We're baaack

Hello all,

Hope you're enjoying the arrival of spring. I've been collecting links for you, so here goes:

It's a little late, but here are seed-starting tips from Mother Earth News.

The Atlantic Food Channel continues to be a great source of information about sustainability issues. There is an article about bringing farmers' markets to communities that are underserved by supermarkets, using SNAP benefits (formerly food stamps) to incentivize the purchase of local foods.
Even if you've chosen to eat locally, there are some things you still much purchase from far away (coffee, anyone?) Now, grain doesn't have to be one of those things. Wheatberry bakery in Amherst, who runs the first local grain CSA in the region, is at the forefront of an emerging trend. EDIT: I just noticed for the first time that Mass Local Food Co-op has a local grain & flour vendor, Four Star Farms.
Finally, from the Atlantic, there is discouraging news on the GMO front. It appears that the Obama administration will continue to block attempts to force GMO labeling. The industry's vice-grip on food policy is all the more reason to support non-corporate food producers.

I've added a couple great resources for finding local food. In the Links section is Local Harvest, where you can find farmers' markets and CSA's and Eat Well Guide, which has an advanced, customizable search of local businesses for local ingredients. These are great sites to play around on.

In local food news, Sweetwilliam Farm is open for the season, Thursday -Sunday 11-5. And the Upton Town Library is having Garden Day on May 15th, where they will hold a plant swap. Call 529-6272 for more information. And Mass Local Food is open for ordering. I would love to hear any news you guys have about upcoming events, or experiences you've had will local vendors.

And, as always, there's plenty more to read in the links in the sidebar. Marion Nestle has been writing quite a bit about food labeling and the new USDA dietary guidelines. Mark Ambinder of the Atlantic has been writing thoughtfully about his battle against obesity.

What's new with you?

Livestock

How's everyone's winter going? Wanna grow some chickens? Happy Homesteader has a series of videos to get you started.

The Atlantic has an article about organics regulations. Organic dairies must pasture their cows 120 days a year, and there are additional requirements regarding the proportion of feed that comes from grass.

Why Big Ag Won't Feed the World

Josh Viertal tells us today in the Atlantic.

Read this Article Now!

There is a lovely, sensible article in the LA Times this week from food writer Russ Parsons that everyone should read.

the issues we're facing are not going to go away, and they are too important to be left to the ideologues. What I'd like to see happen in the next decade is a more constructive give-and-take, the start of a true conversation.

And, in light of my own recent resolution, I particularly liked this bit:

What's political is also personal. If you believe in something, you should be willing to make sacrifices to support it, even if it's expensive or inconvenient. Wailing about farmers who use pesticides and then balking at paying extra for organic produce is hypocritical because the yields in organic farming are almost always lower. On the other hand, there's nothing wrong with doing the best you can whenever you can -- as long as you're willing to accept compromises from the other guy too.

I'd love to know what you guys think.

I also want to bring this up from comments:

There are a ton of great veg-friendly places to eat in the Central MA area. There's a guide to good ones in the Worcester area here: http://VegWorcester.com/restaurants

Thanks, Drew, I've been looking for a good resource. Any other suggestions?

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a happy and healthy holiday season! Tis the time of year for resolutions, and here's mine: I resolve to eliminate conventionally raised meat from my diet. I already use naturally and humanely raised meat and eggs in my home, but when I eat out, I eat things I would never purchase in a store. Time to clean that up, which will largely mean becoming a vegetarian outside my home. It is daunting to contemplate, but I suspect it will be less difficult than I fear. Anyone else?

The Atlantic Food Channel has some good news. 2009 brought welcome legislation and improved conditions for animals.

NOFA/Mass is having a Winter Conference on January 16th at Worcester Technical High School featuring Joel Salatin as its keynote speaker. He will also lead an all-day seminar on "introducing livestock to your farm." Check out the schedule of events; it looks like there's something for everyone (cultured dairy products workshop? Yum!)

The Fallow Season

After the flurry of attention that foods receives around Thanksgiving, there is a marked dropoff lately in food-related articles. Now, with Christmas coming, what coverage there is in centered on food-related books.

In that vein, there is a lovely post over at the Atlantic Food Channel about Wendell Berry, in which he is described as the Thoreau of the sustainable food movement. I think the comparison is apt, and if you are a fan of Michael Pollan, you should familiarize yourself with his acknowledged "ideological forbear."

Let me know if you guys are seeing anything good out there!

We've got a drug for that!

The New York Times reports that two vaccines have been developed to immunize cattle against E.coli. One has been approved for use in Canada, and one is currently being tested in the US. The industry estimates the cost of vaccination to be about $10 per cow, significantly cutting into their profit margins. It seems to me that the cost of all the various pharmaceuticals we give to these animals must at some point offset the savings of raising animals on the CAFO’s that make them so ill. It’s hard to imagine what the tipping point will ultimately be.

NYT’s Mark Bittman and WaPo’s Ezra Klein discuss various aspects of food policy and “voting with your mouth”at the always entertaining bloggingheads site. If you haven’t read Bittman’s book, I highly recommend it. His writing is always accessible, and Food Matters combines elements of big-picture thinking with practical, individual solutions and (fittingly for a cookbook author) recipes.

Sweetwilliam Farm (see sidebar) is taking orders for their 2010 CSA. Stop by this weekend for more info and pick up some fresh eggs and produce. The store is open 10-5 this weekend, and if you bring a gift for Toys for Tots, you will receive a discount! Have a great weekend!