conscious consumption 181
people were committed to a holy work, a mitzvah - fi lled career. The
attendees seemed akin to what I imagine members of the early
church were like: they were excited to help and share with one
another, everything from their time to their tractors!
The farmer who received the grandest award was the one who
had saved his family farm from bankruptcy and had turned the cor-
ner in his efforts to co - create a sustainable agricultural endeavor.
I realized that the local organic movement, a key wake - up call to
save our food supply and global resources (land, water, air quality),
mirrored our nation ’s need to heal at the root other major health
issues, such as dealing with epidemics of chronic disease. This
intensive weekend experience, fi lled with new information and
fueled by feelings that regenerated me in the core of my being,
sent us back home with a fresh passion and enthusiasm for the
many ways we could walk our talk.
We returned to the Rice Diet Program and shared our expe-
rience with my husband, Bob, who was simultaneously being
energized by Michael Pollan ’ s The Omnivore ’ s Dilemma and Jane
Goodall ’ s The Harvest of Hope. We quickly committed to buying
and serving as much organic food as our seasonal and geographi-
cal priorities would allow. Ricers who had previously never tried
organic foods were raving about them. Soon thereafter, we were
vermi - composting vegetarian scraps from our kitchen, showing
the fi lm The Future of Food monthly, and sharing the latest knowl-
edge that our farmer friends had imparted to us.
Due in part to this inspiring information, Bob has lost more
than forty pounds, attaining his optimal weight for the fi rst time in
more than twenty years. I believe that a more important reason he
succeeded in achieving his desired weight this time, compared to
the dozens of earlier times when he did not, can be traced to two
deeper motives.
I believe Bob ’ s passion to pursue his goal weight was ignited
one Sunday night several years ago when our ten - year - old ’ s words
of wisdom left him speechless. After Bob wallowed in his frustra-
tion and regret about another weekend of overeating good Italian
food and overdrinking red wine, he promised himself that he was