Back to “reality” and it feels like a slap in the face

(Please note that this text is translated by Open AI as I write my all my peas in Dutch)

I’m spending a night at the campground near Huelva, Spain. In my surroundings, I see hectares of oranges, persimmons, blueberries, and plastic greenhouses with strawberries. Right across from my campsite, a young avocado orchard has just been planted, stretching as far as I can see. A remarkable choice in an area where water is scarce.

Yes, I know the reality. I understand that many people depend on this type of agriculture for their vegetables and fruits. Even in the Netherlands (including myself), we are grateful for these products. But the contrast with the regenerative farms like Freixo do Meio, Quinta do Arneiro, and TERRAMAY where I’ve been in the past weeks is huge. Especially, the waste in this area catches my attention. If you don’t see the soil as your main source, apparently polluting it is much less of a concern.

I know that the places I visit represent only a tiny minority. They still have little significance for our food production. But based on what I’ve seen in the past 1.5 years, I’m 100% sure that we can really do things differently. In a way that doesn’t have to come at the expense of ourselves or the environment.

Oh man, how different the world would look if we followed the examples of the peasmakers.