The Carnivore's Dilemma

Another article on the great meat debate from the New York Times about the multitude of problems and issues that arise from eating meat AND soy beans. So there vegans.

I especially appreciate the thoughts on feeding cows better, more natural feed, which in turn reduces their methane production. Works the same way for humans, no?

The Greenhorns

Just watched the trailer for this documentary and it made me teary eyed and excited all at once.
http://www.thegreenhorns.net/

Words

From the Ethicurean:

Edible San Francisco contains this anonymous quotation: “Despite its artistic pretensions and its many accomplishments, humankind owes its existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains.”

Urban Farmer

You must read this article about Will Allen, an urban farmer from Wisconsin.

I live in East London and though I live across the street from a park and a city farm, we have nothing on the scale of what Will Allen is leading. This is inspiring stuff that makes me want to go find an empty space and grow things in it.

Just like they're doing in San Francisco.

You are what you eat

If you opened your fridge to a stranger, what would it say about you?

Mine would say that I'm an alcoholic with penchant for cheese and random things in old Bonne Maman jars.

Photographer Mark Menjivar did an entire series on the premise. Find them here under Portfolio you are what you eat.

The 3/50 Project

This isn't directly related to food, but it is related to local economies.

The 3/50 project is simple. Pick three local business you would miss if they went out of business. Now go spend $50 (or £50) a month there. It's an investment for yourself, for them and also for your community. The percentage of tax income that come back from local businesses is much higher than that contributed by large corporations.

How to: Butcher a Pig

I imagine that this sort of image will become more and more prevalent as the interest in where our food comes from grows.

Global Grocer

A fun way to spend some time on the computer. This computer game (?) leads you through the produce section of a typical American grocery store and shows you where your food is coming from.

Shocking, as you would expect.

From Bitten.

TED Talks - Bittman

I love TED. When the world seems gray there is always something on TED to lift me up and inspire me.

Watch Mark Bittman's TED talk, especially if you need some inspiration to make you think about what you eat and why it matters.

Slaughter Rate

I am not advocating becoming a vegetarian. At all. I love a good steak now and then. But I do believe that we eat far too much meat.

Click here for a frightening illustration of just how much meat we consume. Beware the rest of the website- it promotes veganism. Which I don't.

Local is the new Organic

Sigh.

Apparently local doesn't actually mean squad anymore. All the more reason to go to your farmers market and make friends with your farmer.

Guardian Article here.

Food, Inc.

A new documentary is coming out June 12, 2009 called Food Inc that will discuss the industrial and commercialisation of the food industry.

Spring Seasonal

We live in a magical grocery store land where everything is available all the time. So it's extra difficult to figure out what you should be eating if you're trying to eat seasonally.

Check this out from Mostly Eating.

Sustainable Fish

Feeling good about your healthy lifestyle that includes plenty of fish? Are you pro-wild or pro-farmed?

You'll be neither after you read this. Bring on the mackerel and sardines.

The Politics of Tomatoes

Do you like fruit? Tomatoes in particular? Do you like the fact that the grocery store has ok ones in January and you can still put them in your salad when there's a blizzard outside? And that they're cheap?

We all know that on some level it's wrong to have out of season fruit and veg on our plates, but we all keep buying it. I do. It's hard to pin down exactly what's wrong though, right? I mean, we know it's insane that out of season foods are so cheap, and the food miles on them are outrageous, and and and...

Read this article about the people who are picking your tomatoes.

Now you have another reason to feel that something is wrong