Garden Variety

Drumroll…

mthibault218 — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:38:05 +0000

I’ve completed my videos, slideshow and podcast on the business of the green movement in NYC. Take a look and see what I’ve been working on this semester. Let me know what you think.

First, the video with a Union Square Greenmarket vendor.

A stroll around the Clinton Community Garden and how the organization is similar to a business.

Community supported agriculture is gaining popularity in New York City. Here’s a look at one produce pickup site on the Upper West Side.

Peer inside composting cans (hold your nose)…

Listen to the sounds of an urban garden.

Local Food Roundup

mthibault218 — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:14:59 +0000

From The New York Times: Is frozen food the way of the future?

From The San Francisco Chronicle: Quick man-on-the-street interviews with farmer’s market shoppers/vendors.

Looking for weekend plans? Go to the NYC Food & Climate Summit on Saturday.

Realized it a bit late, but today is Terra Madre Day, sponsored by Slow Food.

Local Eating While Eating Out

mthibault218 — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:46:04 +0000

This Washington Post piece exposes how some restaurants, which attract an eco-conscious crowd, are using dodgy definitions of “sustainable food.”. True, the D.C.-area restaurant the reporter focuses on in the article seems to have good intentions. But in the interest of the bigger picture, if all “green” restaurants had similar problems — menus were out-of-date, suppliers’ practices were hard to track — the title of an eco-friendly restaurant would have little value at all, a point the article raises.

Perhaps a question looming on the horizon is, should there be some sort of regulation, specific requirements met in order for a restaurant to call itself sustainable? Though it would involve more tiresome bureaucracy, it’s not a bad idea. Then, diners could be sure they were patronizing a restaurant that they could support morally and monetarily.

Finally Getting Around to Reading Michael Pollan

mthibault218 — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:56:03 +0000

As I’ve followed the local food beat for the last couple months, I’ve been told numerous times that I simply must read Michael Pollan’s work. He’s a journalist who has covered the food industry, advocating for local and sustainable produce.

I’ve intended to pick up his most recent book, “In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifestor,” for a while now. But in lieu of that, I’ve spent some time reading some of his articles, listed on his web site. Take a look at them — you may not always agree with his viewpoint, but it’s a stimulating topic.

Local Food Roundup

mthibault218 — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:17:10 +0000

From the San Francisco Bay Guardian: A thorough, well-reported piece on labor conditions on organic farms and how the people in lower economic classes are often left out of the local food movement.

From the Fair Food Project: A documentary by the California Institute for Rural Studies and Rick Nahmias Photography that explores farming labor conditions and how to improve them.

From Natural Resource Report: A quick post explaining a rule that sets a minimum farming revenue level Oregon farmers much reach in order to live on their farm land.

Happy Thanksgiving!

mthibault218 — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:37:19 +0000

I hope everybody had a great thanksgiving holiday. A group of seven of us enjoyed a big dinner of organic turkey, cranberry stuffing and side dishes like marshmallow yams, green beans with caramelized apples and apple crisp. a small accident prevented us from eating the creamed spinach (oven spill), but all in all, a great meal.

Quick update — I didn’t get out to the Union Sq. Greenmarket this week to get photos of heritage turkey vendors. I’ll have another topic for my slideshow and you’ll see it here soon.

Upcoming Photo Slideshow

mthibault218 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:41:21 +0000

I’m planning a photo slideshow to be uploaded here next week. In the spirit of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, I’ll be capturing moments from a stall at Union Square Greenmarket that sells heritage turkeys.

From the research I’ve done so far, it seems that different farms sell their turkey at varying rates. I’ll talk with shoppers about why they’ve chosen a heritage turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, their views on our current poultry choices and what they know about how turkeys are raised industrially. Since I grew up on commercial turkey and chicken farms, I’m curious to hear what people know about this process.

Local Food Roundup

mthibault218 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:35:44 +0000

From SupplyManagement.com: Sodexo is going to increase its supply of local food in areas where it is wanted, like Scotland.

From CollegeNews.com: An argument for food justice.

From The Messenger: An upcoming Food & Beverage Expo will explore local food and beverage. I’ve never thought much about local beverages — curious to learn more.

Local Food Roundup

mthibault218 — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:04:22 +0000

From the Duluth News Tribune: A smart review of a study showing that the western Lake Superior region can not yet feed itself.

From C-Ville: Retail Relay, delivering local food ordered online, has an interesting business model.

From Foster’s Daily Democrat: Anyone in the Maine area should look up this talk, about small farming.

Spending time in the garden

mthibault218 — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:53:32 +0000

On Saturday, I volunteered in the Clinton Community Garden, which I’ve featured in a podcast and video (coming soon, I promise). It was nice to get my knees and clothes dirty again, after having lived in New York and Boston without touching soil for the last six years.

Working with other volunteers, I helped reseed, compost/fertilize and cover the garden’s lawn in hopes of adding needed nutrition and new grass. We’ll see how it turns out in the spring. Meanwhile, I’m looking forward to stopping into the garden during the winter for a quiet moment.