HW #8

               My experience nurturing the growth of sprouts by watering them in class and at home was un-exciting, even monotonous, and yet so suprisingly gratifying. Planting a seed, giving it "loving care", and watching it grow is a fairly fundamental and essential part of plant life; it's an experience shared by many young children.  However, this knowledge made it no less exciting. Before nurturing these sprouts with water and shade, I'd helped my aunt with the garden in her backyard in Westchester. Daily witnessing the constant growth of a plant was a new experience for me. It is encouraging to find that I am capable of such as simple and wonderful act, especially when I can enjoy the fruits (or in this case, vegetables) of my labor. (These veggies tasted rather spicy. I do not know if this is a result of planting the seeds in a former salsa jar, or if certain kinds of sprouts are naturally spicy). The sprouts were small, the time spent caring for them was short, and the space they filled in my stomach was insignificant. Nevertheless, these little plants reminded me that I do not need to depend on the work of others for every raw material in my diet, that getting results requires effort and perseverance, and that I have one more opportunity to help the world in the midst of its many areas of despair - particularly environmental issues.  I think that Americans have ceased to see the sacred aspect of food because they are not involved with the growth and development of their foods' ingredients. If food production was not such a mysterious process and if Americans felt a more personal connection to their food, the American perspective of and approach to food would change.
                                                            
                               As seen below, I put my sprouts on a veggie-burger with pickles and ketchup.