I am to believe that food choice is strictly individual and not environmental? Yet, a hundred year old American institution, which promotes child health, is condoning candy bars…and there is no connection between what is socially encouraged food and choice? Mmm-kay.

Vegan author James McWilliams has been trying to build an argument that the only sustainable way to raise food producing animals is through factory farming. His transparent strategy is to say that since factory farming is the best we can do, we should not do it at all. Unfortunately his arguments are skewed and without practical knowledge of farming. Its odd. It is as if he is making suggestions for how the world should be, and how all people should eat, based on theoretical ideas and not on actual practices or actual data. His most recent piece focused on the farming practices of Joel Salatin of all people.
 
I encourage those of you interested in the debate to read Mr. Salatin’s excellent rebuttal.

 
William Sonoma has started a new line of products called Agrarian. I gotta tell you, there is nothing quite so effective as corporate colonization to warp an authentic practice. What part of the equation of the common people taking back control over their own food source has been missed by William Sonoma? I’ll tell you which part- all of it. The idea of renewable resources, sustainability, food sovereignty…thats for the next season’s catalog. Because as we all know, we can buy ourselves a better world.
 
They are selling prefab chicken coops from $400 to $900 (plus tax). I built my very nice coop and run for less than $200. I used reclaimed materials as that is the spirit of self-sufficiency.
 
They are also selling custom designed 8-frame beehives. Ooh folks, I’d be careful with that one. One, the kit does not come with an actual hive body, only a series of shallows. Two, they are custom size boxes which I imagine will only hold their custom designed frames, and they do not appear to even sell additional deeps. Going price: $500.
 
How much is a fancy pants 8-frame beehive kit (their Garden Hivery design) from Mann Lake, Inc- an exclusive beekeeping equipment supplier? $182.85.
 
However, My absolute favorite item that they offer is the “Chicken Coop Predator Kit.” This is a roll of 1/2″ hardware cloth (2′x25′) with 25 poultry wire staples, 20 nails, and 20 washers for $59.95. If you mean to wrap the entire bottom of your run with hardware cloth You are going to likely need more than 25′. You can get 50′ of 1/4″ (recommended instead of 1/2″) for $50 online, likely less at Lowes or Home Depot. You can also get bailing wire to “sew” your cloth onto the run for ~$5.
 
Sigh…this new William Sonoma line is green washing at its most costly, not only in monetary cost but in the co-opting of vital principles that are driven by a true need to create a healthy food source.

I started this blog to chronicle my experience of growing and raising food in the city. I never quite expected that “urban farming” would grow in popularity to the degree that is has. Its hard work and our culture is so driven toward convenience. However, it has and because of this, new social and political issues are coming to light.
 
For example, there is a significant issue around bringing attention to and attempting to legalize backyard food and animals. For the people that have been maintaining themselves by quietly cultivating their backyards, community and government scrutiny means others will attempt (in some cases successfully) to impose their values on private practices. I recently read a well written post on this called, the politics of urban farming. I encourage you to read it too.
 
Then there is the concern I have mentioned before, which is sustaining community projects. Nonprofit funding runs in trends. With the sudden bloom of urban farm projects, funding will dry up. This is exactly what is happening with Quesada Gardens in San Francisco.
 
All of this is to say that urban farming has moved well beyond our backyards. It is critical to consider this bigger picture as we forge ahead in our effort to build a healthy equitable food system.

 
Uh oh, the Ohio headquartered Wendy’s has made a booboo in their new 2012 marketing campaign. Its seems that their “diversity team” overlooked a detail when they developed the radio ditty for their test product, the Spicy Guacamole Chicken Club. The chorus of their radio song is “Gua-Caca-Mole” (caca is Spanish slang for poo). Even better is that the singer of the song has a hint of a Spanish accent. This is hilarious.
 
Usually when I discuss corporate abuse of the food system I target McDonalds. That is because of their blatant strategy to target children. They are also the biggest player in the fast food restaurant business and can have the greatest impact with change. However, don’t let this fool you into thinking only McDonald’s should be held accountable for marketing high processed, low nutrition and cheap food to vulnerable communities. Wendy’s is as much a culprit in creating unhealthy food environment’s in low income neighborhoods where grocery stores are infrequent, if they exist at all.
 
So, without even focusing on the misrepresentation of Mexican food in fast food chains, let me instead suggest that Wendy’s new song is a Freudian slip of guilt over the true quality of the product they are promoting.

Looking for inspiration? Think that you cannot make a difference in today’s world? Go find yourself a copy of the film, This Black Soil, and be prepared to learn otherwise.
 

 
This documentary (one hour) takes you through the struggle of a poor, isolated and uneducated black community as they protest and defeat a bill that will allow construction of a maximum security prison in their neighborhood. But they don’t stop there. They see a chance for a better life. They see an opportunity to reclaim a sense of ownership as they once again cultivate the land.
 
I just attended one of the community forums presented by Acta Non Verba Youth Urban Farm & Communities for a Better Environment at Tassafaronga Center in East Oakland. We viewed this film and dialogued about opportunities in Oakland.
 
This city is ripe with opportunity. If you are willing to make the commitment and do the work, you will see results. We too can have reclaimed ownership and cultivation of the land for a healthy resilient Oakland.

There are many wonderful examples of appropriate technology around the world. It is often mind boggling how behind the U.S. is sometimes. For example, any the U.S. any county that transitions to healthy food options for their vending machines are considered innovators of food policy. I challenge this. Yes, of course we should stop selling highly processed fat and sugar laden snacks in our institutions, but is it really that hard? Really? Then tell me how on earth France is able to provide fresh raw milk via vending machine. Raw milk people. This is what the feds are cracking down on in the U.S. like its a cartel driven economy. WTF.
 
And so I bring you the unpasteurized milk vending machine:
 

I participated in a well attended discussion this week organized by People’s Grocery. The focus was on food systems and local economy- the development of jobs in food and career readiness. I truly appreciate that People’s is focusing on career readiness. The question I have is are we ready for the change so many of us are precipitating?
 
We want land access, ok- we are getting it.
We want the rules to change so we can grow and sell food in the city, ok- happening.
We want to be able to have mobile food vending throughout our city- k.
We want to be able to cook food at home and sell it without pricy rent at a commercial kitchen…even this is possible (read more).
We want a legal environment that fosters local and sustainable economies and business ventures- cities around the nation are stepping up and supporting their people in this. Because this is what it will take, not just the laws to enable the businesses minded to start up.
 
The next stage is preparing ourselves to transition from these excellent startup entrepreneurial steps to permanent and healthy businesses. Can brave entrepreneurs taking the risk to start new local businesses be supported by the local dollar? Your dollar? Can they be supported to take the risk of setting up business in dilapidated commercial corridors that need the influx of stable business to attract investment into the community? Are we as a community ready to make this committement to them and to our city?
 
This is where the real transformation rests for our cites, environment and health. Its up to us to catch these opportunities and run with them. We do this and these creative businesses that have the ability to transform our communities will be more than a flash in the pan.

Just learned of a great resource out in the inter nets. A website that offers tips on how to reduce food waste. This is a particularly fun topic for me as I like the challenge of making creative dishes out of leftovers. I love making a new dish that has ingredients that can be repurposed in dishes throughout the week. First because I dislike eating the same thing over and over and am not included to make one huge casserole that I eat all week. Secondly, because it does save time and effort to cook what I have without having to shop first. Not a big fan of shopping so this a real boon for me.
 
SF Chronicle used to have recipes in their Wednesday food section that had a master dish and then a preparation with leftovers for following days. Loved it!
 
That all said, the U.K. based website is Love Food Hate Waste. They offer an entire section on recipes with leftovers and a section saving time and money. Hard not to love them.

Can it be? Quiet El Cerrito takes a brave stance on raising and processing your own backyard livestock. They say no to a ban on slaughter.
 
Over the last two and half years the City Council and Environmental Quality Committee of quiet El Cerrito worked diligently to craft new laws that would facilitate sustainability and self sufficiency for their residents. As they went to a final vote in November 2011, the Oakland based vegan anti-urban farming group, Neighbors Opposed to Backyard Slaughter (N.O.B.S.) showed up to the El Cerrito city council meeting to demand a ban on being able to raise and process animals for food.
 
The local rag, The Patch, covered the evening of frightful tales and dramatic recordings played to the City Council. The City Council agreed to review the policy once again before it goes into affect April 6th, 2012. Since that time, City Attorney Sky Woodruff worked hard on possible legal frameworks for the city to adopt. These are highly informative as was his presentation on the matter at last night’s City Council meeting.
 
As a result, the city decided to keep the increased nuisance laws as they are and not take away the choice, or the rights, of their residents. In fact, outgoing Mayor Ann Cheng said she believes in the common sense of El Cerritans. She trusts them to be responsible. Now Councilmember, Cheng spoke with respect and trust for the residents of her city. Imagine that.
 
I certainly hope the City of Oakland can take note from this example.