A few months ago, we read an article about the latest government recommendation of what we should eat. It was suggested that we fill ½ of our plate with fruits and vegetables. What they failed to mention is that modern fruit is very high in sugar, has lost a lot of the phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, and disease preventing substances that our fruits once had, and that they are saturated in chemicals that are known to cause disease. Conventional fruit today is mostly grown in dead soil thanks to chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides, and lacks flavor more and more.

Native or wild fruits contain more phytonutrients (plant nutrients), and these are known to decrease the risk of diabetes, dementia, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. They are also high in salvestrol compounds that are anti-cancer. These salvestrol compounds are only present in ripe, just picked fruit or vegetables. Think of how many fruits and vegetables are picked before they are ripe and how some are even sprayed with chemicals to ripen them upon delivery. The best way to get our nutrients from fruit is to grow these heirloom fruits or find a local farmer with good practices that will pick the fruit ripe and fresh. Buying organic is the next best thing, but it’s hard to find the quality, variety, or fruit that is actually picked ripe.

One of my favorite fruits that we grow on our farm is peaches. I started these from the seeds of the best tasting peaches I had ever tried. Unfortunately, you usually can’t do this, since most fruit today that you purchase is hybridized and won’t be the same if you plant the seeds. The tree that I picked the fruit from had been there for as long as my friend, an older lady, could remember. I didn’t like peaches before trying these, because everyone boasted about Colorado peaches, but I never thought they had any flavor. I assumed that was as good as it got. I love our peaches, especially since they are juicy and full of flavor. Since they aren’t hybridized, I assume that they probably contain more benefits. I have shared these trees and peaches with others and they too thought they were they were really good. I share this story, because I want you to know that heirloom fruit, grown in good soil, can have flavor without containing so much sugar.

Other fruits that we are experimenting with on the farm are heirloom kiwis, paw paws, plums, apples, and several more varieties that we look forward to trying. My goal when I grow fruit is for flavor, hardiness, and nutrients. Unfortunately, in todays market we are seeking bigger (for easier harvestability), higher sugar content, and greater yield rather than quality and flavor.

Thankfully we still have open pollinated seeds available that are more nutrient dense and more digestible. Sadly, we are losing some all the time. On our farm we plant as many open pollinated (true to seed and one can save the seed and use it every year) plants as possible, use beyond organic methods to feed our fruits, pick them when they are ripe, and freeze, dry, or can to last throughout the year. At this time we are growing all of our fruit to last a year (except the Aronia berries that we buy from a local farm). This is a huge savings.

Many people have a can with several varieties of heirloom seeds sitting in their freezer (just in case), and thinking they will pull them out if a need arises. If you are one of those people and have never grown food, I want to gently tell you that it takes several months to harvest anything from a seed, and there’s a pretty steep learning curve to growing food (at least there was for us). It also took us time to get the discipline that is required to have a successful garden. Throw out that old statement, “If it can’t be done well, don’t do it at all.” Don’t expect perfection if you are new to growing food. Today is the day! You can do this!

As I said last week the price of everything is rising, chronic health conditions are increasing, and it’s hard to trust most people in power, but there’s something about growing some food, getting back in our kitchens, and observing the Lord’s bounty that can give us a sense of peace and accomplishment. Imagine what would happen if we get rid of the distractions, begin growing and preparing food, and start having amazing conversations with our family, friends, and strangers as we enjoy our bounty at the dinner table. One book I highly recommend for peace during this difficult time is the Bible. I also recommend Jo Robinson’s book, Eating on the Wild Side, if you would like to learn more on the subject of wild plants.

Do you grow fruits? We love to hear from you!

Our family has learned to slow down, make careful observations of what heals/damages, get rid of the distractions, take a little more time preparing our food, and most importantly to seek the Lord’s wisdom. It’s a daily struggle and it never goes perfectly, but we just keep trying to do the best we can. If you are working toward a more traditional, clean, whole foods diet, and would like to take small steps to get there, then you are at the right place. Week one was get your salt right, week 2 was get your sleep right, weeks 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 were get your fats right, we had several weeks about seasonings and herbs, some important discussion about natural sweeteners, talked about Forgiveness, hopefully we got our eggs right, learned about the benefits of pastured, clean meats, considered getting mercury removed, we got the toxins out of our mouth, skin, and hair, made some changes in our cleaning routines, we talked about raw milk, learned about vegetables, and this week we are talking about old fashioned fruits. Join us next Tuesday for Get Your . . . Right.