients within their meal. Even those who ate only mashed potatoes and pie were impressed!
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There’s so much power in gratitude isn’t there? Just holding a piece of fruit in our hands takes us back to all those involved in planting, tending, and harvesting it and also those who brought it to our stores or markets, took that life energy we call money in exchange, and handed over the fruit in exchange. And if we think about it, that fruit also takes us back to the perfect symphony of soil, sunlight, and water going into each atom of that fruit which, once eaten, becomes a living part of our bodies. Anything looked upon carefully is a wonder.
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The interconnectedness and inter-relationships among everything are truly remarkable!….really all a wonder!
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