Before and after Science

It's remarkable how many things are done in the worst possible way that ignores ancient natural cycles.

Take lawns.  They need water which is scarce, and power mowing which consumes fuel.  Then you can't just let the leaves lie as they do on the forest ground. No, they go to the dump.  And some lawns need weed killer and other chemicals, that end up contaminating the ground water.  Contrast this with a forest or a rock garden.


Take ethanol, one of the worst ideas ever.  It results in less food, impoverishes 3rd world farmers, raises food prices for the very poorest, uses water and fuel, pollutes, hurts your car.

The way we produce and distribute food is equally un-natural.  And so goes our entire society.  We irrigate the desert, air-condition metal boxes, live far from work, become dependent on fossil fuels, etc.

We all knew these things, but perhaps were unaware of the the overall pattern, which is quite disturbing.

Third World Food

It's been known for a long time that western (i.e. American) diets cause a decline in health.  Native peoples that move up in the world tend to start eating bad food as soon as they can afford it.

In a reverse of this trend, I am eating on the beach in Mexico.   I have no cans with me, and no freezer to speak of.  We are potlucking vanagons, consuming local fish, crab, avocados, corn, tortillas, salsa, fruit, broccoli, and other native ingredients.

Things are changing, but many of the food providers cannot afford unhealthy western food practices.  I saw chickens crossing the dirt street, and cows wandering the desert foraging.  One would hope that the fruits and veggies are raised more naturally than in the US.