Animal, Vegetable, Miracle ch. 11-12

In the chapter Slow Food Nations, Kingsolver and her family were on vacation visiting some friends who also had a farm. I love the connection of Creation and a pesticide free farm. While there may be more work for the gardener/farmer in keeping the weeds away, the rewards are incredible! The result is a more lush crop when organically grown. The birds seemed more abundant and able to do their natural job of pest control.
In the chapter Zucchini Larceny, you can already imagine what is the problem if you've ever been given zucchini or grown it yourself. Lately Matt and I talk daily about being in our garden. It's still a bit too early to plant but we are so anxious for our first FULL season. (last year our brand new community garden finally opened but not until June 14). Tonight we sat on the couch pouring over the Seed Savers catalog and highlighting the seeds we will order. We set a dollar limit for ordering heirloom seeds and the rest we will purchase locally. We chose Romanesco broccoli, Charantais melon (similar to cantaloupe), Joe's Long Cayenne Pepper, Buttercup Squash, Italian Heirloom tomatoes, and Martino's Roma tomatoes. The order will be placed and in a few weeks, we'll have the seed packets in the mail!

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle ch. 9-10

When reading about how career women in some other countries have a passion about preparing the meals, and even go after work straight to the market to purchase fresh food for the evening meal. Two things come to mind... One is that most Americans (myself included) think of the next meal only when we become hungry. Matt and I are trying to get out of that habit. We've begun making weekly menus and shopping for the week using the menu. It not only helps us be more organized and timely and local in our food prep but it saves money. I no longer pull the snacks and other goodies off the shelves at the store because I think I might like to have them sometime this week. Second, this passion of going from work to the market is great but possibly a little too ideal for our American lifestyle. Maybe that means our lifestyle change a bit? Another idea that was emphasized was that time around the table as a family is a VERY important time.
Cooking as a social event is also a very great idea mentioned in the text. We recently celebrated Chinese New Year with some friends from church. We met at Joanna's house and she taught us how to make dumplings (pot stickers) from scratch! It was wonderful fun for the men and women! Then we ate them! YUM!
In chapter 10, she talks about a restaurant that sells food produced by farms within an hour's drive! Incredible! I love it! Although, if you choose to eat at this particular restaurant, it's The Farmer's Diner in Vermont.
Matt and I recently watched a documentary called King Corn. It's about two guys who move to Iowa and plant and acre of corn. Most corn grown in Iowa is not edible as corn. It's shipped out and turned into corn syrup and feed for cows! The cows and treated VERY poorly. They are fed this mostly corn mix and kept in tight quarters in pens with many other cows. In 140-150 days, they are so fat and unhealthy that it's time for them to be slaughtered for beef. If they were allowed to live beyond the 140-150 days, they would soon die because they are so obese and unhealthy and corn fed instead of naturally grass fed, free-roaming cows. And this is ALL in the name of money! Those who know me well, know I collect cows... stuffed ones that is. Now I look VERY differently at my cows. I'm thinking of giving each cow a label that says, "I am grass-fed!" OK. Maybe I won't go that far! :o)
By the way, if you're looking for places that sell grass-fed beef, try Whole Foods or New Seasons and Burgerville!

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle ch. 7-8

A lack of gratitude is a pet peeve of mine. If someone doesn't say thank you for something I've given them, it is upsetting and disappointing. I was surprised to learn that in southern appalachia it's sort of a superstition to say thank you after someone gives you a plant! Don't say thank you whatever you do! The plant may die! Interesting tidbit! I'm certain that isn't the case for the Pacific NW!
This week, I plan to highlight some tidbits that stood out to me. From page 102, "Many who farm for a living have 9 to 5 jobs and still get it (farming) all done." WOW!!!! Working a farm is VERY long and hard work. It should help us all appreciate why good food like this costs more. I'm beginning to understand that. I'm trying to think intentionally about where my food is coming from. Who was behind the planting, tending, care, growth, harvesting of each carrot I eat, etc...
The community aspect of farmer's markets is an amazing experience/relationship that all could benefit from (both farmer and buyer). Make your weekly trip to the farmer's market like a field trip. Get to know the farmer behind the veggies and fruits and sometimes grass-fed beef they're selling. They have a passion for what they're doing. We could all learn from them!
One little side note: last farmer's market season, our local famer's market had coloring pages for the kids. I (always a kid) would collect one each week. They all had themes of farms or farmers or fresh veggies, etc... I colored each of them and posted them (not on my blog) but a REAL posting! On the entry way hall, where each person who visits sees the farm in a crayola version! I look forward to collecting and coloring more in 2009!

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle ch. 5-6

Living in the Pacific Northwest, I hadn't thought at all about tobacco farms or even less about tobacco farmers. I don't smoke and don't advocate it. This statement is one side of the argument that pushes tobacco farms into extinction. But on the other hand, tobacco farmers pay the bills with their crop. Can the tobacco farmers learn another crop or even another trade that would put food on the table and their kids through college??? My answer is, "I sure hope that that becomes the trend." I LOVE the quote on p. 75: "If people out in the world were irate about the human damage of tobacco, why wouldn't they care enough -and pay enough-to cover the costs of growing vegetables? I can date from that moment my awareness of how badly our food production system is deranged, and how direly it is stacked against the farmer."
Please support your local farmer's markets this season. It may cost a bit more in your grocery budget but it is WAY worth it in taste and health and supporting a local agriculture! Smaller farms are economically better but have a hard times making ends meet because they are both grower and marketer. They just need MORE customers. That's me and you!

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle week 2

In Friday's mail, I received my annual Seed Savers Exchange (catalog of heirloom seeds, books & gifts). It was so appropriate because in reading chapter 3, Kingsolver refers to this catalog and how she drools over it like some women drool over jewelry catalogs! Matt & I began drooling. We've begun to sticky note the seeds we want to order for our garden this spring. It's the anticipation of the spring that makes the time seem to move even that much slower in the winter!
Most of your average seeds purchased in the supermarkets are Genetically Modified (GM). A "terminator gene" is introduced into the seed causing the crop to commit genetic suicide after just one growing season. You therefore cannot save the seeds and replant next season. They're for all intents and purposes dead seeds! Heirloom seeds are preserved and passed down from generation to generation. The way God intended! Our society has introduced GM simply to make a profit and a large one at that! Check out the Plant Variety Protection Act of 1970.
"GM plants are everywhere in the US food chain, but don't have to be labeled, and aren't. Industry lobbyists intend to keep it that way." (52)
Our veggies are transported in from almost everywhere around the globe. The further they have to travel, the worse shape they are in and the taste is awful. It's no wonder kids don't like to eat their vegetables.
What I have taken from these chapters (3-4), is that American culture is extremely greedy both monetarily and with their choice of any kind of food anytime of year. Can I go so far as to say that our lack of letting food grow in season and eating that food in season is effecting our kids and grandkids as well as our environment as a whole. Maybe some food for thought? :o)
Check out the posted websites...

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

http://www.localharvest.org My former roommate, Jenn (with two n's) is reading Barbara Kingsolver's book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. I am reading it with her a couple of chapters at a time. Today I include my insights from chapters 1-2. The premise is one family eating only local, in-season foods for one year. One true fact is from p. 4: "The average food item on a U.S. grocery shelf has traveled farther than most families go on their annual vacations." One thing I learned that was eye opening was that the reason our American school year goes from Labor Day to mid-June was to free up children to help on the farm in the all important harvest months of summer! Wow! That says a lot! We Americans have grown quite accustomed to eating processed foods and/or foods that have traveled pretty darn far to reach our grocery shelves. We have succumb to eating frozen vegetables when they are out of season even if they don't taste very good! We are a culture that doesn't know how to wait for what's good!
This family started their food experiment in early spring, right after the asparagus was ready. This book also includes recipes consisting of foods that are in season for each month of the year! Jenn & I both will be attempting some of these recipes and leaving our comments here!