Mommy Knows Best

Deasi Pedersen may seem like a regular housewife. But to her followers, the mother of four from Malang, East Java, is Green Mommy, environmental activist.

 By Maggie Tiojakin

When did you found the Green Mommy community?

The Green Mommy community was founded in March 2010, at the same time the Green Mommy Shop was founded.

How has the online community been responding to Green Mommy so far?

The response has been very positive, because most of the people who are looking for us are those who have been disappointed or dissatisfied by the lack of information on green-conscious products offline. There’s not too many people out there who care about saving the earth, because most people are still prioritizing modern comfort without looking at the negative impacts modern lifestyle may have on themselves and the environment.

Green Mommy also runs a homeschool program.

Green Mommy Homeschool is an informative community meant to provide sustainable education for children. Green Mommy Homeschool online is expected to become a positive vehicle for homeschool participants, whether parents or students, to share with and learn from each other. In the future, we hope to establish an offline Green Mommy Group in each region around the country, so that homeschool participants involved in Green Mommy Homeschool can interact offline and help each other out.

Some people argue they don’t like organic products because they taste “strange” ...

Most people think organic products taste “funny” because modern people, especially those who live in the city, are used to flavor enhancements in their food, such as MSG. So we’ve lost touch with the original flavor of food.

Another complaint is some people find organic products to be too expensive.

Organic products tend to be expensive because there’s quite a low demand for them, so most business people, or organic farmers, tend to do it out of idealism and not profit. I am the same way. I hope that by raising awareness through education about how important it is for our health to consume organic products, there will be more demand for organic products, so that prices will fall.

What type of healthy eating habits would you recommend?

Originally, we were all herbivores, so it’s better for our bodies to consume vegetables, instead of meat. We have become weak against disease because our modern diet has far exceeded the limitations of our bodies, so what happens is we’re lacking the proper nutrients needed to stay healthy. Other products I recommend [to fight disease] are vegetables with dark leaves, such as spinach and kale, and broccoli. In short, change your diet to include more raw products, such as vegetables, fruits, seeds and nuts.

We suggest a plant-based/vegetarian diet; it is better if around 50 percent of plants are consumed raw and organic. I suggest raw food because usually they still contain all the necessary enzymes and nutrients required by our bodies. When cooked, most products lose about 90–100 percent of the contained enzymes and nutrients.

International communities are now supporting the use of organic products to boost the welfare of local farmers. Yet a large number of organic products in Indonesia are still imported from abroad.

The reason for this massive support for organic products is that the food industry has been contaminated by a number of artificial products that are dangerous for us. Most of our agricultural products have been tampered with, such as by the use of pesticides, artificial coloring and food preservation agents. This means that when we consume these products, we are also consuming toxic materials. It is important that we support organic farming, because organic farming produces organic products that are good for our health; it also helps sustain our environment.

It’s true that most organic products in Indonesia are imported from abroad, and the reason is that we still have a shortage of organic farmers, or certified farmers, as well as organic food producers. A great number of organic farmers and producers in Indonesia are often doing it on a very small scale, again because the demand is very small.

The lack of public awareness of the advantages of organic products may be due to mainstream advertising. Are there any special steps that the Green Mommy community is taking to empower the public in its choices?

The dilemma of modern society is the lack of a trustworthy source – in this case, a trustworthy source who can talk about health and environment and their connection to the benefit of using organic products. Of course, our society is highly dependent on the government. I’ve received comments where someone asks me if organic products are so good, then why isn’t the government supporting them. It’s hard to break through this type of thinking.

The steps I am taking may be less conventional. I get right to the point and tell people why some things are good for them and others aren’t. Most people don’t believe what they hear, but curiosity will usually get the better of them and they end up searching for more information about what they eat and how they have been living their lives. Personally, I think we’re at an end – our civilization has gotten in the way of our sustainable future, and there’s no more time left for us to fix things.

Many products that claim to be organic actually aren’t. How can consumers tell the difference?

The solution is to establish an institution whose job it is to certify which products are of high-quality, and which aren’t. The best way is to purchase these products from stores with a good reputation or credibility. Or you can buy locally, because then you can find out the process of organic farming as well as find sufficient information from your local green organization.

What are your expectations for Green Mommy?

I hope the government will support the Indonesia Go Organic and Green movement, and that there’s a tangible solution for re-educating people about organic products and protecting our environment. There should also be a program to support local organic farmers, so we can cut down on the cost of producing organic products, and therefore offer a cheaper price for them.

What’s your greatest challenge in running the Green Mommy community?

At the moment, my greatest challenge is in changing the way people view their lifestyle. Most people still have difficulty understanding why it’s important to protect the environment, and how we can help by consuming organic products. The other challenge is to manage my time as mother to my children, teacher to my children (homeschool) and the founder of the Green Mommy community. Right now, I’m doing it alone; but I hope to meet other women who are interested in expanding this community into something tangible for everyone. The Green Mommy community also highlights the role of women as the pillars that sustain family and society.

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