There is no denying that COVID-19 has caused widespread and unprecedented disruption, devastation and uncertainty on a global scale, but a new book is highlighting that the pandemic has in many ways been a reset button we all needed.
The 142-page book, titled 2020: Why We Needed It was written by Vic-based Tegan Tiss, a business development manager for Rivalea Australia, who grew up on a 2800-sow farrow to finish piggery at Concordia in the Lower North.
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"Last year when COVID-19 hit, people in the streets were talking to each other, they were outside doing yoga, they were connecting - so many things were happening and I thought I needed to write it all down," she said.
"People had gone into a frazzle, but it was amazing, everyone seemed less stressed out because they were forced to have a bit of a break."
While Ms Tiss is not taking away from the heartache caused by the pandemic, particularly in regards to Australians stranded overseas unable to return home, she says the "forced simplicity of life" in a COVID-19 world brought people back to the true basic requirements for happiness.
We need to start supporting local producers more, and make sure that support continues past COVID-19.
- TEGAN TISS
"We had to make do with making the most of our situation and being happy with what we had - COVID-19 gave us excellent perspective," she said.
The book covers how COVID-19 has benefited areas such as connection, nature, physical activity, sleep, work, mind and food, with the food chapter detailing how appreciation for agriculture and food production has been brought to the fore.
"Consumers have realised that food doesn't appear out of thin air," Ms Tiss said.
"Right now, farmers are trying to harvest crops while battling rain, the weather is going to become more unpredictable in the future and I think we need to start thinking seriously about that and start to champion agriculture a bit more."
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The food chapter details what Ms Tiss describes as a need for a "radical shapeshift" in the mindset surrounding produce.
She said while local produce had been heroed to an extent by the pandemic, she expected good habits to take some time to form permanently.
"We need to start supporting local producers more, and make sure that support continues past COVID-19," she said.
"I think we'll go through a bit of a turbulent period of buying habits while we're waiting for lockdowns to eventually become a thing of the past, because habits may take a while to form, but in next two or three years is when I think we'll start to see a positive and permanent change in consumer habits."
- 2020: Why We Needed It is available online at 2020whyweneededit.com and is on sale at selected bookstores.
Claire Harris
Journalist at Stock Journal. Hailing from South East Queensland, Claire moved to SA at the start of 2019. She is passionate about agriculture, cooking, sport, and line dancing, and loves a good long road trip.
Journalist at Stock Journal. Hailing from South East Queensland, Claire moved to SA at the start of 2019. She is passionate about agriculture, cooking, sport, and line dancing, and loves a good long road trip.
