Back after a lengthy absence
Hi there.
Back after a lengthy absence.
Was here -- was working in high tech, was a Master Gardener in Toronto, was growing food down in a community garden near the Leslie Spit.
Now? Got laid off in February, am recreating myself to work on things I love best: urban nature, gardening, and field-to-table food. They all tie in together.
This fall I took my second trip to Italy. Visited more small towns this time, and was based in one for a week. Attended local markets. Even Florence has a local market. Most Torontonians would feel at home there: while all the fruit, vegetable, mushroom and wine sellers were outside the building, the brick edifice itself felt reassuringly like the St. Lawrence Market, and that helped me order my 100 grams of lentils, or pick out the appropriate salumi, or buy a chicken. If you want to see pix, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/digiteyes and look for the appropriate food sets.
Four years ago here, when I mentioned organics, a fair number of people thought it was elite food, not something affordable for most. I see more organic and local food in even the big supermarkets now. Am wondering if attitudes are changing?
My initial queries about people trying to eat within 100 miles (back when the authors were still writing articles for the Tyee, prior to the book coming out) largely got met by silence.
And Food Punk -- you still around? I remember you were not claiming organic, but were raising pastured chickens. Hope that growing food is good for you.
Am now (now that we've just had a stupendous growing year in Toronto) reading some books by Lorraine Johnson, and contemplating container growing on my flat roof (which gets more sunlight than my back garden).
...pat.
Four years ago here, when I mentioned organics, a fair number of people thought it was elite food, not something affordable for most. I see more organic and local food in even the big supermarkets now. Am wondering if attitudes are changing?
I don't know about babblers' attitudes on the subject, but I'd say that dismissing organics as 'elitist' is still fairly common.
The fact that organic foods tend to cost more at the time of purchase is a legitimate concern. But I'd rather work to make organics more widely accessible instead of dismissing those who are privileged enough to be able to choose organics.
I don't know about babblers' attitudes on the subject, but I'd say that dismissing organics as 'elitist' is still fairly common.
The fact that organic foods tend to cost more at the time of purchase is a legitimate concern. But I'd rather work to make organics more widely accessible instead of dismissing those who are privileged enough to be able to choose organics.
I agree with you completely, Freedom 55: there has been some buzz this week on Twitter, blogs, and webpages because of an article in Newsweek talking about attempts to politicize local or organic food as a "leftist" and "Democrat" thing, and fast or junk food as a "Republican" or "conservative" thing.
I agree with making organics more widely accessible. That's one of the reasons Lorraine Johnson's book about City Gardening is in my pile of books to read. I think if we could start using some of the roofs in the city for organic vegetable gardening in containers (think of all the schools with their huge roofs!) we might be able to get something started.
Good, healthy food shouldn't be a privilege, it should be a given.
If you're in Ottawa,
http://ontarioculinary.com/?p=4601&utm_medium=twitter
With the help of Just Food, local blog Apartment613 is organizing a lunchtime “kitchen talk” on the topic of access to food in urban areas. This discussion is one way we can contribute to the People’s Food Policy Project at the national level, and the municipal food policy project Food For All.
A representative from Just Food will guide us through the topic and we’ll post some of the outcomes of the discussion on the blog to continue the conversation.
If you are bothered by the fact that one in ten urban residents has limited or inadequate access to food due to financial constraints, or want to see more food grown and sold in the urban areas of Ottawa (and not just at farmer’s markets), then this is the perfect (and delicious) opportunity to express yourself. Thank you to Just Food and Zen Kitchen for helping to make this event happen.
Tickets are $20 to cover the cost of the meal and you can reserve your ticket by contacting editors@apt613.ca.
Time: 12pm to 2pm || Place: Zen Kitchen, 634 Somerset Street West
Welcome back, Digiteyes! Maybe you can help beef up our gardening threads.
Catchfire - today's challenge, turn broccoli (brussel sprouts) into a verb.
Thanks, Catchfire! I'll have to check them out.