The Corn Conundrum. One of summer’s greatest vegetable pleasures is missing from my garden.
I don’t grow corn, much to my children’s dismay. Every year, they ask to plant some, and every year, I make excuses: We love buying our corn from Fred, a farmer in the next town, who sells sweet, heavy cobs out of the back of a vintage pickup. True. We eat so much corn at one time, we could never grow enough for all of us to eat a meal together. Also true. But there’s a selfish element to my corn aversion that I often neglect to mention. I suspect that more competent gardeners and certainly farmers have made peace with these issues, and so when I can, I try to soak up their experience.
The Shakers, a religious order established in the late 18th century, practiced pacifism, celibacy, and communal living in communities throughout the eastern United States. One technique the Shakers learned from Native Americans is known as three sisters planting: growing beans, corn, and squash together. This week in my garden: RSF Social Finance. Guide to Coconuts. From its butter to its water—the mighty coconut may be the perfect food.
Considered a fruit, a nut, and a seed (though technically in the drupe family), the coconut is one of those addicting foods that you can never get enough of. The palm is also called the “Tree of Life” because every single part of the plant can be used to make everything from milk to musical instruments. It’s a good thing the coconut lives up to its weighty name, providing the world with delicious retreats into coconut-food heaven. Here’s the low-down on the health benefits, how to bake up delicious coconut cake, and whip up beauty applications, and why everyone is obsessing over this fuzzy, brown food. Quenching Thirst Coconut water is getting more grocery attention, and not only at the health-food stores. Buttery Goodness Not exactly the angel of the fat world, coconut oil and butter have gone through a rollercoaster ride of reputations. Subbing for Mr. Slow Food International - Good, Clean and Fair food.
Growing Power. BALLE - Business Alliance for Local Living Economies. Will the real food movement please stand up? Image: Will Etling’s “Sustain,” originally for GOOD magazine and contributed to Green Patriot Posters.
Farmer Bob Comis recently suggested that the food movement is suffering from “multiple personality disorder.” He argued that several vocal factions — foodies, locavores, and “smallists” — tend to dominate the food movement discussion, unrealistically distracting us from our ultimate objective: bringing affordable, organic food to all as part of a broader commitment to social justice. For decades now, organic farmers and sustainable food activists of all stripes have been vexed by the question: Is this a movement? Can it scale and have meaningful impact? At one eloquent and entrepreneurially-impeccably-credentialed end of the spectrum stands farmer Joel Salatin: Don’t let them confuse you.
At the other eloquent and entrepreneurially-impeccably-credentialed end of the spectrum stands Stonyfield Farm CEO Gary Hirshberg: “I hate the ‘m’ word. Where does that leave us? CSAs to the rescue. Organic Seeds from High Mowing Organic Seeds - Organic Vegetable, Flower, Herb and Cover Crop Seeds, including Heirloom Varieties. Shepherd's Way Farms. Gather restaurant - home. People's Grocery - Healthy food for everyone! Welcome - Revolution Foods. Mamma Chia - Seed Your Soul. Greenling - Local food and Organic produce and groceries home delivered - Austin and San Antonio.
Local Harvest / Farmers Markets / Family Farms / CSA / Organic Food.