When I think of “Amber waves of grain” I am reminded of my childhood and the large Midwestern farm where I grew up. The Midwest is nicknamed America’s bread basket because it produces the majority of America’s food for consumption. The Midwestern farms that I remember as a child are changing. Now instead of staples like wheat, corn, and soybeans, genetically modified (GMO) crops are produced for human and animal consumption. Currently, there are genetically modified forms of rice, corn, alfalfa, sugar beets, and potatoes. The list of genetically modifies foods is increasing. The use of genetically modified foods became widespread in the 1990’s. The proponents of GMOs claim they are a new form of crops which are easier to grow, and drought and insect resistant. GMO crops are planted in Canada, America and developing third- world countries. The change sounds positive on the surface but is it for the better? In the United States and Europe, there is a public outcry against GMO products. Genetically modified foods are illegal in Europe. In the United States, genetically modified crops are here to stay despite public protests. Thankfully there are small groups of organic farmers who still grow non- genetically modified crops. To me there is something alien and even Un- American about the idea that most of the foods grown in the USA will one day be genetically modified. It reminds me of attack of the mutant tomatoes or some other awful B grade horror movie. Even organic farmers are saying their crops are being affected by pollen from genetically modified crops. In time, even organic non- genetically modified organic produce may have similarities to GMO crops due to cross pollination.
I believe the introduction of genetically modified food is altering the fabric of rural American life.
I spent much of my youth on a farm in the rural Midwest. When I was young, I remember planting corn every year, watching it grow and helping with the harvest. My life revolved around planting and harvest. I developed an appreciation and respect for the land. On our land and neighboring farms, there were acres of green, verdant fields of corn, soybeans, wheat, tomatoes, strawberries, melons, and squash. As a child, I enjoyed playing in the tall, green, rows of corn near my house. I learned to plant seeds and watch them grow at a young age. Grandma taught me how to plant a garden when I was five years old. I would carefully start the seeds in seedling trays, hold the tiny round seeds in my small hands and place them into the soil. Every day, I would carefully check them poking my finger into the soil to make sure it was not too dry or wet. When the small green sprouts appeared, I would transfer the young plants to the garden, carefully digging in the rich, brown soil and planting each one. I spent hours on my hands and knees weeding the garden and watching for pests. I enjoyed watching the young plants push their tender green shoots out of the dirt and reach towards the blue sky. After harvest, I would carefully collect the seeds and put them in a small round airtight jar for next year. I called them my heirloom seeds. Like my grandparents before me, I planted and grew my own food. There is something life affirming about planting vegetable seeds in the ground and watching them grow. Gardening teaches children to be responsible, and work in partnership with nature. As a youth, I was proud of being able to grow my own food. I also felt confident that mother earth would provide for me as she had provided for my family for, multiple generations. Today, I am becoming health conscious. I worry about the health affects of GMOs. I am always surprised by the number of people who have developed food allergies within the last 10 years. I wonder if their food allergies and other medical problems have something to do with genetically modified foods. When I shop today, I take the extra time to visit the community’s farmers markets and health food stores and look for local, organic produce. It is more expensive, but I believe that eating healthier foods will help me to live longer. When I go grocery shopping, I spend an additional 20 minutes carefully reading the label to ensure a product is free from GMOs, is organic, pesticide, and cruelty free. Before the advent of technological innovations like growth hormones and GMOs, I was less concerned about the food I ate or fed my family. I am certain that other people are making the switch to organic non genetically modified produce because of the overwhelming number of health food grocery stores in my small town. Eating organic non genetically modified foods may be more expensive, but I believe my health is worth the extra expense.
I believe the introduction of genetically modified food is altering the fabric of rural American life.
I spent much of my youth on a farm in the rural Midwest. When I was young, I remember planting corn every year, watching it grow and helping with the harvest. My life revolved around planting and harvest. I developed an appreciation and respect for the land. On our land and neighboring farms, there were acres of green, verdant fields of corn, soybeans, wheat, tomatoes, strawberries, melons, and squash. As a child, I enjoyed playing in the tall, green, rows of corn near my house. I learned to plant seeds and watch them grow at a young age. Grandma taught me how to plant a garden when I was five years old. I would carefully start the seeds in seedling trays, hold the tiny round seeds in my small hands and place them into the soil. Every day, I would carefully check them poking my finger into the soil to make sure it was not too dry or wet. When the small green sprouts appeared, I would transfer the young plants to the garden, carefully digging in the rich, brown soil and planting each one. I spent hours on my hands and knees weeding the garden and watching for pests. I enjoyed watching the young plants push their tender green shoots out of the dirt and reach towards the blue sky. After harvest, I would carefully collect the seeds and put them in a small round airtight jar for next year. I called them my heirloom seeds. Like my grandparents before me, I planted and grew my own food. There is something life affirming about planting vegetable seeds in the ground and watching them grow. Gardening teaches children to be responsible, and work in partnership with nature. As a youth, I was proud of being able to grow my own food. I also felt confident that mother earth would provide for me as she had provided for my family for, multiple generations. Today, I am becoming health conscious. I worry about the health affects of GMOs. I am always surprised by the number of people who have developed food allergies within the last 10 years. I wonder if their food allergies and other medical problems have something to do with genetically modified foods. When I shop today, I take the extra time to visit the community’s farmers markets and health food stores and look for local, organic produce. It is more expensive, but I believe that eating healthier foods will help me to live longer. When I go grocery shopping, I spend an additional 20 minutes carefully reading the label to ensure a product is free from GMOs, is organic, pesticide, and cruelty free. Before the advent of technological innovations like growth hormones and GMOs, I was less concerned about the food I ate or fed my family. I am certain that other people are making the switch to organic non genetically modified produce because of the overwhelming number of health food grocery stores in my small town. Eating organic non genetically modified foods may be more expensive, but I believe my health is worth the extra expense.
