I live in a desert–a food desert, which is an area defined by the USDA as a lower-income area without access to a supermarket or large grocery store. In my home neighborhood (Skyway), the closest thing to a grocery store is a convenience store connected to a gas station. The nearest full-sized grocery store is several miles away at the bottom of a high hill. OK, this is not a big problem for me–I have a pretty middle-class lifestyle with a car, I can afford to subscribe to a CSA, and have farmer friends who supply most of our meat. But think about the mom with a toddler and no car. Or an elderly person who must limit their driving. Or people who have to choose between eating and putting gas in their car. Access to wholesome, fresh food is a social justice issue. And it’s an economic concern as well. People whose diet consists largely of convenience foods are more likely to be obese and have health problems associated with obesity, putting greater demands on medical and emergency service providers. For more information on this issue, check out gotgreenseattle.wordpress.com
More Economical, Less Waste
February 21, 2012 at 11:55 pm (Food and Agriculture)
Tags: community supported agriculture, food
A recent newsletter from Full Circle Farm, an area CSA, offered these tips for reducing food waste:
1. Watch your trash. Notice what you throw away or compost, and adjust your purchases accordingly.
2. Organize your fridge. Move older items to a more visible spot, and keep your temperature at 39 degrees.
3. Serve smaller portions. Good for your waistline, your budget, and the earth.
4. Make a plan. Create a menu ahead of time to make sure you use what you have on hand.
5. Use your freezer for leftovers, nuts, and bulk purchases.
Eating Local
August 22, 2011 at 10:09 pm (Food and Agriculture)
Tags: diet, farms, food, local foods
I’m looking forward to our “Chef’s Surprise” meal between services on 8/28. I can hardly wait to see what people bring from their gardens and local farmers markets, and what our talented kitchen crew, led by Alice H., will make of it all. I thought that this article from the “Saving Dinner” website gives some good info about eating local and healthy:
Dear Friends,
You know those “shop local” bumper stickers that seem to be the tattoo on the hindquarters of a good chunk of vehicles? There’s a reason why that statement is becoming popular: for each dollar you spend locally, 68 cents stays in the area and used to create jobs, pay taxes, and support your local city. Isn’t that great? And it’s not just the cash in pocket that makes the grade; the environment also benefits! By shopping locally, it costs way less in transportation costs and because it’s local, it often means less packaging!
When you buy local food you aren’t just supporting the local farm, but you’re getting the best nutrition available for you and your family, too. You’re usually buying produce that has more than likely ripened before being picked so that it is higher in nutrition when it reaches your table. There is also a sense of security in knowing who grew the food and how it was grown.
There’s a whole movement afoot to buy local. Even some Wal-Marts are starting to offer local produce! This isn’t just the “cool” new thing to do, it’s also critical for our food safety, plus it tastes better eating food that hasn’t been shipped half way around the world.
And did I mention taste? (LOL, yep, once or twice). But I have to emphasize, there is definitely a difference in taste! It may impact your taste buds so much that you won’t want to go back to the grocery store and instead choose your local farmer’s market or even grow your own.
So, save a local business, save a local farm, seek out places to shop locally, and maybe you’ll be sporting one of those bumper stickers soon!
WANT TO USE MY ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it.
Copyright (C) 2010 www.savingdinner.com Leanne Ely, CNC All rights reserved.
For an update on our “Chef’s Surprise” brunch, see “NB Eats” link at the left of this page. I’m just sorry nobody brought a camera to record the beautiful and abundant table.
August Taize Reflections
August 22, 2011 at 8:55 pm (Food and Agriculture, Quotes to Ponder, Reflections)
Tags: environment, faith, food, Scripture
Since the theme of this month’s Taize service is “food,” I decided to post the reflections under “NB Eats.” (Click on link at the left of this page.)
COMING EVENTS
September 9, 2010 at 10:20 pm (Events, Food and Agriculture)
Tags: advocacy, Earth Ministry, environment, faith, food
It’s not long until Earth Ministry’s Saint Francis Day Celebration and Creation Care Sermon Contest, on Sat., Oct. 2, from 4-6PM. Four finalists from around the country will each give an 8-10 minute sermon. To vote for your favorite, donate some $$$ to Earth Ministry (it’s a fund-raiser). Two prizes will be given, one for the sermon getting the most votes, and one for the sermon raising the most money. There will be “heavy” hors d’oevres served after the preaching. Free admission (but vote with your donations). Location: Olympic View Community Church, 425 NE 95th St., Seattle
And here’s a link to an interesting lecture series at the UW entitled “Food” Eating Your Environment,” featuring speakers from a variety of disciplines, to be held on Tuesday evenings during October and November at Kane Hall:
https://go.washington.edu/uwaa/events/2010food_lecture/details.tcl
Earth Friendly Gardening Seminar and Plant Exchange
March 11, 2010 at 11:45 pm (Events, Food and Agriculture)
Tags: environment, sustainability, toxics, United Methodist Church
Join us at First United Methodist Church, Bellevue, on Saturday, March 27, from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM for tour second annual gardening event. Laura Sweany from Terra Flora Farm explains Permaculture, a system of land design using existing natural principles to create productive, sustainable gardens that are more bountiful, beautiful and low maintenance. Sue Hartman from the Garden Hotline discusses Safe and Healthy Edible Gardening, including evaluating the health of your soil and chooing toxic- free materials for building raised beds.
Bring house or garden plants or seeds to exhange. Also included: informational displays, children’s activities, door prizes and refreshments. Free and open to the public. Location: First UMC, Bellevue, 1934 108th Ave. NE. Sponsored by the church environmental team.
“Food Rules”
January 7, 2010 at 7:25 pm (Food and Agriculture)
Tags: diet, food, Michael Pollan
Michael Pollan’s new book “Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual” is available in paperback. It’s a distillation of ideas from his previous writings, condensed into 64 pithy sayings or rules. Pollan collected these bits of wisdom from nutritionists and medical people, and also from folklorists, people who attend his lectures or visit his web site, and “a large number of mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers.” Some of these slogans are both true and humorous. Two of my favorites are “Don’t eat breakfast cereals that change the color of the milk” and “Don’t get your fuel from the same place your car does.” If you’re not familiar with Pollan’s work or your time is limited, I would recommend this book. However, if you want more in-depth reporting on the U.S. food industry and its effect on our health, environment and pocketbook, Pollan’s earlier books “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” and “In Defense of Food” will hold your interest and give you much to ponder.
Eating Locally
October 26, 2009 at 10:19 pm (Food and Agriculture)
Tags: local foods, Thanksgiving
With all sorts of “food” holidays coming up, especially Thanksgiving with its “groaning board,” Puget Sound Fresh is once again promoting its “Eat Local” campaign. We’re probably all aware that local foods are fresher and tastier. They increase our awareness and appreciation of our local landscape and climate as we seek out foods suited to our growing season and terrain, and they help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by minimizing transportation costs and distances, a large part of the carbon footprint of agricultural distribution. In addition, eating local foods returns a much higher percentage of each dollar spent to our local and regional economy–anywhere from 50 to 79 cents per dollar when we buy directly from local farmers, through locally-based stores or co-ops or eat at locally-based restaurants.
Please consider “taking the pledge” to include at least one local food into your Thanksgiving meal. If you do this on-line at www.pugetsoundfresh.org prior to Nov. 21st, you will have a chance to win a locally-raised heritage turkey or other prizes. While you’re at this web-site, be sure to sign up for the Puget Sound fresh e-newsletter, an occasional e-mailing about what’s in season, recipes and regional agricultural issues.
