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.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I'm often told by people that they can't eat organic because it's too expensive. In the short term, this is indeed true to some extent. My answer to them is "How much are you spending on over-the-counter remedies, doctor's bills, and prescription drugs? How many health issues can be traced back to an unhealthy diet?" Also, bear in mind that USDA organic certification is a costly process. Many small farms are using sustainable practices, and growing organic, but can't afford the certification.

The law of supply and demand is generally defined as: the amount of a commodity, product, or service available and the desire of buyers for it, considered as factors regulating its price. Historically, the more demand there is for a product, the more production of the product occurs, leading to lower prices for that product. My thought is that maybe we aren't demanding that more healthy food be available. That being said, people who want affordable organic food, do have options. Grow your own. Support a local farmer who uses sustainable/organic practices in the production of food. Local Harvest can help you locate one in your area.

Let's talk about the first option. Many people believe you have to live on a farm to grow your own food. This simply isn't true. Gardens are springing up in abandoned urban lots, on rooftops, in suburban backyards, and even apartment balconies. There's even a website called Shared Earth. This website, which Sustainable America acquired last year, is designed to connect people who want to garden or farm with people who have land or tools to share.  

Most popular vegetables can be grown in containers, making this an attractive option for people with a shortage of space, physical limitations, or short-sighted homeowner's associations and city governments. Mother Earth News has a nice article on container gardening. Rodale's Organic Life also has a good article on the subject.

One of the most important aspects of gardening is healthy soil. Most food produced by large agricultural conglomerates is nutritionally deficient due to use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. In addition to poisoning the food, these chemicals have rendered the soil dead. According to research conducted by Dr. August Dunning, chief science officer and co-owner of Eco Organics, in order to receive the same amount of iron you used to get from one apple in 1950, by 1998 you had to eat 26 apples! Also, the reason food doesn't taste as good as it used to is also related to the deterioration of mineral content. The minerals actually form the compounds that give the fruit or vegetable its flavor.

Consider using organic/non-GMO heirloom seeds. Seed Savers Exchange, Johnny's Seeds, and Annie's Heirloom Seeds, all have these types of seeds available. These companies have signed the Safe Seed Pledge — a written commitment to sell only non-GM seed — or made public declarations that they will not knowingly sell GM seeds. Don't forget to check which growing zone you are in so you grow the appropriate plants for your area.

When choosing pots, you need to consider size, style, material, and weight, as well as what will be planted in them. Here's a guide to choosing the right size based on what you are growing.

OrganicGuide is a place where you can search for organic - and related - businesses and resources in your local area as well as helpful articles. Another good resource for how-to articles is Mother Earth News and Grow It Organically. There's even Organic Gardening for Dummies.  There's plenty of information and support out there to help you get started, and be successful. 

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

Agroforestry and the Future of Farming

What is agroforestry, you ask?  Agroforestry is an integrated approach of using the interactive benefits from combining trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock.  It combines the technologies of agriculture and forestry to create more diverse, productive, profitable, healthy, and sustainable land-use systems. It offers increased productivity, economic benefits, and more diversity in the ecological goods and services provided.

Depending upon the application, potential impacts of agroforestry can include:

• Reducing poverty through increased production of wood and other tree products for home consumption and sale
• Contributing to food security by restoring the soil fertility for food crops
• Cleaner water through reduced nutrient and soil runoff
• Countering global warming and the risk of hunger by increasing the number of drought-resistant trees and the subsequent production of fruits, nuts and edible oils
• Reducing deforestation and pressure on woodlands by providing farm-grown fuelwood
• Reducing or eliminating the need for toxic chemicals (insecticides, herbicides, etc.)
• Through more diverse farm outputs, improved human nutrition
• In situations where people have limited access to mainstream medicines, providing growing space for medicinal plants

Agroforestry practices may also realize a number of other associated environmental goals, such as:

• Carbon sequestration
• Odor, dust, and noise reduction
• Green space and visual aesthetics
• Enhancement or maintenance of wildlife habitat

Sustainable America has more information about agroforestry here.

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.

The Future of Food and Farming

In 2002 the US government counted farmers - the last time they have done so - and found that the average age of a farmer was 55 years old. The good news is that thousands of young people are becoming farmers, especially organic farmers. Truly good news for society, food production, and awareness of the need for greater sustainability in agriculture.

According to a story in NPR's food blog, The Salt, there is "a new surge of youthful vigor into American agriculture — at least in the corner of it devoted to organic, local food. Thousands of young people who've never farmed before are trying it out."  The old priorities of corporate ladder-climbing and the pursuit of big paychecks is giving way to the lure of the outdoors, and a return to living off the land.  Our current global economic crisis is, at least partly, responsible for encouraging some to try growing their own food.


Victory gardens were started during World Wars I and II as a way for civilians to counter extreme shortages in the food supply. In the same way, today's families could benefit from a small garden planted with vegetables, raised organically, to provide healthy food for little money.  Apartment and condo dwellers with sunny patios or balconies can plant container gardens with vertical supports for pole beans, tomatoes, peas, squash, etc.  Strawberry pots can be used for growing a kitchen herb garden - several common herbs all in one container.

Small family farms have been on the decline for decades.  One idea for making those farms profitable again would be for small farmers to offer plots of land to individuals or families who want to grow their own food. The plots could be rented monthly and the revenue would help keep land in families that have farmed for many years, but can no longer make a living at it.


Small farms are also ideally situated for CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture. The farmer sells "shares" for each growing season.  The investors help the farmer share the risk, and the reward is fresh, locally grown, usually organic, produce, eggs, milk, and meat.  Local Harvest is an excellent resource for finding local CSAs, farms, and farmer's markets.

The slow food movement also makes a case for growing and consuming locally produced food.  Slow Food began in Italy with the founding of its forerunner organization, Arcigola, in 1986 to resist the opening of a McDonald's near the Spanish Steps in Rome.  Promoted as an alternative to fast food, Slow Food strives to preserve traditional and regional cuisine and encourages farming of plants, seeds and livestock characteristic of the local ecosystem.

Jennifer Maiser is the editor of the Eat Local Challenge website, which is a place for authors nationwide to share their experiences with finding locally grown and locally produced food.
In her article, 10 Steps to Becoming a Locavore, she states:

"Locavores are people who pay attention to where their food comes from and commit to eating local food as much as possible. The great thing about eating local is that it's not an all-or-nothing venture. Any small step you take helps the environment, protects your family's health and supports small farmers in your area."

In these difficult times there are opportunities for all of us to become closer to the land,
re-establish healthier eating habits, and support a way of life that is on the brink of extinction.

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

Destroying the earth in the name of food safety

I recently read an article from the San Francisco Chronicle that completely alarmed me. Here is the beginning paragraphs of “Crops, pond destroyed in quest for food safety” written by Carolyn Lochhead:

Dick Peixoto planted hedges of fennel and flowering cilantro around his organic vegetable fields in the Pajaro Valley near Watsonville to harbor beneficial insects, an alternative to pesticides.

He has since ripped out such plants in the name of food safety, because his big customers demand sterile buffers around his crops. No vegetation. No water. No wildlife of any kind.

"I was driving by a field where a squirrel fed off the end of the field, and so 30 feet in we had to destroy the crop," he said. "On one field where a deer walked through, didn't eat anything, just walked through and you could see the tracks, we had to take out 30 feet on each side of the tracks and annihilate the crop."

In the verdant farmland surrounding Monterey Bay, a national marine sanctuary and one of the world's biological jewels, scorched-earth strategies are being imposed on hundreds of thousands of acres in the quest for an antiseptic field of greens. And the scheme is about to go national.

Invisible to a public that sees only the headlines of the latest food-safety scare - spinach, peppers and now cookie dough - ponds are being poisoned and bulldozed. Vegetation harboring pollinators and filtering storm runoff is being cleared. Fences and poison baits line wildlife corridors. Birds, frogs, mice and deer - and anything that shelters them - are caught in a raging battle in the Salinas Valley against E. coli O157:H7, a lethal, food-borne bacteria.

In pending legislation and in proposed federal regulations, the push for food safety butts up against the movement toward biologically diverse farming methods, while evidence suggests that industrial agriculture may be the bigger culprit.

To those who believe, as Mr. Peixoto does, that food should be free of chemical pesticides this strategy is a huge step backwards! And blaming E.coli for this ridiculous policy is ludicrous. Where was this problem 100 years ago? 200 years ago?

The bigger issue is how corporate agriculture has affected the safety of our food supply.

Seattle trial lawyer Bill Marler, who represented many of the plaintiffs in the 2006 E. coli outbreak in spinach, said:

"In 16 years of handling nearly every major food-borne illness outbreak in America, I can tell you I've never had a case where it's been linked to a farmers' market.

Could it happen? Absolutely. But the big problem has been the mass-produced product. What you're seeing is this rub between trying to make it as clean as possible so they don't poison anybody, but still not wanting to come to the reality that it may be the industrialized process that's making it all so risky."

Overuse of antibiotics over the last 30 years has resulted in resistant strains of bacteria in humans. Couldn’t the same reasoning be applied to bacteria in animals? E.coli dwells mainly in the guts of cattle, which are routinely dosed with antibiotics. The first appearance of E.coli, in the early 1980’s, was in hamburger meat and then later found in certain produce – mainly leafy greens.

I see this as another inevitable result of industrial agriculture’s unhealthy, destructive processes.

In a previous post from March of this year sustainable agriculture was discussed. Also discussed was the return of family farms, and smaller scale, regional and local farming as the preferred source of our food supplies. The beneficial effects on population health, local economies, and the environment cannot be emphasized enough.

To find a local farm, or farmer's market in your area visit Local Harvest or contact your local county extension agent. Please support your local farmer!

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