Food Crisis Solution: Go Back to the Beginning?

Much has been said, over the years, about the global food crisis and world hunger. At the same time, food waste in many countries is at an all time high. Perhaps part of the problem is that food production has become too big; too global. Perhaps the answer is to go back to the beginning with local/regional food production and distribution.

A return to seasonal selections of food based on local/regional geography. Less transportation costs, shorter distance from field to table, less waste. A resurgence of small family farms able to offer healthy, produce, meat, fruit, nuts, eggs, cheese, etc. in a sustainable way. Personal relationships between farmers, grocers, butchers, bakers, restaurants,

and consumers.

“Slow Food reminds us of the importance of knowing where our food comes from. When we understand the connection between the food on our table and the field where it grows, our everyday meals can anchor us to nature and the place where we live.”

~ Alice Waters, chef, author, Vice President of Slow Food International

In metropolitan areas, abandoned buildings and vacant lots are being converted to vertical farms and urban gardens, eliminating food deserts, and providing employment opportunities for inner city inhabitants. Will Allen's Growing Power is testimony to the ways a community can benefit from urban farms. Urban farms can be found in New York, Chicago, London, Paris, Berlin, and Sydney, as well as many other cities around the world.

"Our connection to, and knowledge of, the food we eat, the land upon which we grow it and the people who plow, plant and pick it is more important to our future than all the money in the world. "                      ~Nancy Kotting-Two Men, Two Farms and a Legacy We Can All Learn From

Small, local farms can also successfully eliminate the issue of food waste in communities by using waste food from restaurants, grocery stores, and schools as compost. California Safe Soil has developed Harvest-to-Harvest, or H2H, a liquid fertilizer made from food waste. Comprised completely of organic matter, H2H vastly reduces the amount of chemical fertilizers needed by a crop. Just as important, the liquid can be applied to crops with farmers’ existing irrigation equipment, reducing the necessity for extra labor or equipment costs. The company sources food waste from a number of Sacramento-area grocery store chains to create its product. 

Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland, which has an extensive sustainability policy, uses their grains in almost every area of its business. After brewing, some of the waste go to local farms where it’s fed to the livestock and poultry that end up being served back at the brewpub. Some of it goes to the baker who makes the bread and pretzels on their menu. Another portion is composted for use at their urban farm and another urban farm in the city. The grains, which are rich in the nitrates and sulfates on which fungi thrive, are also used by local mushroom cultivators to grow mushrooms that end up as toppings on pizzas or salads. 

It's time for agriculture to become, local and sustainable, if we are to have a secure, healthy food supply in the future.

Until next time...become the change you imagine.

Surviving in the next age: Ancient skills for a modern world.

So much has been written, in recent years, about the end of the Mayan calendar and a possible apocalyptic end to life as we know it.  We are certainly living through some of most turbulent, globally calamitous, times in recent memory.  War, famine, economic insecurity on a global scale - the list goes on.

Times like these usually create a variety of reactions from people. Some turn to religion, some turn to escapism through drugs and/or alcohol, some give in to despair and take their own lives, or the lives of others.  In the midst of this type of highly-publicized and sensationalized media fodder, there are the intrepid pioneers of the modern world. By adapting ancient traditions to fit a contemporary world, we see hope for the future.

Bartering, and barter economies, are springing up everywhere in response to our continuing skepticism over the stability of our financial institutions.  Think that bartering is some random process among a few New Agers?  Guess again.  It is prevalent enough for the IRS to have established tax guidelines for it.

Survival courses and camps are springing up all over, teaching folks the skills of our pioneering ancestors.  A plethora of books have been written on the subject, and honestly, there are some things everyone should know.  Skills like sewing, building a shelter from natural materials, basic first aid, starting a fire from scratch, finding food in the wild, growing your own food, food storage processes, and making herbal remedies are just some basics if you ever find yourself in a primitive environment.

When I was growing up I learned some of these things while I was a Girl Scout.  Camping was an excellent way of teaching some of the skills mentioned above. And the s'mores - mmmmm...but I digress.  So let's talk about food, and the future of growing, and eating food in the next age.

Frequent readers know that I am an avid fan of the Slow Food movement, sustainable agriculture and a fervent supporter of local farmers and CSAs.  Much is being written about a resurgence in "victory gardens", such as the ones grown by families during World War II. Backyard farms, and urban gardens make sense in this age of questionable food safety and nutrition.  Food produced without hormones, antibiotics, and chemical fertilizers and pesticides are often too expensive for the average family. Growing your own food just makes sense, or purchase it from a local farmer who uses sustainable, organic processes. 

If you live in the United States, you need to be aware of the Farm Bill.  It comes up for renewal on September 30, 2012 and what your lawmakers vote on is going to affect trade, health, agribusiness, the environment, and so much more!  Here's some information:

Our Food System Is Forked Up: Why the Farm Bill Matters

Farm Bill 2012

What's At Stake in the 2012 Farm Bill?

The Farm Bill: Better Food Starts Here

Whatever your philosophy, educating yourself in practical survival skills can be fun, and economically advantageous!  The future isn't something to be feared. It is something to be prepared for.

Until next time...become the change you imagine.