Daydreaming—In our recent Pandemic Dreams blog, we urged people to try to dream, or actually daydream, about the future after COVID—as a refreshing and constructive alternative to the disturbing pandemic dreams being reported by some. The basic idea was to help imagine a better future for ourselves, our children, and the planet starting with food by 1) paying attention and learning from what is happening right now as the pandemic disrupts food systems, 2) working to ensure that we come out of this crisis with a better food system than before, and 3) using these lessons to create a food system (and in turn, other systems) much better prepared for future crises including climate change. And what better way to bring on pleasant dreams of a brighter food future than to be outside away from computers and phones, hopefully growing food, and wherever you are, taking the time to notice how nature is doing in our foodsheds and how foodshed health is so important to this bright future.
A cloud of chaos, unfairness, and uncertainty envelops us now, making it hard to see what is really happening, how we should respond, and what the future has in store. Paying attention to the science and fact-based evidence is especially critical now to clear thinking—as is being aware of how others are faring during these times. The tireless efforts of so many people and groups providing emergency assistance to the food insecure, to struggling growers, and to vital local markets shows us how we can mobilize to address a clearly perceived and immediate crisis. But it also makes clear how inattentive our society has been to the fragility of our food system over past decades which has made it so vulnerable to the current crisis. Similar vulnerability is reflected in current income and wealth disparities, pervasive unfairness and racial inequity, and the lack of public health preparedness.
As the dust settles when the virus becomes less of a threat, what sort of food system will we have? It will certainly be different than today’s—more just and fair? More productive and accessible to all people? Better for the planet? Will we have enough people voting with their food dollars and with their ballots to support policies and politicians who will continue the good trends during this crisis such as increased gardening, attention to food inequity, and support for local growers? Or will those in political and economic power be able to consolidate that power over food production, distribution, marketing, and access—as well as other parts of society—to the detriment of all but themselves and their allies? Can we be vigilant and proactive about how the dust will settle in our food system as well as the rest of society so we are more prepared for the crises to come?
For example:
- Schools and Food—We have found that schools are very useful in distributing emergency food to needy kids and their families. More investment in school food service is needed so that this safety net is readily available in future crises, but can’t we also work just as hard to ensure a future where families have plenty of nutritious local food available at home so that schools become a very important back-up and supplement rather than the primary source of daily nutrition?
- Education—Beyond food, as schools have shut down and are struggling to reopen, do we see the folly of not paying teachers and staff anything near a livable wage, of highly uneven and unjust internet access for online schooling, of too many parents unsupported and unempowered to help their kids learn at home? Should we be faced with the dilemma of perhaps unsafely opening schools in part because so many kids just cannot get the food they need at home? Will we address these issues or let them slide until the next crisis hits our schools?
- Food Retailing—As the giant corporate retailers undoubtedly gain more market share as undercapitalized small local markets suffer during the pandemic, will we work to counter that consolidation as the crisis eases—in our own shopping habits and in food system policies as a whole?
- Local Food—Can we perpetuate the greatly increased interest we are seeing now in gardening, supporting local growers in the market and in policies, and in local food access for all when COVID lessens its grip?
- Fairness and Caring—We are seeing many stark examples of both systemic unfairness and a lack of caring for others highlighted by this pandemic. As hard as this is to see, we are also seeing powerful examples of emergency assistance by groups and individuals throughout our communities. And rather than forget as this crisis passes, can we use this increased awareness to hold on to a commitment to fairness, justice, and caring for others—as individuals and systemically as a society—into the future?
A pop quiz and the final exam is the way climate scientist Jeff Masters has characterized the COVID and climate crises respectively. This is not meant to be flippant in any respect about the enormity of the current crisis, but as a sober and constructive analogy. I used pop quizzes in my teaching years to encourage student attention in class and to help my students and myself learn and adjust. The same sort of attention to science and facts and insistence on fairness and caring for all beings and the planet that will prepare us for the next pandemic, environmental crisis, or economic downfall should go a long ways toward coping with the climate change crisis.
Climate requires even more attention, critical thinking, and caring as its scope is so long lasting into future generations and so devastating and slow to unfold fully. As a society we are even having a hard time recognizing that it is here now, and—as a society—to muster the public will to address it—now. With some luck and hard work, this pandemic will provide some much-needed impetus and guidance to better prepare for crises as climate change continues to increase.
Clearing the air and our minds is essential to reimagining the future and staying positive—we should take advantage of all the positive therapies we can during these difficult times. Being outside closer to nature than to computer and phone screens, growing food as a productive and therapeutic endeavor, paying attention to nature and how it is doing to hone our skills in thinking beyond ourselves, and making sure our kids are right out there with us—all things that can help keep us sane and in a frame of mind conducive to reimagining a bright local food future and all that it can bring us.
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