Went on a bike ride this morning and took some shots of the leaves changing over the bike path. Sunny and cool today.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Fall in Boston
Went on a bike ride this morning and took some shots of the leaves changing over the bike path. Sunny and cool today.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Andrew Bird sings about Pesticides
Lyrics to Spare-ohs :
The finches and sparrows build nests in my chimney
what remains of the small flightless birds that you failed to protect
but their yolk isn't easy in fact it's a drag
as they're blowing through cornfields and mountains of rags
all over the suburbs
across the great lawns
crop-dusting gardens all over this town
but nobody cares when it gets in their hair
it gets in their lungs as it floats through the air
it gets in the food that they buy and prepare
but nobody cares when it gets in their hair
across the great chasms and schisms
and the sudden aneurisms
where the black ink will drip
across the crespice of your
eyes and your teeth
are worth more than you can spare
oh don't tell me that it just isn't fair
don't speak about the cycles of life
'cause your thoughts are so soft
I could cut 'em with a spork or a bride's knife
and the wine made our mouths too loose
such a reckless choice of words
when you tell me that I'm too obstruce
I just thought it was a kind of bird
I just stood there not saying a word
The finches and sparrows build nests in my chimney
what remains of the small flightless birds that you failed to protect
but their yolk isn't easy in fact it's a drag
as they're blowing through cornfields and mountains of rags
all over the suburbs
across the great lawns
crop-dusting gardens all over this town
but nobody cares when it gets in their hair
it gets in their lungs as it floats through the air
it gets in the food that they buy and prepare
but nobody cares when it gets in their hair
across the great chasms and schisms
and the sudden aneurisms
where the black ink will drip
across the crespice of your
eyes and your teeth
are worth more than you can spare
oh don't tell me that it just isn't fair
don't speak about the cycles of life
'cause your thoughts are so soft
I could cut 'em with a spork or a bride's knife
and the wine made our mouths too loose
such a reckless choice of words
when you tell me that I'm too obstruce
I just thought it was a kind of bird
I just stood there not saying a word
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Organic Farm Trip-- Prairie Horizon's Farm
My dietetic practice group of the American Dietetic Association- Hunger and Environmental Nutrition(HEN) convened on Mary Jo Forbord's organic farm in Minnesota for strategic planning, epicurean delights, and amazing convergence of ideas and ideals. After an introductory semester of US Agriculture, I was able to take a field trip into the heart of America to see a history of farm policy in action.
My photos tell the story. Enjoy.
In 1973, the oil crisis, Vietnam war, Watergate and inflation were on the rise. As hunger and depression hit the rural areas, Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butts enters the scene. His motos:
Fern Gale Estrow- New York- MS, RD, CDN - Policy Guru - Driving us home.
Kelly Horton- Seattle- MS, RD, CD Tufts Food Policy Graduate: owner of Connect Nutrition - Co-pilot.
Me with my backseat companion and cohort, Caroline Baum Webber PhD RD- Professor and Director of Dietetic Internship at Western Michigan.
Sunset over the farm.
Back row: Melinda Hemmelgarn MS RD:The Food Sleuth, Susan Roberts JD MS RD: Visionary HEN Mama, Fern
Front row: Caroline, Lynn Mader MBA RD: The All Star, me, Chris Wharton PhD-Nutrition Professor at ASU, but also a rock star: Our Presidential Hopeful, Andy Sarjahani, (almost) RD, Sustainability Soilder at Virginia Tech: Intensity Builder who always lives the dream, Angie Tagtow MS RD LN, Consultant & Food and Society, Ames, Iowa: The Teacher, The Inspiration.
Back: Mary Jo Forbord RD: Co-owner of Prairie Horizons Farm, Family Farm Visionary & Hopeful and HEN Historian, Barbara Hartman RD West Virgina: Spiritual Mama and Guide; Helen Costello MS RD LS- New Hampshire and Friedman School graduate: Or, Melinda, Susan, Fern.
Backrow: Christina Dyer MS RD NYC: The General, Caroline, Lynn, me Chris, Andy, Chief, Angie, Kim Prendergast MS RD- Massachusetts: Our President and Kelly.
Farmer Luverne Forbord takes us on the farm tour.
The dogs run along side, until they hop up for a ride.
Mary Jo explains the challenges of being organic is a conventional and industrial agriculture world. Their love for the land and respect of ecosystem is apparent in everything they do.
Buffer Zone- Since the Forbord's farm is surrounded by GM corn from Cargill, they have opted to utilize some of their own acereage for a buffer zone. Although it is the other farm's responsibility, they came to the conclusion it is more energy efficient than going to court.
The old dairy farm that Luverne grew up on. The silos were built with 20% interest in the 70's during times of grain surpluss. They now sit empty since their cattle are grass fed.
Luverne and Mary Jo have a vision of turning the old farm and farm house (below) into a education and community center. They are considering a farmers market, interns and want to utilize the house for guest to come learn and write about an important practice that is eroding away from farms in America.
This could be my home one day.
Erosion is not a new topic to convential farming and the issue continues to grow due to monocropping and lack of care to the soil. A talk with Angie Tagtow revealed more of the destruction happening in Iowa:
How' that for homeland security?
This is about 5 feet of erosion on the Forbords property line going into the cargill field. GM corn and soy continues to be planted here annually. Another issue is the lack of biodiversity, which directly translates to the American diet.
The Forbords are also running out of pasture this season due to the lack of rain in the last three months. These soybeans, which typically would be harvested and then dried, have dried out in the fields.
The Forbord's beef. These guys were (hold your ears guys) going to slaughter the next day.
He was not too happy that we were visiting.
Picking crab-apples. In this area, the Forbord's had brought in a herd of goats to do some clearing work, and clear they did. Across from here they are attempting to regrow some of the lost native prairie lands. It is said that only 1% of the native prairie's remain in the area. The regrowth project is being done completely by hand.
Kelly and her crab-apples.
Chief takes a ride.
Luverne let me drive the tractor as Chris, Cristina and Kim held on for dear life. Apparently I was a natural. This tractor is from the 50's!
Letting the clutch out nice and easy.
The HEN founders/grandma's: Helen, Mary Pat Raimondi, Barb, Sue and Angie.
The guys harvest food from the garden for our Iron Chef competition. I think Chris found a good one. The secret ingredients were Apples and Farrow (a grain).
Our team's meal.
Me pondering the plight of the organic farmer and the need for a major overhaul in the agriculture policies enacted in this country to help save the family farm.
My photos tell the story. Enjoy.
In 1973, the oil crisis, Vietnam war, Watergate and inflation were on the rise. As hunger and depression hit the rural areas, Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butts enters the scene. His motos:'fence row to fence row' and 'get big or get out!'
Fern Gale Estrow- New York- MS, RD, CDN - Policy Guru - Driving us home.Kelly Horton- Seattle- MS, RD, CD Tufts Food Policy Graduate: owner of Connect Nutrition - Co-pilot.
Me with my backseat companion and cohort, Caroline Baum Webber PhD RD- Professor and Director of Dietetic Internship at Western Michigan.
Sunset over the farm.
Back row: Melinda Hemmelgarn MS RD:The Food Sleuth, Susan Roberts JD MS RD: Visionary HEN Mama, Fern
Front row: Caroline, Lynn Mader MBA RD: The All Star, me, Chris Wharton PhD-Nutrition Professor at ASU, but also a rock star: Our Presidential Hopeful, Andy Sarjahani, (almost) RD, Sustainability Soilder at Virginia Tech: Intensity Builder who always lives the dream, Angie Tagtow MS RD LN, Consultant & Food and Society, Ames, Iowa: The Teacher, The Inspiration.
Back: Mary Jo Forbord RD: Co-owner of Prairie Horizons Farm, Family Farm Visionary & Hopeful and HEN Historian, Barbara Hartman RD West Virgina: Spiritual Mama and Guide; Helen Costello MS RD LS- New Hampshire and Friedman School graduate: Or, Melinda, Susan, Fern.Backrow: Christina Dyer MS RD NYC: The General, Caroline, Lynn, me Chris, Andy, Chief, Angie, Kim Prendergast MS RD- Massachusetts: Our President and Kelly.
Farmer Luverne Forbord takes us on the farm tour.
The dogs run along side, until they hop up for a ride.
Mary Jo explains the challenges of being organic is a conventional and industrial agriculture world. Their love for the land and respect of ecosystem is apparent in everything they do.
Buffer Zone- Since the Forbord's farm is surrounded by GM corn from Cargill, they have opted to utilize some of their own acereage for a buffer zone. Although it is the other farm's responsibility, they came to the conclusion it is more energy efficient than going to court.
The old dairy farm that Luverne grew up on. The silos were built with 20% interest in the 70's during times of grain surpluss. They now sit empty since their cattle are grass fed.
Luverne and Mary Jo have a vision of turning the old farm and farm house (below) into a education and community center. They are considering a farmers market, interns and want to utilize the house for guest to come learn and write about an important practice that is eroding away from farms in America.
This could be my home one day.
Erosion is not a new topic to convential farming and the issue continues to grow due to monocropping and lack of care to the soil. A talk with Angie Tagtow revealed more of the destruction happening in Iowa:
During June 2008, 60% of Iowa's counties lost an average of seven tons of soil per acre as a result of the flooding. That is 15,680 pounds of soil lost in one acre in a month. Year-to-date erosion data have identified several areas in Iowa that have lost upwards of 56 tons of soil per acre. That is more than 125,000 pounds of soil lost per acre in eight months. According to Soil Science Society of America, it takes 500 years to build up one inch of topsoil. Without significant transformation in agriculture and land use policies and practices which protect, perserve and build fertile soil, the astounding loss of soil will significantly deteriorate the ability to grow healthy, fresh food and sustain societies.
How' that for homeland security?
This is about 5 feet of erosion on the Forbords property line going into the cargill field. GM corn and soy continues to be planted here annually. Another issue is the lack of biodiversity, which directly translates to the American diet.
The Forbords are also running out of pasture this season due to the lack of rain in the last three months. These soybeans, which typically would be harvested and then dried, have dried out in the fields.
The Forbord's beef. These guys were (hold your ears guys) going to slaughter the next day.
He was not too happy that we were visiting.
Picking crab-apples. In this area, the Forbord's had brought in a herd of goats to do some clearing work, and clear they did. Across from here they are attempting to regrow some of the lost native prairie lands. It is said that only 1% of the native prairie's remain in the area. The regrowth project is being done completely by hand.
Kelly and her crab-apples.
Chief takes a ride.
Luverne let me drive the tractor as Chris, Cristina and Kim held on for dear life. Apparently I was a natural. This tractor is from the 50's!
Letting the clutch out nice and easy.
The HEN founders/grandma's: Helen, Mary Pat Raimondi, Barb, Sue and Angie.
The guys harvest food from the garden for our Iron Chef competition. I think Chris found a good one. The secret ingredients were Apples and Farrow (a grain).
Our team's meal.
Me pondering the plight of the organic farmer and the need for a major overhaul in the agriculture policies enacted in this country to help save the family farm.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
whirlwind
Amazing enough, it has been 10 days since my last blog. What a whirlwind. Guess you can say I am in the thick of it.
Since it would be utterly boring (for you) to recreate my school week, I thought today would be a good one to give highlights from. It(Thursday) is my longest day and today is quite a nice replica of the engagement occurring in my neck of the woods.
8:00 coffee in hand, walk into US Agriculture and take my normal spot. Today we are finishing up a movie called King Corn. If you have ever wondered about US Ag, The Farm Bill, Subsidies, OR if you have ever eaten in America, this movie is worth a viewing. In fact, add it to your Netflicks right now & pop some popcorn. It sums up so much of the work I am doing.
Next class, Ag, Science and Policy. I had a quiz on pesticides. We talked about alternative methods to agriculture.
Since I work in Chinatown, I took myself to lunch at a Pho restaurant and finished up some reading for my policy class. We were discussing How a Bill Becomes a Law, the legislator and the
controversial Food for Peace program that a professor at Tufts is instrumental in developing.
This video was shown from the CARE website and I have to admit, made me a bit emotional.
It's called the Girl Effect:
http://www.care.org/getinvolved/girleffect/index.asp
After class I road bikes and met up with my friend Angel to see my "hero" Marion Nestle speak at Harvard Book Store. She is publicizing her new book: Pet Food Politics, The Chihuahua in the Coal Mine. I follow her What to Eat Blog, which is wonderful. The Pet food book talks about the recalls in pet food after pets began to get sick and die. Frightening, they found out the food was all basically coming from the same place and that the protein source was coming from China. Apparently there is a history of "faking" how much protein is in something by adding a high nitrogen industrial chemical called melamine. The high nitrogen part was giving animals crystalized kidneys and they were dying. Oddly enough much of the supplement additives we(America) uses, comes from, you guessed it, China. Oh, and the supplement, like the pet food industry is not regulated.
NEWSFLASH--- Melamine was recently found in BABY FORMULA in China.
To end this entry on an up note,
"Do Food Policy and Change the World" -Marion Nestle is what was written in my copy.
Since it would be utterly boring (for you) to recreate my school week, I thought today would be a good one to give highlights from. It(Thursday) is my longest day and today is quite a nice replica of the engagement occurring in my neck of the woods.
8:00 coffee in hand, walk into US Agriculture and take my normal spot. Today we are finishing up a movie called King Corn. If you have ever wondered about US Ag, The Farm Bill, Subsidies, OR if you have ever eaten in America, this movie is worth a viewing. In fact, add it to your Netflicks right now & pop some popcorn. It sums up so much of the work I am doing.
Next class, Ag, Science and Policy. I had a quiz on pesticides. We talked about alternative methods to agriculture.
Since I work in Chinatown, I took myself to lunch at a Pho restaurant and finished up some reading for my policy class. We were discussing How a Bill Becomes a Law, the legislator and the
controversial Food for Peace program that a professor at Tufts is instrumental in developing.
This video was shown from the CARE website and I have to admit, made me a bit emotional.
It's called the Girl Effect:
http://www.care.org/getinvolved/girleffect/index.asp
After class I road bikes and met up with my friend Angel to see my "hero" Marion Nestle speak at Harvard Book Store. She is publicizing her new book: Pet Food Politics, The Chihuahua in the Coal Mine. I follow her What to Eat Blog, which is wonderful. The Pet food book talks about the recalls in pet food after pets began to get sick and die. Frightening, they found out the food was all basically coming from the same place and that the protein source was coming from China. Apparently there is a history of "faking" how much protein is in something by adding a high nitrogen industrial chemical called melamine. The high nitrogen part was giving animals crystalized kidneys and they were dying. Oddly enough much of the supplement additives we(America) uses, comes from, you guessed it, China. Oh, and the supplement, like the pet food industry is not regulated.
NEWSFLASH--- Melamine was recently found in BABY FORMULA in China.
To end this entry on an up note,
"Do Food Policy and Change the World" -Marion Nestle is what was written in my copy.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Exciting News and Opportunity!
Last email I got an email from Dr. Parke Wilde, an associate professor at Friedman that specializes in U.S. food policy and econometrics. Having been in touch over the last few months, he grew fond of my efforts at keeping my food blog: The Epicurean Ideal. I also have been proactive in sharing with him interesting news articles and issues unfolding in the field. After a meeting with him today, I am happy to say that he wants me to be a guest writer on his blog: U.S. Food Policy.
The opportunity will allow me to post on Parke's blog, which receives close to 100 hits a day (as opposed to my 2-3...thank-you whoever you are!) It assures me a bit of name recognition and will allow me to cross post onto my blog. I will be attributing 1-2 posts a week and he is adding my blog on his home page list of other blogs! How's that for some exposure!?
I hope you will tune in and get up to date on your food policy. Who would of thought my two favorite things: food and politics would have lead me to such a life?
The opportunity will allow me to post on Parke's blog, which receives close to 100 hits a day (as opposed to my 2-3...thank-you whoever you are!) It assures me a bit of name recognition and will allow me to cross post onto my blog. I will be attributing 1-2 posts a week and he is adding my blog on his home page list of other blogs! How's that for some exposure!?
I hope you will tune in and get up to date on your food policy. Who would of thought my two favorite things: food and politics would have lead me to such a life?
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Jam packed
School has officially began and I couldn't be happier at the choice I have made to continue my education at Tufts. My classes are taught by some very talented and accomplished people that offer amazing perspectives in the field. My classes are:
US Agriculture
Agriculture, Food and Society II
Statistical Methods
Public Policy
Interestingly enough, they all mesh well together.
There have been many social events to kick off the school year where I have met previous students, faculty and new students alike. The students here all have a cohesion in passions and interest and my group of friends is slowly materializing.
Today was the Alumni Picnic in Concord near Walden Pond. Beautiful weather and scenery.
I am easing into the life of a graduate student. Reading is my best friend. The library of choice is at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. The halls are adorned with fantastic photos of places I need to go. Mostly Africa. Wow.
Work starts in the morning, as does my Crossfit exercise group that me and a few ladies are doing.
US Agriculture
Agriculture, Food and Society II
Statistical Methods
Public Policy
Interestingly enough, they all mesh well together.
There have been many social events to kick off the school year where I have met previous students, faculty and new students alike. The students here all have a cohesion in passions and interest and my group of friends is slowly materializing.
Today was the Alumni Picnic in Concord near Walden Pond. Beautiful weather and scenery.
I am easing into the life of a graduate student. Reading is my best friend. The library of choice is at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. The halls are adorned with fantastic photos of places I need to go. Mostly Africa. Wow.
Work starts in the morning, as does my Crossfit exercise group that me and a few ladies are doing.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
4 day weekend. already!
Usually I would find it is a nice treat to get a 4 day weekend, I must admit: I am ready for school to begin. I Don't think I will be singing the same tune in a month.
Yesterday, while my friends gathering in El Paso, Texas to celebrate the union of Kasi and Nate, I thought of them as I took my first swim in the Atlantic Ocean. A group of students from my school drove out to Rockport to walk around the brick town, eat some grub on the harbor, play frisbee in the park and yes, swim in the ocean.
Here we are with my new boyfriend:
(left to right: Juli-Oregon-Nutrition Communications major, Allison-Connecticut-Nutrition Communications, Jesse-California-Biochemical Nutrition/MPH, Sophie-Oklahoma-Food Policy/MPH, Vladamir-Germany-PhD in Biomed Nutrition)
I missed this one:
As cold as Barton Springs:
Yesterday, while my friends gathering in El Paso, Texas to celebrate the union of Kasi and Nate, I thought of them as I took my first swim in the Atlantic Ocean. A group of students from my school drove out to Rockport to walk around the brick town, eat some grub on the harbor, play frisbee in the park and yes, swim in the ocean.
Here we are with my new boyfriend:
(left to right: Juli-Oregon-Nutrition Communications major, Allison-Connecticut-Nutrition Communications, Jesse-California-Biochemical Nutrition/MPH, Sophie-Oklahoma-Food Policy/MPH, Vladamir-Germany-PhD in Biomed Nutrition)
I missed this one:
As cold as Barton Springs:
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