As I write, the late February wind chill temperature hovers at 20 degrees, with the winter wind blistering everything in its path. Working in my little backyard garden plot would be the last thing on my mind… except several mornings this week I heard a hearty songbird announcing spring.

As I dug into reading this month’s Food and Garden issue, I committed to make this issue a statement to conscious eating. Building on the historic wisdom of the many benefits of a nutritious diet, our experts share how to make urban gardening work in small spaces, create an herbal kitchen, eat for a healthy brain and grab healthier on-the-go snacks for children.

Joe Dunne, a fellow Natural Awakenings publisher in Central New Jersey, inspired me to reconnect with Netflix and watch the latest thought provoking films documenting issues related to America’s modern food supply. I highly recommend Food Matters, Forks Over Knives, FrankenSteer, Food Fight, Fresh and Ingredients, which explain why so many Americans are unhealthy. 

We learn that the foods mainstream America eats is a foundational culprit behind upward trends in chronic diseases. There is no room for debate; changing our diet is the fastest and most effective form of health care. It is up to us to educate ourselves and demand healthy, chemical free and non-GMO (genetically modified organisms) food for our families. 

It may seem difficult to keep meals wholesome when the majority of processed foodstuffs we find in supermarkets are tainted with ingredients known to rob our bodies of vital energy and good health. Would you believe that this is not an accidental or innocent phenomenon? “Better living through chemicals” in food is killing us and many of the iconic branded companies we grew up trusting are feeding loyal customers poisons in the name of profit. 

Fortunately, Lehigh Valley residents have a wealth of knowledgeable people to turn to that can help us break out of America’s junk food cycle and put us on the path to wellness. The health food stores and farmers’ markets that support this magazine are a good place to start. There, well-informed staff versed in “clean” eating will guide you to local and other food producers that have customers’ best interests at heart. To customize a healthy diet suited to your needs, turn to our local Community Resource Guide for practitioners trained to help you optimize your health. At the same time, why not take back control of your food by growing more of your own chemical-free produce, bartering with neighboring gardeners or joining a community supported agriculture co-op?

On page 17, we introduce you to Dave Conrardy, a truck driver who turned his life around by switching to pure raw foods and lost more than 200 pounds. You can learn more from his presentation at 6 p.m. on March 28 at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, in New Hope. I look forward to seeing you there.

We are what we eat and we freely enjoy our food even more when we know and trust the source. 

To your health, Reid Boyer, Publisher