{"id":2487,"date":"2020-03-30T12:11:44","date_gmt":"2020-03-30T19:11:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/?p=2487"},"modified":"2020-03-30T12:11:44","modified_gmt":"2020-03-30T19:11:44","slug":"overcoming-fear-of-food","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/2020\/03\/overcoming-fear-of-food\/","title":{"rendered":"Overcoming Fear Of Food"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/asiangreens.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-attachment-id=\"990\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/2013\/03\/enjoying-asian-vegetables\/asiangreens\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/asiangreens.jpg?fit=300%2C211&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"300,211\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"asian greens\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/asiangreens.jpg?fit=300%2C211&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/asiangreens.jpg?fit=300%2C211&amp;ssl=1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-990\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/asiangreens.jpg?resize=300%2C211&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"211\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Grow Greens For Peace Of Mind<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI never thought I\u2019d be afraid of my groceries\u201d, one friend recently posted. She\u2019s definitely not alone; I\u2019ve been dismayed to hear neighbors talk (or mostly text) about how they\u2019re dealing with their own groceries these days. Washing, scrubbing, wiping down packaging, bathing produce in bleach water\u2026. Such measures may be wise but can be taken too far. Another friend recently said sadly that her cabbage salad tasted a bit medicinal after being soaked in soapy water, then a dilute bleach solution. Whoa there! I\u2019ve seen the same videos you have, of doctors demonstrating their clean room technique on fruits and vegetables. But I\u2019ve also seen this interview (see below) with Dr. Fauci and Trevor Noah and I\u2019m definitely putting more trust in the words of one of the the world\u2019s leading (and up to the minute informed) experts on infectious diseases<br \/>\nthan in random media posts, however well intentioned.<\/p>\n<p>Posted March 26: Dr Fauci answers important questions in about 15 minutes. Wow!<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8A3jiM2FNR8?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Do Not Be Afraid<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Fear mongering is always popular on social media, because our human brains are hard wired to follow up on perceived threats. It\u2019s certainly good to stay informed, but it\u2019s also vitally important that we not allow our fearful lower selves to get sucked into obsessive information seeking (ask me how I know). There\u2019s some excellent information and advice online, but there\u2019s also a lot of absurd and even dangerous crap going around, some of which purports to be from leading universities or experts but are actually junk.<\/p>\n<p>When I realize that I\u2019ve lost way too much time to the internet, I\u2019m making a point of going outside and breathing. Whether I\u2019ve got the juice for a brisk walk or can only manage a leisurely stroll around the block, I always feel less flustered and more centered after some fresh air and exercise, however mild.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Productivity Is Not Important<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One of the hardest parts of our prolonged home stay is feeling that I\u2019m not being productive. Thinking of millions of people working so hard to keep us fed and safe and alive makes me feel like a total &#8220;useless mouth&#8221; (though I&#8217;m not signing up to die for the economy, thanks all the same). Quite a few people have shared similar feelings, and some confess to feeling steeped in shame for not using the time to write a novel or at least clean the bathroom. Personally, I&#8217;ve been feeling zoned out, stunned into immobility. For weeks, I wondered if I were simply burned out into apathy until something would break through and I\u2019d find myself weeping with all my heart. How can we bear the weight of the world\u2019s suffering? How can we bear the depth of human depravity not to mention stupidity? Well, we can\u2019t. And that&#8217;s just fine, for now.\u00a0 I&#8217;ve been reading this comforting, tender and tough minded little essay-ette from YES Magazine over and over for the past few days:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"bPEv61vcUl\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yesmagazine.org\/opinion\/2020\/03\/24\/coronavirus-prayer-anxiety\">An Anarchist Quaker\u2019s Prayer to Soothe Anxiety<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" src=\"https:\/\/www.yesmagazine.org\/opinion\/2020\/03\/24\/coronavirus-prayer-anxiety\/embed\/#?secret=bPEv61vcUl\" data-secret=\"bPEv61vcUl\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;An Anarchist Quaker\u2019s Prayer to Soothe Anxiety&#8221; &#8212; Yes! Magazine\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Grow Grow Grow Your Own<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, just stop looking at all those videos about food handling. Making us afraid of food is unconscionable, especially in such stressful times, when food is considered one of the greatest comforts for most people. Relax! It still can be and should be, since according to the latest information from the Centers For Disease Control, <strong>\u201cThere is currently no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with food.\u201d<\/strong> See below for more information on access to food, fresh food handling, and food safety during the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>For now, if you find yourself slipping into food fear (or any other kind, really), put down your device, go outside and plant some greens. Really. You\u2019ll feel better almost immediately and you\u2019ll certainly eat better with lots of fresh greens on hand that don\u2019t need any more decontamination than a swish in cool water and a quick spin dry. Fortunately, nurseries that grow and sell edible plants have been recognized as essential (well duh) so plants and starts are still available. Some nurseries are offering free local delivery, others are letting people call in and pay for orders, then drive through the parking lot for pick up. Take advantage of local options for everyone&#8217;s sake (we may save an industry as well as our sanity).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sunshine And Lettuce<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This morning, I\u2019m taking comfort in transplanting young lettuces and kale, and in gleaning the first tiny radishes and baby carrots while thinning crowded pots. We\u2019ve been eating kale daily all winter, and after I pinched back the side shoots (awesome in salads and stir fries) a few weeks ago, our matronly plants are producing new growth already. There have been a few pleasant hours amid the drizzle lately so I dragged a couple of metal chairs into the sunny gravel pad where in former times visitors used to park. Sigh. Anyway, now I can take a break from weeding and chat comfortably with a passing neighbor, who can safely join me (ten feet away) for a few minutes of shared peace. May peace be with you all!<\/p>\n<p><strong>More info:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/foodsafety\/newsletter\/food-safety-and-Coronavirus.html<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>For<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>https:\/\/www.usda.gov\/coronavirus<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For now, if you find yourself slipping into food fear (or any other kind, really), put down your device, go outside and plant some greens. Really. You\u2019ll feel better almost immediately and you\u2019ll certainly eat better with lots of fresh greens on hand that don\u2019t need any more decontamination than a swish in cool water and a quick spin dry. Fortunately, nurseries that grow and sell edible plants have been recognized as essential (well duh) so plants and starts are still available. Some nurseries are offering free local delivery, others are letting people call in and pay for orders, then drive through the parking lot for pick up. Take advantage of local options for everyone&#8217;s sake (we may save an industry as well as our sanity). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/2020\/03\/overcoming-fear-of-food\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[1884,1142,1153,1479,130,182],"tags":[2025,2027,2023,2024,2026,2011],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1lB7f-E7","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2487"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2487"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2487\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2489,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2487\/revisions\/2489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2487"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2487"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2487"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}