Blackstone Valley Sustainability Initiative

We're baaack

2010-04-27T12:10:00.003-04:00

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

2010-02-22T21:14:00.002-05:00

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

2010-01-20T13:09:00.000-05:00

Josh Viertal tells us today in the Atlantic.

Read this Article Now!

2010-01-08T13:30:00.003-05:00

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!

2010-01-04T14:24:00.002-05:00

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

2009-12-15T14:47:00.002-05:00

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!

2009-12-04T17:57:00.002-05:00

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!

Links

2009-12-02T14:29:00.002-05:00

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I'm back with links.

There's a great article in Mother Earth News archives about the hazards of commercial meat production. There are alarming tidbits like this one:

According to a May 21, 2007, article in The Wall Street Journal, reliance on junk food has shot up in recent years because the cost of feed corn has doubled due to the increased use of corn for ethanol production. According to the article, one farmer now feeds his cattle a ration that is 17 percent stale candy and 3 percent stale "party mix." Another feeds a 100 percent byproduct diet, including French fries, tater tots and potato peels

Candy and party mix? No wonder the cows get sick! The article also has tips on how to find healthier meat. (h/t Lisa) Of course, the best way to ensure healthier meat is to know exactly where it comes from. Don't forget our local meat growers, like Jo-Erl's meat CSA and Mass Local Food's producers.

Here is a CNN video from last week that profiled Will Allen.

USA Today has an article about a company producing healthy, organic school lunches on a large scale.

Kelley from Mass Local Food has some news and a call for volunteers:

Things are getting really exciting with Mass Local Food. We had a record month last month - 45 orders and $3000 in sales for our producers. And we expect with the holidays that December will be just as busy. We are also working towards incorporating, and we have a new sorting site - a farmers market building in Westminster which fits us just right. And we are working towards opening up pickups in Holden and Shrewsbury.
As usual, we are looking for help with the sorting this Friday, Dec 4th, between 1:30 and 3:00 pm, at 64 Leominster St, Westminster. Let me know if you can help.

Please pass on any links you think would be of interest, and spread the word about the blog!

Thanksgiving

2009-11-23T12:42:00.002-05:00

Thanksgiving is definitely upon us. I can’t think of any other time of year when the subject of eating animals is handled with the reverence it deserves. Under normal circumstances, animals are barely even mentioned when meat is discussed; on the contrary, the more divorced we are from the process the better. But not at Thanksgiving. Turkeys receive executive pardons, and people become more introspective as they consider their blessings. Today’s links are full of stories reminding us that meat comes from animals.

The Atlantic Food channel has a couple of standout multimedia presentations. The first is a slideshow of a Sonoma County (CA) 4H club that is trying to revive traditional turkey farming methods. It’s fantastic to see the kids involved in the entire process.

Second is a video of the Atlantic’s Corby Kummer interviewing Dan Barber, co-owner and executive chef of Stone Barns Center and Blue Hill Restaurant. The discussion is a fascinating one, touching on the marriage of tradition and modernity, and the humility of respecting what nature provides. If you are not familiar with Stone Barns or Dan Barber, please check it out.

And while Dan Barber talks about using the whole animal, USA Today has an article about industrial uses for animal byproducts.

Turkey Talk

2009-11-20T14:14:00.003-05:00

The Atlantic Food Blog has an article from Nicolette Hahn Niman, author of Righteous Porkchop and wife of Bill Niman of Niman Ranch. It's a little late, but she explains the importance of buying heritage turkeys and gives some tips for buying one.

You've ordered your turkey, right? Don't forget that today is the ordering deadline for Sweetwilliam Farm, and that there is a Thanksgiving Farmers' Market in Westminster from 3-7pm, where they say they will have a few turkeys. (Links to both on the right.)

So where did you get your turkey? And please, if you know of a good source for last minute birds, leave it in comments.

CSA's, PSAs and GMO's (oh my!)

2009-11-19T14:48:00.003-05:00

David Lebovitz has a lovely entry today about his first French CSA box. Unfortunately, it appears that the disappearing family farm is a problem in France (!) as well. He cites the NYT’s figure of 30,000 French farms lost annually.

The Center for Food Safety is sending around a taped message from Michael Pollan and a plea for contributions to help small farmers defend themselves against lawsuits brought by Monsanto. If you saw Food, Inc, you know how doggedly the “world’s leading agriculture biotechnology company” has pursued these small farmers. There is a great deal of information at the site even if you don’t wish to contribute.

On the subject of contributions, I would like to remind everyone that we are in the prime season for food drives. It is never easier to contribute to your local food pantry than during the holiday season. Please don't forget those for whom food quality is far less a concern than food quantity.

A couple more books & movies of interest ...

2009-11-17T16:10:00.007-05:00

Has anyone read either of these books?

Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
The Compassionate Carnivore: Or, How to Keep Animals Happy, Save Old MacDonald's Farm, Reduce Your Hoofprint, and Still Eat Meat by Catherine Friend
These are 2 great DVDs ...
- The Future of Food
- King Corn

Does Anyone Know What we are Feeding our Kids? Apparently Not...

2009-11-17T14:56:00.005-05:00

In case we need more evidence of the perils of our long food supply chain, USA Today does some good investigative journalism today, reporting on contaminated food in the school lunch program. The article tells the story of a school made sick in 2007 by tortillas that were known to have caused outbreaks as far back as 2004, and in fact had been recalled in 2006. In addition, the tortilla factory had failed FDA inspections on more than one occasion. Sadly, the only thing that makes this case unusual is that the source of the contamination was known. Typically, it’s impossible to pinpoint the source because of the diffuse nature of our food system. As a Government Accountability Report puts it, the “complex distribution path can make it difficult to track food from beginning to end.” It’s well worth the read, given that 31 million children depend on the program, and our government agencies cannot verify that the food is safe.

In more encouraging news, I’ve added a new link to Pete & Jen’s Backyard Birds, who offer rabbit, lamb, pork and beef in addition to their birds. They have a delightful blog of their own, where you can read about their mobile poultry processing unit and see lots of great photos of their animals. There is also a new blog from the FRESH, the movie folks in the feed on the right. (h/t Lisa)

Finally, I have an exciting announcement from Michael Urban of the Grafton Farmers’ Market:

Calling all folks interested in starting up a Grafton Community Garden! On December 7th at 7:30 PM in Conference Room B of the Municipal Center we will have an open meeting to discuss organizing a community garden. A community garden is simply a plot of land divided up for local residents to try their hand at gardening. Gardening skills not required, just enthusiasm and the energy to work with others. For more information, please stop by on December 7th or contact Michael at urban_michael2002 at yahoo dot com.

Keep your links and event notifications coming!

Links!

2009-11-16T14:50:00.002-05:00

As you can see to your right, the links are up. There are some great resources there, so check them out, and certainly let me know if there are any I should add. I’ve also begun a list of books and movies (just in time for holiday wish lists!)

There is also a button for RSS feeds. It’s a good way to be notified of any new posts. I can also email them to you if you prefer not to use a blogreader. If you have any questions about subscribing, I would be happy to help out.

I have a couple of links today. There will be a Thanksgiving Farmers’ Market this Friday the 20th from 3-7pm in Westminster. Go to the Westminster Farmers’ Market site for details.

Here is a press release from Mass Local Food Co-op about December’s ordering cycle. Orders placed by 11/30 will be delivered on 12/4. If you haven’t checked the co-op out yet, please do.

And finally, if you are on Facebook, Muir Glen Organic will donate $1 for every person who becomes a fan to Chefs Collaborative, which supports a sustainable food system.

Enjoy the rest of this beautiful day!

Welcome, Pt.II

2009-11-15T13:37:00.003-05:00

Hello! Karen here. Welcome again to the blog.

There’s a lot of information out there and it can be overwhelming to wade through. My goal is to provide a clearinghouse for links to helpful websites, interesting articles and notifications of upcoming events. Please feel free to contact me at kartho at verizon dot net or leave any ideas in the comments section.

I will be filling the sidebar with links to helpful sites and blogs that address sustainable food issues. I’ll be listing books and movies. I’ll give you links to local farms and farmers markets. And in the blog posts, I’ll be passing along links to interesting articles and upcoming events. To get started, here are a couple of my favorite articles.

NYT’s Mark Bittman’s classic article, “Rethinking the Meat Guzzler.” (Free membership may be required.)

The author and NYU professor Marion Nestle looks at the controversy surrounding Michael Pollan’s recent invitation to speak at Cal Poly. The attached letters reveal how threatened Big Agriculture is by the sustainability movement and how committed they are to protecting the status quo.

We can always take inspiration from the poetic and prescient (this essay is from 1989!) Wendell Berry. In his essay "The Pleasures of Eating," he reminds us that "eating is an agricultural act."

There is one event to pass on to you. Tonight at 7, there will be a free showing of Food, Inc. at the UU church on Grafton Common. I have seen the movie, and it is an excellent companion piece to FRESH.

I look forward to hearing from you with ideas for the blog!

Guide to Food Labels

2009-11-14T23:03:00.003-05:00

Ever get confused reading food labels?

What exactly does "Organic" mean?
How about "Pasture-raised" or "All Natural" or "Free-range"?

This handy guide can help you sort through the labeling confusion and be more aware of what you're really buying!

WELCOME!

2009-11-14T22:07:00.000-05:00

After a recent community screening of the movie "FRESH" a group of us decided to continue the discussion, and find a way to help each other live more sustainably. This group is developing as a grass-roots initiative to help educate others and to support each other in our quest for a better quality of life, by becoming more aware of the problems that exist, and looking for ways to bring about positive change. We welcome your suggestions, ideas, and sharing of resources!