What started as a socially conscious movement, has now branched out as a way of life. Marked by the buzzworthy concept of directly and sustainably sourcing your food, the idea of farm-to-table is no longer forward-thinking — it’s just thinking.
Over the years, various forms of farmhouse-based movements have made waves across social classes. Now, being conscious of where your food and products come from is an everyday occurrence. Being mindful is a mark of the new age.
Awareness of what you put in your body is just as important as what you put on your body. That’s why when it comes to your skin (the largest organ in your body), you can’t afford to lose sight of these practices.
Follow along as we dive into the history of farm-to movements and highlight a group in particular that is just doing things right.
As we mentioned earlier, the idea of farm-to-table has been around for decades. Initially receiving its time in the spotlight because of Chef Alice Waters, and her farm-to-table restaurant, Chez Panisse.
Chez Panisse was opened in 1971 in the heart of California. Chef Alice drew inspiration for the restaurant and concept due to her time in France.
Through her time there, she was enamored with the simplicity and honesty the French took to cooking. Using local, in-season ingredients, thoughtfully prepared to highlight the region’s flavor profiles. This idea is exactly what Chef Alice aimed to bring to the Californian restaurant scene.
Out were the days of frozen TV dinners and in came a new place to gather, filled with good food and good company. Sparked by the will to create a community around food, Chef Alice and her team spent time creating that community among the local farmers of the region. This, in turn, put the freshest ingredients and recipes on the plates of hungry locals.
What started with small, organic fruit and vegetable farmers, has now grown into a network of local, ethical suppliers. Along with that, the movement that was once a provincial endeavor has now spread over many regions to be a way of life.
As a nation, the US has continued this trend, focusing on the health and wellness aspects that come from this way of thinking. Locally and ethically sourced ingredients not only benefit the immediate regions in which they serve but also have lasting impacts on community wellness.
Let’s take a deeper dive into where the movement has spread now.
Simple Ideas With a Big Impact
The original concept of farm-to-table restaurants is simple. By taking locally sourced ingredients and utilizing them in their best form, groups have been able to highlight their natural flavor and beauty. Through this simplistic foundation, communities have been able to grow, and new additions to these principles have been able to flourish.
So, you may be asking yourself, where is the movement now?
What once was a simple idea, has now become a pillar of thinking in today’s age. Below are some of the factors that have stayed steadfast through the farm-based movement.
A main driving force in the continued movement of farm-to-anything has been our environmental accountability as a society. Mainly regarding the carbon footprint and sustainability.
By taking a step back and evaluating how the choices we make affect our environment, we’ve been able to take the right steps in the right direction.
Sourcing ingredients from small-crop farmers and utilizing sustainable, natural products is aiming to reduce emissions and non-biodegradable pollutants in our lives.
Another driving force continuing this movement stems from health and wellness.
Have you ever picked up a common product in your household and been baffled at the ingredient list on the back?
Or glanced at products on the shelf, unable to pronounce half of what’s in it?
If you answered ‘yes’ to either of those, you’re not alone.
As a society, we’ve grown to be more conscious of what we’re putting in and on our bodies. Realizing the harmful effects that can come from over-processed foods and completely synthetic products, we crave to seek out natural solutions we can trust.
Many times, less processed foods contain more nutrients readily available to be absorbed by our bodies. The same goes for natural products, such as skincare or supplements.
By seeking out organically grown, whole foods and products, you too can make a positive impact on your health.
As you’ve seen through the foundation of Chez Panisse, another key contributor to the farm-centered movement is community.
By building an institution around simple, in-season recipes, Chez Panisse was able to create a lasting impact within their existing Californian community. They not only provided the local farmers with a platform to educate and showcase their products but also created a central hub for the group to gather. The individuals living in the area then spent money that would directly go back into their community.
This concept can be seen replicated in other communities housed on the same principles.
The key to a strong community falls on a variety of factors, but most importantly in this sense, inclusivity and engagement.
Incorporating local farmers and businesses is the foundation for engaging community members and encouraging revenue to stay within the locality of the group.
Supporting local businesses allows the vendors to grow their business (potentially opening up jobs and sources of income) and also allows the community to give back (spending their earned money back into the local economy). This lifecycle of participation can then grow and multiply.
As we mentioned earlier, this foundational plan has been applied to other farm-based, sustainable areas. It has moved past what we consume and moved into more natural products for our health and wellness.
We want to highlight a specific group that has taken the heart of these ideals and transformed them to benefit you.
Let us introduce you to a team that is taking the farm-to-table principles, and transcending them into farm-to-life.
Grounded by natural philosophies and a drive to do good, Dr. Sarah’s Essentials is a beacon of light in the environmental wellness movement.
“From Farm to Family” is the driving force behind Dr. Sarah’s mission to bring rooted remedies to you, your family, and your pets/livestock.
From growing up on a farm in Wisconsin to specializing in the field of veterinary medicine, Dr. Sarah knows the ins and outs of natural healing.
Learning the value of hard work from her parents, Dr. Sarah was instilled in the belief that with dedication, anything is possible. She also grew up with a natural knack for plants and all things from the earth. Over years of experimenting and higher education, she was then able to harness the medicinal benefits of the botanicals you see today.
Due to a deep-rooted entrepreneurial spirit, a talent for holistic/natural remedies, and a love of caring for others, Dr. Sarah’s Essentials was born.
Dr. Sarah Slaby, D.V.M. is all about core values: family, the environment, and education.
Built on trust and common beliefs, Dr. Sarah’s Essentials is quality and consistency at its finest. Focusing on all-natural, botanical products that harness the wellness of nature for your family, pets, and livestock.
By focusing on 3 product lines, they deliver only high-quality, non-toxic ingredients to promote health and healing. Dedicated to creating environmentally safe products, ingredients are sourced from the best local farmers and certified suppliers. Dr. Sarah’s Essentials not only holds their ingredients to the highest standards but themselves, too.
With unmatched joy, Dr. Sarah’s team is able to pass her knowledge of holistic healing and environmental sustainability on to you. As Dr. Sarah says, “It’s like a ripple effect – good things will spread.”
From the soil to the farm, then to you.
Dr. Sarah believes that the good Lord provided the herbs and plants needed to treat many ailments, and the products reflect this belief. You can be assured you’ll receive items made from ingredients that grew in the soil, and not ingredients developed in a lab.
Check out the most loved skincare products below and snag yours before they’re gone.
Arnica Ice Lotion
Designed for both humans and pets, Dr. Sarah’s Arnica Ice Lotion combines organic Arnica Montana Extract, White Willow Bark Extract, Turmeric Root Extract, and essential oils.
Deep, cooling relief from pain, swelling, and inflammation. Whether you’ve pushed your limits during a workout or your furry friend needs soothing — this lotion has you covered.
Soothing you slowly, it glides over tired muscles, offering respite and rejuvenation.
This Cocoa Body Butter is nothing you’ve ever seen before. A luxurious treat for dry, rough skin and stubborn stretch marks. Its non-greasy formula absorbs quickly, leaving behind a delightful chocolate aroma. More than indulgence, this body butter provides intense hydration — the solution for your skin.
Imagine cocooning your skin in velvety softness, knowing that every ingredient comes straight from nature’s bounty. What could be better than that?
Falling Back on Solid Principals
Through the farm-to-table and farm-to-family movement, you can see how simple principles make an impact over time.
The days of overcomplicating everything are over. Getting back to basics is in.
Whether it’s your health, your community, or your skin – you can benefit from taking the natural approach.
* In partnership with our friends at Dr Sarah Essentials* Photo courtesy of Dr Sarah Essentials
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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