| |
In the Spirit of Gathering
by Stephen Cochrane
Apparently, the word 'potluck' originated in 1592, a time
when explorers were making first contact with the native people
on newly discovered continents who used the word potlatch.
According to Concord Magazine in the colonial years you sometimes
ate as follows "potluck - what was available, not knowing
for sure what you might receive." Had you visited a home
or tavern 225 years ago and the cook not had the chance to
prepare a proper meal, you would have eaten whatever was in
the oven pot... taken a chance... taken pot luck." How
much better we are today to have raw food potlucks. We are
breaking into new territory and the more people exploring
the new improved version of "potluck" the better.
What is a raw potluck? According to one unofficial
source it is a  smorgasbord
of systemic succulence and dynamic delicacies! Having been
to lots of them I can only concur. And there are so many benefits
besides the opportunity to eat good tasting food that is actually
healthy. Just the ideas of what can actually be made from
raw plant based foods is amazing. The creativity of the food
preparations is inspiring.
Raw food potlucks are great for introducing new people to
the raw food culture, good for keeping those in transition
to better eating habits on track, a good place for people
to socialize, network, share ideas, and contribute to making
society a better place in which to live. Or in the words of
the Raw Food Society of BC's Mission Statement "To inform
about the benefits of a raw, unprocessed plant-based diet
and offer support as people make healthy choices in that direction."
If writing this were to serve no other function than to remind
me of how fortunate I am to live in a community where the
benefits of a regular raw food potluck can be experienced,
then it is an exercise of worth. However, I hope that it will
be far more than that. We know that working together pragmatically
we can significantly advance the raw food potluck phenomena
by helping potlucks become a widespread occurrence throughout
BC this can even be considered a call to action. There are
so many unfortunate people that just don't know about the
benefits of raw food yet. Let's help show them a better way.
Is not helping others a help to all, including those of us
who already know?
Here in BC we anticipate moving into a season prime for raw
food potlucking with fresh local food coming to market and
weather more conducive to outdoor gatherings in pleasant places.
And, I believe we are moving into a prime time to turn many
onto the benefits of raw food through the action of "potlucks".
Yours for health,
Stephen Cochrane
Raw and Living Food Articles and Links to Articles:
On Site Articles:
Raw Health
Fruits, Roots, Stems, Greens, Flowers, and Nuts
Growing Food
Lifestyle
Off Site Articles:
Raw Health
Fasting and Cleanses
Growing Food
Misc.
Free Books Online:
- Soil and
Health Library - This is a specialist library about holistic agriculture,
holistic health and self-sufficient homestead living. Most of the titles in
this library are out of print. Many are quite hard to find. Here are a few
by Shelton:
|
|
