It’s that time of year again and fall is here my friend! And with it comes a whole-new variety of seasonal goodness straight from nature’s kitchen!

This is the season of color, comfort, and food that provides us with some of the most nutrient dense and delicious fruits and veggies fall has to offer.

The crisp apples, creamy sweet potatoes, juicy pears, persimmons, grapes, figs, kiwi, pomegranate, pumpkin (of course!), and much more—all loaded with antioxidants and minerals that keep your immune system strong for when the chill starts to set in. 🍎🍠🍐🍇🥝

I don’t know about you, but autumn is one of my favorite times of year to get outdoors. Between the fall foliage, apple picking, and waterfall hikes, taking in nature’s beauty is just as nourishing to the mind and body as the food we take in.

The earth gives us exactly what we need at exactly the perfect time — and all we have to do is be open and allow it.

DEEP DIVE

Here’s some of what’s in season right now and what to load up on while it’s fresh:

Your body craves these grounding foods in cooler months for a reason — they help regulate energy, stabilize mood, and strengthen your natural defenses.

Here’s the truth… Our food system isn’t exactly looking out for us right now. Between the over-processing, chemical sprays, and — yes — even produce being injected with vaccines like I mentioned in a previous email (it’s now happening in parts of Tennessee 😔), we have to be more intentional than ever about where our food comes from.

There’s no law requiring stores to tell you if your tomatoes or leafy greens have been tampered with — which means the safest route is to:

✅ Buy local from trusted farmers and markets.
✅ Shop direct from small produce farms whenever possible.
✅ Grow your own, even if it’s just a few sprouts or herbs at home.

Every choice you make matters — and every local purchase helps you step outside the system that’s quietly shifting what we eat (without asking our permission).

Whenever possible, buy directly from:

Local farms and co-ops — fresher produce, fewer chemicals, and real people behind your food.

Farmers markets — every purchase supports small growers instead of large systems.

CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) — a great way to receive weekly, seasonal boxes straight from the farm.

If you don’t have access to local farms, look for small produce distributors that ship direct — or choose organic where you can.

The key is knowing your source and reducing dependency on mass grocery chains that are becoming increasingly controlled and disconnected from REAL food.

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to visit what was once an old chicken farm (now called Barn Farm Plant Haven) in Wadesboro, NC with NC Animal Advocates and The Transfarmation Project—A program developed by Mercy for Animals.

This is a farm that transitioned into a produce producing farm where the chicken buildings will be transformed into greenhouses. One of the buildings has already been cleaned up and transformed.

It was one of the most powerful experiences I’ve ever been a part of. To be honest, it felt eerie walking into one of the buildings that still had remnants from when the chickens were be held there.

Standing in this building and touring the farm reminded me of when I toured an old slave plantation in Charleston.

It was the same feeling and heartbreaking to learn the facts of the farming processes that often portrays a much different story to the public.

The feeling was uneasy. It was sad to hear the truth first hand directly from the farmer…

…how innocent, kind, loving beings could be so mistreated, used, and abused in such a way—as required by law down to every detail. Only to turn a minimal profit and be used to satisfy a temporary sense of taste for the masses.

One that has no nutrient bearing whatsoever. Despite what we have been convinced to believe.

The silver lining?

The farmer chose to transform his farm and has been working with The Transfarmation Project to make it happen. The results are amazing! 🤩

I posted pictures and a video to Instagram which you can find below. At the end of the tour, we had the opportunity to purchase produce from the farm and allowed us to go home with freshly grown food while also supporting the farm. Something I highly recommend doing if you can. 🌱

If you’d like to visit the farm yourself, you can learn or reach out to Tom directly on their Facebook page HERE.

Learn more about the Barn Farm Transfarmation Project HERE.

If you’ve ever wanted to grow your own, you don’t need a huge backyard, acres of land, or a green thumb to get started.

Here are a few easy ways to start:

Every seed you plant — even if it’s a handful of sprouts — brings you closer to food sovereignty and away from the processed system that doesn’t always have your best interests at heart.

Explore True Leaf Market for optimal quality seeds and all your growing essentials HERE.

This is serious stuff my friend.

Our food system is becoming less transparent — from labeling issues to industrial control over how crops are grown and distributed. That’s why it’s more important than ever to be proactive, buy local, and grow what you can.

The more we return to nature’s natural growing cycle — eating what’s in season and grown from healthy soil — the more we reclaim our health and independence.

If the grocery store is all you can do at this moment, let me help you with making the best possible decisions when selecting your food…

I created a Self-Guided Grocery Store Tour digital guide for you—so you can take the stress out of your shopping experience and make healthier, more sustainable choices.

Whether you’re new on your wellness journey or want to up-level your conscious living habits, this guide gives you the tools to shop smarter, not harder.

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