It's been 3 weeks since I started my no GMO eating drive and organic shopping. I haven't stepped into a mall once, until today.
First stop, Bryanston Organic Market. The only place I shop now as there is very little I can't get there. When you go to a market, you don't just go in, buy and get out. The journey includes lingering over stalls, tasting new produce, chatting to the stall owners, comparing notes with other visitors, sharing ideas. I've learnt all kinds of things about recycling, cheeses, breads and flour, vegetables, seeds, chickens, goats, toothpastes, creams, smoothies, you name it. You're outside all the time getting some sun on your skin, a breeze on your face. You're surrounded by plants and trees. People bring their little doggies for a walk who all love to be patted; the dogs, not the owners ;-). It's very relaxed and everyone is friendly, courteous and mindful of getting in each other's way. You don't need to whip out money at every stall, just gather your slips and pay at the end. Each stall owner is happy to store your stuff while you go about your business. Even though the actual shopping took about 15 minutes, I spent a full hour there catching up with people I only met 3 weeks ago. I love the atmosphere in the place, there's good energy you know? There is not one bit of advertising for junk / plastic food and products. I'm always smiling and singing on the way home from BOM, (my nickname for it, Bryanston Organic Market is just too long). What's not to like?
First stop, Bryanston Organic Market. The only place I shop now as there is very little I can't get there. When you go to a market, you don't just go in, buy and get out. The journey includes lingering over stalls, tasting new produce, chatting to the stall owners, comparing notes with other visitors, sharing ideas. I've learnt all kinds of things about recycling, cheeses, breads and flour, vegetables, seeds, chickens, goats, toothpastes, creams, smoothies, you name it. You're outside all the time getting some sun on your skin, a breeze on your face. You're surrounded by plants and trees. People bring their little doggies for a walk who all love to be patted; the dogs, not the owners ;-). It's very relaxed and everyone is friendly, courteous and mindful of getting in each other's way. You don't need to whip out money at every stall, just gather your slips and pay at the end. Each stall owner is happy to store your stuff while you go about your business. Even though the actual shopping took about 15 minutes, I spent a full hour there catching up with people I only met 3 weeks ago. I love the atmosphere in the place, there's good energy you know? There is not one bit of advertising for junk / plastic food and products. I'm always smiling and singing on the way home from BOM, (my nickname for it, Bryanston Organic Market is just too long). What's not to like?
Next stop, Checkers in Northgate Mall. And this is where the culture shock hit. Why did I live like this for so long?? Walking through the mall you're surrounded by hassled mothers, bored fathers, irritable kids all stomping their way past you doing their best to avoid all contact with anyone near them. I know, I've been doing this my whole life too. Walk into Checkers and the first thing you see is this :
I actually just felt ill. I totally reject all the commercialism of all these "days" and this just reminded me why. The whole thing just made me feel sad and angry at the same time. Why won't people wake up?? We don't have to live like this. I decided to come here for some goodies suggested by the 10 Day Real Food Pledge like wholewheat flour, one ingredient peanut butter, etc. First step, read every single label before I buy anything. I refuse to buy anything anymore that is genetically modified or that is full of chemicals. The pledge says never buy anything that has more than 5 ingredients. I had a list of 25 items to get - and came home with 3. All the rest - all of them - were packed full of chemicals. Where is the food? The one thing I was glad to see was labelling appearing mentioning GM potential. Don't be fooled, "may" means "does".
All it means is another trip back to BOM for me. You can truly amaze yourself if you want to. But how many people want to?
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