Ruminations

Abe Collins is a Vermont farmer who practices good grass farming. He also believes in carbon sequestration, defined as “one of the most promising ways for reducing the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere … and is likely be essential if the world is to stabilize atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases at acceptable levels.” [U.S. DOE definition] A recent article about Abe Collins in Ode Magazine sums up many things about meat production and carbon sequestering.  Abe will be a featured speaker at the North American Devon Association conference October 18. Don’t miss a chance to hear this pioneer of the 21^st century.

Down and Dirty in June 2008 Ode Magazine: How carbon farming, the practise of putting CO2 back into the soil, can help fight global warming.

Filed by admin at 4:40 pm under Sustainable Agriculture & Policy
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Scott Gold’s The Shameless Carnivore: A Manifesto for Meat Lovers celebrates meat-eaters and the meat-eating life. He defines a shameless carnivore as someone who knows where his meat comes from, and who eats high-quality fantastic meat less often  than eating mediocre meat daily. A shameful carnivore, on the other hand, “is someone who only consumes meat and refuses to acknowledge where it comes from. … It’s completely disassociated from the animal.”

He continues, “Americans are gluttonous, and we overconsume, and eat way too much meat. You don’t need a lot. It’s very good for you but eating too much bad meat that’s made from poorly raised animals pumped full of growth hormones and antibiotics is bad.”

He advises, “Visit a family farm or any small producer that really conscientious about how they raise their animals. This is in and of itself very important, not just for the animals’ welfare, but for our welfare and the welfare of the planet. And obviously, for flavor, which is what it ultimately boils down to, the happiest animals make the best meat.”

Read the entire interview here. Note that Ottomanelli’s butcher shop, which he recommends, sells Hardwick Beef, our sister organization.

Filed by admin at 6:48 pm under Nutrition, Diet & Food Politics
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More and more attention is now being focused on the quality of the food that we produce and eat. This issue affects not only human health, but also the health of our animals, our soil, and every other part of the agricultural system. Slow Food Nation hosted a very successful and well-attended (by some 60,000 foodies) conference over Labor Day weekend in San Francisco and featured the new 10,000 square foot urban garden in front of City Hall; panelists urged a complete overhaul of our food system and a return to healthy and locally produced food.

This month’s issue of O Magazine prints a call to action by Celia Barbour: “If you want to dodge obesity, avoid chemicals, and reawaken your taste buds, take a pass on industrial food and think flavorful free-range chicken; lean, grass-fed beef; tomatoes that still smell of the garden. There’s a growing movement that’s transforming what we put in our mouths.” Read it here.

Filed by admin at 6:35 pm under Nutrition, Diet & Food Politics
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