At Wholesome Farms, we believe AI and food aren’t a strange or scary pairing — they’re a natural match. Food is one of our oldest human needs. AI is simply a modern tool to help us meet that need — not to replace the kitchen table, but to help more people gather around it.
When I was growing up, my pastor would often tell a story in his homilies — one borrowed from many traditions and faiths — that points not to any one religion, but to something deeper: a big-T truth about how we care for each other.
The story goes like this:
At a wedding feast, two powerful kings — one from the North, one from the South — fell into an argument about the afterlife.
The northern king claimed it was obvious: hell was a realm of eternal fire where the damned were burned like firewood. Heaven, of course, was the opposite — cool, serene, and made of clouds.
The southern king scoffed. He had a different vision: hell was full of devils wielding scythes, chasing and slicing the wicked for all eternity. Heaven, naturally, was a place of harps and angels, where everyone was crooned into bliss.
The argument escalated, and just as it was about to ruin the wedding, the bride interrupted. “Why not ask the holy hermit in the mountains?” she said. “He sees things clearly, and speaks only when he has something worth saying.”
So the two kings left the feast, still bickering, and set off on horseback. They traveled for weeks through wind and storm, convinced the hermit would confirm each one’s version of the truth.
At last, they reached the summit. The hermit sat quietly, deep in prayer. The kings approached and asked, “Wise one, what is the nature of hell? And what is the nature of heaven?”
The hermit was silent for a long time. Then he said:
“Hell is a banquet. A table overflowing with the most delicious foods imaginable — sweet, savory, rich, and rare. But every guest is given utensils that are ten feet long — spoons, forks, knives — so long they can’t bring food to their own mouths. Though they can reach the food, they cannot feed themselves. So they fight, they suffer, and they starve forever.”
The kings recoiled. “That’s a horrible fate,” one said. “I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. But tell us — what is heaven like?”
The hermit smiled gently.
“Heaven is the same table. The same feast. The same ten-foot utensils. But in heaven, the people don’t try to feed themselves. They feed each other.”
With that, he stood and walked away, leaving the kings to think in silence.
So why am I telling you a story about ten-foot spoons on a blog about food?
Because Wholesome Farms isn’t here to replace the cook or the family table. We’re here to extend it. We built our AI meal planner — a very long spoon, if you will — not to isolate people, but to help them nourish each other.
AI is just a utensil. What matters is how we use it.
Our hope is that Wholesome Farms can reach far enough to help someone across the country — or just across the street — plan a meal, save time, feel less overwhelmed, or share something meaningful with their loved ones. And maybe, by using it, you’ll have just a little more space to feed the people at your table, too.
Heaven, we think, is just a well-fed family — serving each other with whatever tools they have.
Emma