The National Gardening Association reported that American gardens yield $600 of produce per gardening family each year. Nationally, this converts into $21 billion not spent in supermarkets. Of this $21 billion little tax is paid, no executive salaries, no transport or fuel cost, and no money leaves your home because you are the producer.
It’s not only our gardens that move us to the fringe of consumerism. My family raises cattle, however, 100% of the beef consumed by the families that work this cattle is purchase in supermarkets the next town over. Why? Government regulations make it extremely difficult to raise, feed, and butcher on the same farm. Post-WWII industrialism forced family farms to specialize. We were told to exchange our produce for paper money, then go to town and buy from great big stores. Thus, consumerism was born.
Consumerism targets every aspect of our lives. Advertising makes us discontent with what we already have and tempts us to spend. And spend we do, we buy clothes to portray an image and eat for entertainment alone. Consumer-culture’s membership is open to anyone and dues can be conveniently paid at all major supermarkets and department stores. Online payments are preferred and come with various discounts.
God created man to produce. We will not all have gardens or raise cattle, but we can produce. My Papaw Lane didn’t live on a farm, but he produced a loving home, kept a few chickens, and maintained a small wood lot just for the fun of it. I loved my Papaw’s house. He never took me to the movies or out to eat. He was my entertainment. He told me stories of ancient Rome, and the Cherokee. He inspired my play and produced in me a love to create.
We must consume and still produce and in doing so we will not be consumed by consumerism.
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