No Nasties!

I spent today doing a fun little photo shoot for an awesome organic, fair-trade t-shirt company called No Nasties.  IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!  I'm generally the girl behind the camera, so it was fun to be the one being photographed for a change...I was even attacked by a goat!

I confess that the fair-trade and organic movement is something I have been aware of for a while, and it was always a lifestyle that I admired but - like many people - looked forward to living when I was "grown up" and could afford it.   When I first came to India in 2010, however, I worked with academic programs at an NGO and the opportunities I had with them allowed me to experience firsthand the importance of organic and fair trade food and products. I researched farmer suicides on the ground in Kerala and interacted with child labourers in northern Karnataka.  I spent a day on an incredible organic farm with an amazing man who has been fighting against multinational seed companies for the majority of his life.  These experiences made the movement personal; I was led to do more research and to learn even more about why fair trade and organic is the best route for me, the land, the animals, the farmers, and - last but certainly not least - the people involved in production.  While I can't say that I live a completely fair-trade, green, and clean life, I do my best to make informed decisions about the food I buy, the products I use, and the clothes I wear.

Here's my challenge to you: explore organic and fair-trade for yourself!  No Nasties does a great job of telling the story behind the importance of organic and fair trade and how you can help.

And here's my shameless plug: if you're into ethical fashion, check out No Nasties.  If you're not into ethical fashion but you're into t-shirts, check out No Nasties.  You just might find yourself into ethical fashion quite soon :)  Are they asking me to do this? No way, Jose.  I just love companies like No Nasties that are passionate about what they do, passionate about people, passionate about making change...and passionate about cute clothes!  

Let's Move to an Organic Farm and Grow Pineapples

This was the day we had all been waiting for.
The day that we visited Roshen [my supervisor]’s idol,
A man who owns only 2 shirts.
Now, that may be legend, it may be lore.
But none of us can deny that we left our field visit
To this sustainable, organic farm
Wanting (a) to grow our own food and (b) to live simply.
We also left with the same awe-rendering feelings as Roshen.
This man, who has been barely educated by Western standards
(although he has beeng ranted an honorary Ph.D),
Was the second organic farmer in India (1962)
And has since been one of the most innovative.
Monsanto offered him 2 million Rupees
If he would endorse BT Cotton in India
(a genetically modified seed – google the documentary “the world according to Monsanto),
but he refused because he knew
the injustice that it would do to his fellow farmers, the consumers, and to the land.
Oh man.
His farm was so lush
And so beautiful
And so productive,
And only himself, his wife, and his son work it.
Did I mention that he is 75?
Although he has the means, he has chosen not to buy machinery
And uses his bike instead of a tractor…
He has time, and he likes riding his bike.
Why not enjoy your work?
Plus, by biking and working the land with your hands, your feet (he was barefoot the entire time we were with him),
I imagine that you are so much more connected to the earth
And it is something not that you use, but that you work with.
Which I like ☺
And then his wife served us lunch
Made completely from what was grown on the farm.

Seriously, I think that food just tastes better

when it is fresh, whole, and prepared by hand

[and eaten by hand, for that matter]
Yum.
My tongue can’t forget the taste of fresh basil:
I probably could have eaten nothing more today
and been satisfied if only that taste had lingered forever.