Sustainable farming: rediscovering the roots of food | Bethany Staneland | TEDxYouth@ISPrague

I’m gonna first take you back in time

I’m gonna first take you back in time six generations my family history early

six generations my family history early

six generations my family history early 1800s into New Brunswick Canada rural

1800s into New Brunswick Canada rural

1800s into New Brunswick Canada rural this is granny Sanders granny Sanders is

this is granny Sanders granny Sanders is

this is granny Sanders granny Sanders is my great grandmother’s grandmother she’s

my great grandmother’s grandmother she’s

my great grandmother’s grandmother she’s a pretty amazing lady and I actually

a pretty amazing lady and I actually

a pretty amazing lady and I actually didn’t even know about her until about

didn’t even know about her until about

didn’t even know about her until about mmm three months ago and starting the

mmm three months ago and starting the

mmm three months ago and starting the conversations about this talk she was a

conversations about this talk she was a

conversations about this talk she was a woman who knew how to do everything she

woman who knew how to do everything she

woman who knew how to do everything she knew had to go and look for herbes she

knew had to go and look for herbes she

knew had to go and look for herbes she know how to heal the community she knew

know how to heal the community she knew

know how to heal the community she knew how to birth babies she had it a

how to birth babies she had it a

how to birth babies she had it a completely organic sustainable life and

completely organic sustainable life and

completely organic sustainable life and not because it was trendy because it was

not because it was trendy because it was

not because it was trendy because it was necessary next two generations my

necessary next two generations my

necessary next two generations my great-grandmother on the horse my

great-grandmother on the horse my

great-grandmother on the horse my grandfather down below and her parents

grandfather down below and her parents

grandfather down below and her parents again continuing the lifestyle of

again continuing the lifestyle of

again continuing the lifestyle of sustainable living Here I am a few

sustainable living Here I am a few

sustainable living Here I am a few generations later standing on with my

generations later standing on with my

generations later standing on with my husband on top of the Rocky Mountains

husband on top of the Rocky Mountains

husband on top of the Rocky Mountains hiking I don’t know how to birth the

hiking I don’t know how to birth the

hiking I don’t know how to birth the baby I don’t know how to birth the goat

baby I don’t know how to birth the goat

baby I don’t know how to birth the goat and I really don’t know much about

and I really don’t know much about

and I really don’t know much about herbes so what happened why is it that

herbes so what happened why is it that

herbes so what happened why is it that just a few generations later here am i

just a few generations later here am i

just a few generations later here am i standing wanting to be a farmer but I

standing wanting to be a farmer but I

standing wanting to be a farmer but I don’t know anything my family did

don’t know anything my family did

don’t know anything my family did something changed and this is not the

something changed and this is not the

something changed and this is not the fault of my family of my grandfather my

fault of my family of my grandfather my

fault of my family of my grandfather my mother societal something changed our

mother societal something changed our

mother societal something changed our whole way that we live changed the

whole way that we live changed the

whole way that we live changed the Industrial Revolution came instead of

Industrial Revolution came instead of

Industrial Revolution came instead of living rural II we all moved into cities

living rural II we all moved into cities

living rural II we all moved into cities we created factories we needed to

we created factories we needed to

we created factories we needed to produce things we needed things

produce things we needed things

produce things we needed things then came the change of our food system

then came the change of our food system

then came the change of our food system our food system then had to be brought

our food system then had to be brought

our food system then had to be brought from farms into the city and for the

from farms into the city and for the

from farms into the city and for the first time ever we saw our new food

first time ever we saw our new food

first time ever we saw our new food system the modern food system many many

system the modern food system many many

system the modern food system many many steps in this food system let’s have a

steps in this food system let’s have a

steps in this food system let’s have a look we’re growing the food for

look we’re growing the food for

look we’re growing the food for harvesting transporting processing

harvesting transporting processing

harvesting transporting processing packing wholesaling retailing eating and

packing wholesaling retailing eating and

packing wholesaling retailing eating and disposing that’s a lot of steps

in the steps there is also lots of

in the steps there is also lots of transportation

transportation

transportation lots of emissions quite a big carbon

lots of emissions quite a big carbon

lots of emissions quite a big carbon footprint this is not a sustainable

footprint this is not a sustainable

footprint this is not a sustainable system it’s a very linear desist and my

system it’s a very linear desist and my

system it’s a very linear desist and my guess is that within four years that the

guess is that within four years that the

guess is that within four years that the system is not kind of easy there to

system is not kind of easy there to

system is not kind of easy there to support our food anymore at one point if

support our food anymore at one point if

support our food anymore at one point if there’s something in the system that

there’s something in the system that

there’s something in the system that stops our cities are going to go hungry

stops our cities are going to go hungry

stops our cities are going to go hungry the gas stops flowing how are we going

the gas stops flowing how are we going

the gas stops flowing how are we going to get the food into the cities to feed

to get the food into the cities to feed

to get the food into the cities to feed the people

the people

the people and why is disposing on there I mean I

and why is disposing on there I mean I

and why is disposing on there I mean I eat the food and then really there’s a

eat the food and then really there’s a

eat the food and then really there’s a disposal yes because lunch is the food

disposal yes because lunch is the food

disposal yes because lunch is the food that we eat now is actually packaged so

that we eat now is actually packaged so

that we eat now is actually packaged so even after we get the food that they’re

even after we get the food that they’re

even after we get the food that they’re still waste from this this is not an

still waste from this this is not an

still waste from this this is not an environmentally friendly system it was a

environmentally friendly system it was a

environmentally friendly system it was a system that was created quickly at a

system that was created quickly at a

system that was created quickly at a necessity but it’s something that we

necessity but it’s something that we

necessity but it’s something that we need to look at and it’s something that

need to look at and it’s something that

need to look at and it’s something that needs to change so not only has our food

needs to change so not only has our food

needs to change so not only has our food system change but the people producing

system change but the people producing

system change but the people producing our food has changed no longer do we

our food has changed no longer do we

our food has changed no longer do we have friendly farmers who are focusing

have friendly farmers who are focusing

have friendly farmers who are focusing on the quality of life for the animal

on the quality of life for the animal

on the quality of life for the animal and the quality food we now have big

and the quality food we now have big

and the quality food we now have big businesses coming in who are more

businesses coming in who are more

businesses coming in who are more focused on bottom-line profits how much

focused on bottom-line profits how much

focused on bottom-line profits how much money can they make not necessarily

money can they make not necessarily

money can they make not necessarily focused on soil quality or continued

focused on soil quality or continued

focused on soil quality or continued years here we have some wonderful

years here we have some wonderful

years here we have some wonderful chickens free-range chickens this is a

chickens free-range chickens this is a

chickens free-range chickens this is a new term I’m pretty sure that granny

new term I’m pretty sure that granny

new term I’m pretty sure that granny Saunders back in the day the idea

Saunders back in the day the idea

Saunders back in the day the idea free-range chickens was completely you

free-range chickens was completely you

free-range chickens was completely you know was not in her vocabulary

know was not in her vocabulary

know was not in her vocabulary this is chickens in their natural state

this is chickens in their natural state

this is chickens in their natural state we have created chicken factories we

we have created chicken factories we

we have created chicken factories we have brought these birds inside put them

have brought these birds inside put them

have brought these birds inside put them in cages and have them give us eggs this

in cages and have them give us eggs this

in cages and have them give us eggs this is not a natural environment for them as

is not a natural environment for them as

is not a natural environment for them as soon as they stop laying there life is

soon as they stop laying there life is

soon as they stop laying there life is over unfortunately

so not only has our farms change the

so not only has our farms change the people producing our food has changed

people producing our food has changed

people producing our food has changed but it’s also the food actually has

but it’s also the food actually has

but it’s also the food actually has changed rather than having fruits and

changed rather than having fruits and

changed rather than having fruits and vegetables who are now more and more

vegetables who are now more and more

vegetables who are now more and more having processed food even some of the

having processed food even some of the

having processed food even some of the most simple things that you go and buy

most simple things that you go and buy

most simple things that you go and buy in the grocery store such as yogurt and

in the grocery store such as yogurt and

in the grocery store such as yogurt and you look at the ingredients list and we

you look at the ingredients list and we

you look at the ingredients list and we have up to 10 ingredients for one simple

have up to 10 ingredients for one simple

have up to 10 ingredients for one simple product and why is that could be many of

product and why is that could be many of

product and why is that could be many of the factors now faced with modern-day

the factors now faced with modern-day

the factors now faced with modern-day diseases and this really honestly scares

diseases and this really honestly scares

diseases and this really honestly scares me our food system has changed so much

me our food system has changed so much

me our food system has changed so much and how is it affecting us our health

and how is it affecting us our health

and how is it affecting us our health and our future generations so to prove

and our future generations so to prove

and our future generations so to prove this point I would like to have a little

this point I would like to have a little

this point I would like to have a little experiment so with somebody from the

experiment so with somebody from the

experiment so with somebody from the audience a student would like to come

audience a student would like to come

audience a student would like to come and join me up here for a few minutes I

and join me up here for a few minutes I

and join me up here for a few minutes I promise you won’t have to wear goggles

promise you won’t have to wear goggles

promise you won’t have to wear goggles quite quickly anybody please hello

quite quickly anybody please hello

quite quickly anybody please hello come on thank you

[Applause]

[Applause] you have a fantastic come on over here

you have a fantastic come on over here

you have a fantastic come on over here so we’re going to look at eggs because

so we’re going to look at eggs because

so we’re going to look at eggs because when you go to the grocery store and you

when you go to the grocery store and you

when you go to the grocery store and you buy eggs egg is an egg right does it

buy eggs egg is an egg right does it

buy eggs egg is an egg right does it really matter if it comes from organic

really matter if it comes from organic

really matter if it comes from organic chicken or an industrial farm let’s find

chicken or an industrial farm let’s find

chicken or an industrial farm let’s find it

it

it and let’s find out how the quality of

and let’s find out how the quality of

and let’s find out how the quality of our food has been changed so choose an

our food has been changed so choose an

our food has been changed so choose an egg one is from this grocery store and

egg one is from this grocery store and

egg one is from this grocery store and ones from my farm okay we’ll have a look

ones from my farm okay we’ll have a look

ones from my farm okay we’ll have a look we’re going to crack it open on the pan

there we go have a look now which one do

there we go have a look now which one do you think this is this is a grocery

you think this is this is a grocery

you think this is this is a grocery store okay thank you here I have a

store okay thank you here I have a

store okay thank you here I have a napkin actually for you and you can just

napkin actually for you and you can just

napkin actually for you and you can just put that there

put that there

put that there perfect okay and second egg

now what do you think pace year to be

now what do you think pace year to be almost so he’s saying this is the second

almost so he’s saying this is the second

almost so he’s saying this is the second one looks more natural and more tasty

one looks more natural and more tasty

one looks more natural and more tasty now how are we doing up there you can

now how are we doing up there you can

now how are we doing up there you can see that he is in fact right that this

see that he is in fact right that this

see that he is in fact right that this here this egg is from my house and this

here this egg is from my house and this

here this egg is from my house and this one here is from the grocery store and

one here is from the grocery store and

one here is from the grocery store and you can see the consistency in the egg

you can see the consistency in the egg

you can see the consistency in the egg white is the biggest giveaway is that it

white is the biggest giveaway is that it

white is the biggest giveaway is that it actually has some consistency whereas

actually has some consistency whereas

actually has some consistency whereas the egg white from the grocery store

the egg white from the grocery store

the egg white from the grocery store just completely dispersed

just completely dispersed

just completely dispersed this is how our foods changed you’ll

this is how our foods changed you’ll

this is how our foods changed you’ll notice that there’s not a lot of

notice that there’s not a lot of

notice that there’s not a lot of difference in the coloring and I was

difference in the coloring and I was

difference in the coloring and I was quite curious about this and I was

quite curious about this and I was

quite curious about this and I was talking to my husband I’m sorry let’s

talking to my husband I’m sorry let’s

talking to my husband I’m sorry let’s say you can go sit down thank you so

say you can go sit down thank you so

say you can go sit down thank you so much a great volunteer I was actually

much a great volunteer I was actually

much a great volunteer I was actually quite curious about this so you know why

quite curious about this so you know why

quite curious about this so you know why is the coloring still so saying and my

is the coloring still so saying and my

is the coloring still so saying and my husband was saying well you know it’s

husband was saying well you know it’s

husband was saying well you know it’s really amazing how they have changed the

really amazing how they have changed the

really amazing how they have changed the feeding and the chemicals to reproduce

feeding and the chemicals to reproduce

feeding and the chemicals to reproduce eggs that look like eggs so you know

eggs that look like eggs so you know

eggs that look like eggs so you know whatever the chicken to eat is also what

whatever the chicken to eat is also what

whatever the chicken to eat is also what we’re eating

we’re eating

we’re eating I was also absolutely amazed about the

I was also absolutely amazed about the

I was also absolutely amazed about the my little thing I’m so sorry

my little thing I’m so sorry

my little thing I’m so sorry I was also amazed about the taste in the

I was also amazed about the taste in the

I was also amazed about the taste in the eggs for me I have always in the last

eggs for me I have always in the last

eggs for me I have always in the last four years I’ve always eaten farm-fresh

four years I’ve always eaten farm-fresh

four years I’ve always eaten farm-fresh eggs and now for the first time I was

eggs and now for the first time I was

eggs and now for the first time I was eating store-bought egg and it tastes

eating store-bought egg and it tastes

eating store-bought egg and it tastes like nothing and I couldn’t believe this

like nothing and I couldn’t believe this

like nothing and I couldn’t believe this so our food is actually changing and the

so our food is actually changing and the

so our food is actually changing and the consequences of our food taking I don’t

consequences of our food taking I don’t

consequences of our food taking I don’t think we understand I haven’t always

think we understand I haven’t always

think we understand I haven’t always been interested in bio I haven’t always

been interested in bio I haven’t always

been interested in bio I haven’t always been interested in sustainability five

been interested in sustainability five

been interested in sustainability five years ago my husband and I moved to the

years ago my husband and I moved to the

years ago my husband and I moved to the Czech Republic and we overtook this farm

Czech Republic and we overtook this farm

Czech Republic and we overtook this farm and soon it became our passion our hobby

and soon it became our passion our hobby

and soon it became our passion our hobby and our everyday life we started this

and our everyday life we started this

and our everyday life we started this quest of trying to do everything

quest of trying to do everything

quest of trying to do everything ourselves

ourselves

ourselves we’ve had lots of fun on the way and we

we’ve had lots of fun on the way and we

we’ve had lots of fun on the way and we continue to enjoy it every year we add

continue to enjoy it every year we add

continue to enjoy it every year we add something new and every day we try

something new and every day we try

something new and every day we try something new

something new

something new some things don’t always work out I can

some things don’t always work out I can

some things don’t always work out I can tell you one story and my husband making

tell you one story and my husband making

tell you one story and my husband making blue cheese which he was then banned for

blue cheese which he was then banned for

blue cheese which he was then banned for a month of cheese making because my

a month of cheese making because my

a month of cheese making because my entire house smells like dirty feet so

entire house smells like dirty feet so

entire house smells like dirty feet so this did not go but bread apples

this did not go but bread apples

this did not go but bread apples vegetables eggs meat and milk are things

vegetables eggs meat and milk are things

vegetables eggs meat and milk are things that we produce on a daily basis as well

that we produce on a daily basis as well

that we produce on a daily basis as well as seasonally we do jams and lots of

as seasonally we do jams and lots of

as seasonally we do jams and lots of different things that are going on our

different things that are going on our

different things that are going on our food system on our farm is quite simple

food system on our farm is quite simple

food system on our farm is quite simple it’s a matter of walking to the garden

it’s a matter of walking to the garden

it’s a matter of walking to the garden finding out what is fresh picking it and

finding out what is fresh picking it and

finding out what is fresh picking it and bringing it home and cooking it no

bringing it home and cooking it no

bringing it home and cooking it no transportation required quite simple we

transportation required quite simple we

transportation required quite simple we enjoy this lifestyle so much that we’ve

enjoy this lifestyle so much that we’ve

enjoy this lifestyle so much that we’ve opened up our farm and we’ve had hundred

opened up our farm and we’ve had hundred

opened up our farm and we’ve had hundred students coming to enjoy and learning

students coming to enjoy and learning

students coming to enjoy and learning and gave me a part of the food system

and gave me a part of the food system

and gave me a part of the food system we’ve had them come in and get their

we’ve had them come in and get their

we’ve had them come in and get their hands dirty and try cooking preparing

hands dirty and try cooking preparing

hands dirty and try cooking preparing meat and learning about a more

meat and learning about a more

meat and learning about a more sustainable life not realizing that

sustainable life not realizing that

sustainable life not realizing that there’s actually meal time that goes

there’s actually meal time that goes

there’s actually meal time that goes into preparing meals and why is this

into preparing meals and why is this

into preparing meals and why is this maybe prior to this they’ve always got

maybe prior to this they’ve always got

maybe prior to this they’ve always got restaurants maybe their meals for he’s

restaurants maybe their meals for he’s

restaurants maybe their meals for he’s been prepared to them or maybe that’s

been prepared to them or maybe that’s

been prepared to them or maybe that’s processed food that they’re eating so

processed food that they’re eating so

processed food that they’re eating so understanding that what goes into

understanding that what goes into

understanding that what goes into actually making bread and how it’s done

often the big realization is that meat

often the big realization is that meat is an animal and the animal was once

is an animal and the animal was once

is an animal and the animal was once alive and that for us to eat animal the

alive and that for us to eat animal the

alive and that for us to eat animal the animal has to die and giving respect to

animal has to die and giving respect to

animal has to die and giving respect to this and valuing its life and also

this and valuing its life and also

this and valuing its life and also searching out better quality for us our

searching out better quality for us our

searching out better quality for us our students truly have a full-on hand on

students truly have a full-on hand on

students truly have a full-on hand on experience and coming to work with us

experience and coming to work with us

experience and coming to work with us they become one with the food system now

they become one with the food system now

they become one with the food system now here’s my daughter’s oh yeah our

here’s my daughter’s oh yeah our

here’s my daughter’s oh yeah our children teach us so much and

she is really something special to me

she is really something special to me I’m sorry oh she understands she

I’m sorry oh she understands she

I’m sorry oh she understands she understands something that I don’t even

understands something that I don’t even

understands something that I don’t even understand she understands something on

understand she understands something on

understand she understands something on a greater scale than most of these

a greater scale than most of these

a greater scale than most of these people in this room most people in this

people in this room most people in this

people in this room most people in this prog she has the magic she understands

prog she has the magic she understands

prog she has the magic she understands the beauty of how exciting it is to go

the beauty of how exciting it is to go

the beauty of how exciting it is to go and pick strawberries and to be at one

and pick strawberries and to be at one

and pick strawberries and to be at one with this and we’ve lost this as a

with this and we’ve lost this as a

with this and we’ve lost this as a society and this is what I’m scared

society and this is what I’m scared

society and this is what I’m scared about she has this passion for picking

about she has this passion for picking

about she has this passion for picking eggs for picking carrots and being a

eggs for picking carrots and being a

eggs for picking carrots and being a part of something that’s bigger than

part of something that’s bigger than

part of something that’s bigger than ourselves and we have lost this and I

ourselves and we have lost this and I

ourselves and we have lost this and I think until we get this back this desire

think until we get this back this desire

think until we get this back this desire to be at one with what we eat then I’m

to be at one with what we eat then I’m

to be at one with what we eat then I’m not sure where our food system is going

not sure where our food system is going

not sure where our food system is going to go so I challenge you to be like my

to go so I challenge you to be like my

to go so I challenge you to be like my daughter’s olya and to go and be a part

daughter’s olya and to go and be a part

daughter’s olya and to go and be a part of yours food system to bring back the

of yours food system to bring back the

of yours food system to bring back the magic into it to bring back the

magic into it to bring back the

magic into it to bring back the inspiring our world is beautiful

inspiring our world is beautiful

inspiring our world is beautiful wonderful place so I challenge you to go

wonderful place so I challenge you to go

wonderful place so I challenge you to go and eat locally to support local farmers

and eat locally to support local farmers

and eat locally to support local farmers to take a course try making something

to take a course try making something

to take a course try making something new to go forwarding but most of all to

new to go forwarding but most of all to

new to go forwarding but most of all to go and participate and to go and get

go and participate and to go and get

go and participate and to go and get your hands dirty so thank you very much

your hands dirty so thank you very much

your hands dirty so thank you very much [Applause]