Is anyone else totally sick of twitter invading their space? CNN and all the other networks have a constant stream of tweets from the illiterate and unemployed. Why would I care what someone who spells believe as 'beleave' thinks? Really CNN Really. What about the news? If I wanted to know what other twitterers think I'd be on twitter, but I'm not, yet I'm still burdened by the mass of non-news and opinions of ingrates. Uninformed twitters on swine flu is not informative. Give me news, give me facts but don't show me tweets.
Tweets are for kids.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
The Organic Myth
Farming isn't something so alien to me. Even though I'm a city girl, currently working on my own container garden, I can still recall the days when I was forced out of bed at an early hour before school, to help my Dad in the small, but manageable garden that would feed our family of five for the better part of the year, squishing potato bugs for a penny each, and yanking threatening weeds before they overtook our precious harvest. Across the street was a larger plot of land used by a local farmer, where he usually planted corn, pumpkins or beans that were regularly visited by a giant winged John Deere contraption, set on eliminating those very things we despised in our own garden.
Of course we borrowed corn from this field until our own were ready, and the difference in taste is still remarkable. The loving care we put into our own vegetables was so good you could taste it. Literally.
Listening to my friend recently opine how she only eats organic meat and only organic all the time, made me realize how ignorant most of the world is regarding the organic food boom. Organics take time, commitment and loving care and attention, so how do super-stores like Wal-mart and even Whole Foods for that matter, stock their shelves? I'm not saying I don't shop at Whole Foods, of course I do, it's conveniently nearly next door to my home and that is another issue for another time, but when compared with local produce bought at farmer's markets, produce bought at any of these super-stores pales in comparison. Why? Because when companies like Chiquita or Green Giant start producing organic foods your mind has to ask questions about its origins. Surely no human hand is systematically squishing bugs between their fingers for quality control, right?
To maintain quality, these huge companies have successfully lobbied to the USDA to incorporate some type of pesticide control for their quote unquote organic crops.Food companies have standards, which explain why all tomatoes are nearly the exact same size, and anyone who has experience with their own farm knows that is simply not the case. What happens to all these 'ugly ducklings'? Independent farmers struggle with keeping up with industry standards set up by these mega-giant producers.
The USDA has made it virtually impossible for small locally-based farms to certify their product organic, yet these small farms produce a far more healthy version than the type of stuff that is available to the mass market. The reason the USDA allows these lax restrictions is that as a business, they are in trouble. More people are trying to control what they put in their bodies. The government provides stipends to the large companies, but not the small independents who deserve it and the cost of certifying one vegetable far exceeds the profits some small farms might make all year. Fed up yet?
Well the meat industry is far dirtier and sordid. Even though your chicken might be free-range or organic, the term carries very little value in the real world. Big Beef, Chicken and Pork have manipulated this market to meet their ideals. It literally angers me to hear people talking so ignorantly that they only eat free-range when they have no idea what it actually means. Free range does not automatically dictate an open pasture where chickens peck to their hearts content. It means the there is a door that leads to an area where they might be allowed to roam in a mud-soaked, vitamin deprived atmosphere. The more interest people have in eating guilt-free food, the more lobbies will be presented the the USDA to thwart your efforts. I applaud Whole Foods for bringing free-range to the public vocabulary, but unless you want Whole Foods to become as ubiquitous as Wal-mart, people better start challenging their food sources regularly. I remember when I was young, my family raised a cow at a neighboring farm, that we visited quite regularly. My parents should have known then that I was vegetarian, since I would look into our giant freezer and cry over my friend Bessie, lying in peices. That said, allowing a local farm to raise your beef is probably your best option, if you can eat it!
Your best bet is to talk to your locals. My favorite farmer last year was a very kind Amish man who talked to us for 20 minutes about his special lettuces, rare breeds and varieties. We walked away with enough to tide us over til the following week to see what else he came up with. We ended up visiting him all summer, always coming home with an heirloom vegetable or some other vegetable that literally inspired awe.
My partner and I can't wait until we start our weekend dates of biking to the nearest farmers market, sampling the produce and asking questions to the caretakers of the beautiful bounty, excited about our choices, plannning the weekly menu, all without a shred of guilt at supporting unethical foods from unethical sources.
Of course we borrowed corn from this field until our own were ready, and the difference in taste is still remarkable. The loving care we put into our own vegetables was so good you could taste it. Literally.
Listening to my friend recently opine how she only eats organic meat and only organic all the time, made me realize how ignorant most of the world is regarding the organic food boom. Organics take time, commitment and loving care and attention, so how do super-stores like Wal-mart and even Whole Foods for that matter, stock their shelves? I'm not saying I don't shop at Whole Foods, of course I do, it's conveniently nearly next door to my home and that is another issue for another time, but when compared with local produce bought at farmer's markets, produce bought at any of these super-stores pales in comparison. Why? Because when companies like Chiquita or Green Giant start producing organic foods your mind has to ask questions about its origins. Surely no human hand is systematically squishing bugs between their fingers for quality control, right?
To maintain quality, these huge companies have successfully lobbied to the USDA to incorporate some type of pesticide control for their quote unquote organic crops.Food companies have standards, which explain why all tomatoes are nearly the exact same size, and anyone who has experience with their own farm knows that is simply not the case. What happens to all these 'ugly ducklings'? Independent farmers struggle with keeping up with industry standards set up by these mega-giant producers.
The USDA has made it virtually impossible for small locally-based farms to certify their product organic, yet these small farms produce a far more healthy version than the type of stuff that is available to the mass market. The reason the USDA allows these lax restrictions is that as a business, they are in trouble. More people are trying to control what they put in their bodies. The government provides stipends to the large companies, but not the small independents who deserve it and the cost of certifying one vegetable far exceeds the profits some small farms might make all year. Fed up yet?
Well the meat industry is far dirtier and sordid. Even though your chicken might be free-range or organic, the term carries very little value in the real world. Big Beef, Chicken and Pork have manipulated this market to meet their ideals. It literally angers me to hear people talking so ignorantly that they only eat free-range when they have no idea what it actually means. Free range does not automatically dictate an open pasture where chickens peck to their hearts content. It means the there is a door that leads to an area where they might be allowed to roam in a mud-soaked, vitamin deprived atmosphere. The more interest people have in eating guilt-free food, the more lobbies will be presented the the USDA to thwart your efforts. I applaud Whole Foods for bringing free-range to the public vocabulary, but unless you want Whole Foods to become as ubiquitous as Wal-mart, people better start challenging their food sources regularly. I remember when I was young, my family raised a cow at a neighboring farm, that we visited quite regularly. My parents should have known then that I was vegetarian, since I would look into our giant freezer and cry over my friend Bessie, lying in peices. That said, allowing a local farm to raise your beef is probably your best option, if you can eat it!
Your best bet is to talk to your locals. My favorite farmer last year was a very kind Amish man who talked to us for 20 minutes about his special lettuces, rare breeds and varieties. We walked away with enough to tide us over til the following week to see what else he came up with. We ended up visiting him all summer, always coming home with an heirloom vegetable or some other vegetable that literally inspired awe.
My partner and I can't wait until we start our weekend dates of biking to the nearest farmers market, sampling the produce and asking questions to the caretakers of the beautiful bounty, excited about our choices, plannning the weekly menu, all without a shred of guilt at supporting unethical foods from unethical sources.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Alert! Babycakes new book!
Amazon.com: BabyCakes: Vegan, Gluten-Free, and (Mostly) Sugar-Free Recipes from New York's Most Talked-About Bakery: Erin McKenna
Probably the high-point of my Manhattan existence, was being able to visit the vegan Babycakes bakery in Lower Manhattan. Part of what makes Babycakes so unique is that they focus on gluten-free cupcakes and other baked goods. All items are dairy free, some made with spelt, but all are delicious and gentle on your tummy, which is why it is probably easy to eat two or three cupcakes in one sitting. When I took my friends, I think each of us ended up with a bakers dozen that lasted a day or two. So hard to resist. Walking into Babycakes is an experience to mention; all the girls are wearing cute fifties-style aprons and the place is a super-chic little 50's bakery. Worth it if you are in town!
Can't make it to their storefront? Now you too, can make Babycakes cupcakes in your own kitchen. Word on the street is they are also opening a Los Angeles location, lucky Californians!
Preorder your babycakes cookbook here.
Looking for a way to incorporate delicious baked goods back into your diet? Well, this might be the book for you. Recommended for families, people with food allergies and...vegans!
Probably the high-point of my Manhattan existence, was being able to visit the vegan Babycakes bakery in Lower Manhattan. Part of what makes Babycakes so unique is that they focus on gluten-free cupcakes and other baked goods. All items are dairy free, some made with spelt, but all are delicious and gentle on your tummy, which is why it is probably easy to eat two or three cupcakes in one sitting. When I took my friends, I think each of us ended up with a bakers dozen that lasted a day or two. So hard to resist. Walking into Babycakes is an experience to mention; all the girls are wearing cute fifties-style aprons and the place is a super-chic little 50's bakery. Worth it if you are in town!
Can't make it to their storefront? Now you too, can make Babycakes cupcakes in your own kitchen. Word on the street is they are also opening a Los Angeles location, lucky Californians!
Preorder your babycakes cookbook here.
Looking for a way to incorporate delicious baked goods back into your diet? Well, this might be the book for you. Recommended for families, people with food allergies and...vegans!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
shiraleah vegan bags
I'm in love with the Shiraleah brand. Shiraleah products are kind of ubiquitous in the Philadelphia area. Open House, Blendo and a couple other boutique stores in Philadelphia carry the brand. Shiraleah bags, clutches, wallets and other items are vegan! They also have a nice home decor selection using recycled products, including chairs from newspaper, and plastic rugs from recycled plastic. AND it won't break the bank.
Right now, Shiraleah is donating 3% of their proceeds to disabled children in Vietnam.
I scored a super-hot mustard yellow Chloe knock-off at Blendo, 1002 Pine St, Philadelphia.
Right now, Shiraleah is donating 3% of their proceeds to disabled children in Vietnam.
I scored a super-hot mustard yellow Chloe knock-off at Blendo, 1002 Pine St, Philadelphia.
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