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[Carlos del Vaca]

Everyone's read the Michael Pollan "Farmer in Chief" article, right?
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/magazine/12policy-t.html

Real, real thought-provoking stuff, both in the article itself and the comments that follow.  It includes a variety of policy proposals, some that should appeal to liberals and conservatives alike.

I myself am planning on planting a whole bunch more in the spring, both just because I enjoy it, and as a hedge on high food prices and all the factors he talks about in the article.  I've had tomatoes and herbs since we bought the house in 2004, but I want to plant a bunch of squash and perhaps some lettuces.

Interestingly enough, farmers markets in the DC area are NOT much of a bargain, contrary to what Pollan maintains in his article.  I think we have enough well-off, socially-engaged consumers around here that the farmers can jack up their prices and still sell plenty of veggies.  Produce is routinely cheaper at Giant and Safeway (although frequently of lower quality).

Also, part of me WANTS meat to be more expensive, both to correct all the wacky policies and market goofiness that our current food system hath wrought, and to force me to buy and eat less of it.  I KNOW I should buy free-range organic locally-raised meat, but that stuff is mad expensive, and dammit $1.99/lb chicken breasts at the grocery store are hard to argue with.

[wombat]

Produce is routinely cheaper at Giant and Safeway (although frequently of lower quality).

Produce is always of lower quality at my Giant and Safeway than at the farmer's market. And I am not at all tempted by cheap chicken at either of those places. I rarely buy produce out of season and I will never buy an apple from Chile when it's apple season right here (at Whole Foods they're labelled so you can tell.)

But of course, I have no kids to feed or save to send to college. I am lucky to be able to afford to use my dollars for things that taste better and support my principles.

I used to plant a few vegetables, but there is the logical problem that they get ripe when they are in season around here - so they're more abundant and cheaper to buy. So now I only plant herbs and things I can't get like little Japanese peppers.

[theinevitable]

my anthro class right now is basically about how horrible our food system is, so this article was interesting to read.

[jaydub]

I suppose you've read "The Omnivore's Dilemma?"  If not, I recommend it for those contemplating the state of the food supply chain.

[AugustWest]

What's next, a round of barber bashing?

[theinevitable]

it is assigned reading for the class, so it is coming up.

the one I'm really excited about, though, is this book about the famine in china during the cultural revolution.

[lprkn]

What's next, a round of barber bashing?

Oh man, those barbers. Always being practitioners of a dying art.

[Doc]

Oh man, those barbers. Always being practitioners of a dying art.

I personally don't think they should make very much money.

[Turbo Ninja]

What's next, a round of barber bashing?

All breaking into cars, commiting lewd acts on each other....

[jaydub]

All havin' their own call-in-radio show, puttin' on airs on Sirius.  Can't even tell the two of 'em apart hardly, except that Rondé sounds like he's about to fall asleep half the time.

[Carlos del Vaca]

Useful item:  how to store your produce for maximum preservation.  Cukes on the counter?  Here I've been putting them in the fridge.

My kids are a pain in the ass at times.  We had baked apples last night, covered with butter, cinnamon and sugar, and they loved them.  A couple nights ago, I served butternut squash, covered with butter, cinnamon and sugar... "I don't liiiiiiiiiike this!"

Nonetheless, the seeds from said squash have been dried out a bit and stored away for the spring planting.

Bonus non-food item:  behold the ultra douche.  (SFW)

[theinevitable]

man, how in the hell is there High-Fructose Corn syrup in my ICED TEA??

that is some fucked up shit. this is the day when I have HAD ENOUGH.

[lprkn]

Squash is good. Especially with butter, sugar and cinnamon. Jor kids eez crasee, man.

[wombat]

Squash is even better with olive oil and garlic, cut up in cubes and baked for a long time.

I wish I had known that about cukes, I just threw out three that got all slimy.

[theinevitable]

squash is meant to be made into sopaipillas, and not the bastard mexican dessert variety.

they are a food you eat with some meat and cheese and everyone just has a great ol' time.