Walking The Talk

Today something very exciting happened to me: I was accepted into my first CSA. No, it’s not some sort of graduate program, spy ring or Mensa group. It’s Community Sponsored Agriculture. For those unfamiliar with CSAs, basically you are investing upfront in a farmer’s growing season by buying shares of their crop. Each Tuesday starting in June, I’ll go to an appointed spot and pick my veggies and fruit for the week.  I’ve wanted to do this since last fall when I first read about them. As a city girl, I didn’t understand why I had to wait until spring.  Anyway…I knew there were only 65 slots available and lots of competition for the Tribeca CSA. So when I found out I could buy my share today I was nearly as excited as the day I was accepted to Colgate University.

Very Exciting!!!!

Coming down off the CSA high, I began to wonder why I was that thrilled – after all, it’s just vegetables, not a four-year education.  First, I thought that as someone who will always view herself (in part) as a misfit toy, I just love being accepted anywhere by any group.  Seriously, if I was brought up in the wrong neighborhood I would have been an easy recruit for the Bloods or Crips.  So knowing that I could be part of not just a CSA, but the Tribeca CSA, well…it meant that I was part of the community – my community -- and that felt pretty great.

But soon I realized that acceptance wasn’t the whole story.  Those of you devoted friends and readers following my story over the last few years know that I have become devoted to healthier eating and living. This passion is why I became a health coach and launched my own practice. By joining the CSA, I was “walking the talk.” I was making a commitment, not only to including fresh, local, organic produce into my life on a weekly basis, but I am actually helping to support the farmers that make it possible. To me this is truly exhilarating.  And that is perhaps why I am a bit of a geek, too.

But looking back, this is nothing new. Even as a small child, my integrity – or walking the talk -- was vastly important to me.  Living in a single parent household, nearly on the brink of poverty, my integrity was often the one thing I could hold onto in what felt like a sea of chaos.  My mother loves to tell the tale of me terrorizing the neighborhood on my big wheel when I was five. She overheard the seven and eight-year old boys whisper, “watch out for that one!”  I don’t remember the details as clearly today, but I know I was defending the honor of my girl friends who had been picked on by these budding hoodlums (honestly, in Mill Basin it’s doubtful they would grow up to be anything but accountants and dentists.) I wanted those boys to know they couldn’t mess with me or my friends – and I needed to do something about it. And so I circled them like a hungry vulture on my big wheel until twilight.

That’s why, at my amazing birthday celebration last week, one of the most touching things said about me (by my dear friend Rita) was that I “walk the talk.”  I may not be easy going (as was also remarked) or patient; I can be shy and fearful at times.  And, I know that I am often highly opinionated and arrogant. But I do back up those opinions with actions.  

In this blog, I’ve written about my commitment to voting. I’m out there every election day: primaries, run-offs, whatever rain or shine, long line or ghost town. I recycle and always find good homes for cast-off furniture or clothes. I clean with homemade natural products.   I have participated in countless boycotts and protests.  I support the causes I believe in with money, time and by spreading the word.

But lest you think that my integrity is spotless, think again.  I know my walking the talk is not 100% -- no one’s perfect. For example, I just can’t quite bring myself to compost. I know there are ways to do so in Manhattan but they are a bit too daunting for a space-challenged germaphobe.

And then there’s leather. For years, as a non-meat eater, I convinced myself that buying leather products was ok because they were just by-products of the meat industry and would go to waste anyway. But recently after learning the horrors of factory farming, I decided I couldn’t reconcile my participation in any part of it. (CAVEAT: we are talking about my beliefs – I’m not trying to convince anyone of anything…really.) That being said, last week I did buy myself a gorgeous new leather handbag with a generous birthday gift card that came my way. I literally forgot my pledge. It was as if my love of fashion completely obliterated my memory like that wand in the movie “Men in Black.”

evidence of my imperfection

Well it just reminds me that I’m a work in progress. Maybe next time, I'll have the strength and determination to opt for a canvas bag or "vegan leather" sandals. And maybe I'll get over my qualms and figure out the composting conundrum. But maybe not. And that's ok too. Integrity is attractive, but perfectionism is not so pretty. 

If I was perfect, I’d doubt I’d have any friends at all. And, more importantly, it reminds me to love all my friends and family not despite their flaws but because of them – and that’s perhaps the best way I can walk the talk.

I would love it if you would share ways that you walk the talk or ways you’d like to begin doing so. And, if  you're interested in joining a CSA visit Just Food: http://www.justfood.org/csaloc