By Shane Goodman shane@dmcityview.com

It all starts with water

Mr. Van Haaften brought his own glass jar of drinking water to school each day. A piece of plastic wrap was placed on the top, secured with a rubber band. The jar sat in the same spot each morning on a shelf in his art classroom at my high school.

Mr. Van, as we called him, also raised his own vegetables and refrained from any processed foods. And although he didn’t vocalize his concerns with water and food, he lived by example. We thought Mr. Van was odd, paranoid in many ways. But, looking back, I don’t recall him ever being sick or looking worn down.

If Mr. Van had chosen to farm rather than teach art, he would have certainly been a leader in organic farming techniques. Even so, more than 20 years later, his healthy eating choices are impacting what food and beverages I consume today.

Like many Iowans, I have become deeply concerned with the use of chemicals in industrial farming. I am also concerned with the future of family farms. Organic farming could be a solution to both.

Reporter Sean J. Miller takes us inside the 80-acre farm of Jeff and Jill Burkhart near Woodward, where they use basic farming techniques. The end result is a business called Picket Fence Creamery. The Burkharts not only raise cows, but bottle the milk and distribute it in stores throughout Central Iowa. Our food critic, Jim Duncan, has praised their products in his columns, and now I see why. But this story is not a promotional piece for Picket Fence or for organic farming. Rather, we wish to inform you of this growing trend and challenge the traditional views that most of us were raised with.

A few decades ago, I was shocked that anyone would pay for bottled water when it was available for free from the tap. I refused to do it. That all changed nine years ago when my wife became pregnant. I wanted to do all I could to be sure our child would be healthy. The change in my views happened when I realized that the impact of my decisions affected more than just me.

It seems Mr. Van was on to something after all; it just took me a few years to start catching on.

Thanks for reading.

Comment on this story | Return to top