1
Are You a Wild Thing?
Chapter Four of Confessions delves into wild foods, and more specifically, how few of our foods we're still "hunting and gathering." Most of our wild foods, turns out, are herbs: Oregeno from Turkey, Sage from Albania, Latin American Vanilla...
Submitted by hsnavely on Thu, 08/06/2009 - 11:00pm.
How Much Would You Pay for a Coffee?
I want to talk about coffee. So...Starbucks. It's a company with a scary-corporation reputation. And here in San Francisco, there's tastier coffee widely available (Blue Bottle, Philz, Ritual, to name a few). But because Starbucks is so huge, they've created a market for fair trade that's many times bigger than any small purveyor could create. Are props in order?
Submitted by tmeronek on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 11:00pm.
My favorite cup of fair-trade coffee in SF is Blue Bottle's Louisiana-style iced-coffe - it runs me $3.50 a pop, and at that price, feel like a treat. I'd be willing to spend up to $5, but only if I could see the breakdown of costs at the counter: the percentage going directly into the hands of the coffee farmer, the percentage going directly to the organic dairy farmer, shipping, etc.
This replica louis vuitton is so unique, and I never see it’s sold in the LV stores, where did you get this one please?
This http://www.flashreplica.com ">louie vuitton is just come out this spring show, it’s a totally new style of http://www.flashreplica.com ">louie vuitton, worth to buy.
You can not buy jewelry stores at any jewelry stores except jewelry stores’s own, since they never sell outside their jewelry stores
You may take good care of you tiffany jewelry on sale at any jewelry stores, and it will cost much less than the official tiffany jewelry stores
MoreTiffany is a famous tiffany jewelry Shop which sell directly Tiffany Rings, Earrings, Necklaces, Pendants, Bracelets, Bangles, Accessories.
Tiffanyline is a discount tiffany jewellery online store, everybody can afford tiffany jewellery as a memorable jewelry gift.
Save up to 60% on affordable cheap tiffany jewelry, beautiful discount tiffany rings, tiffany necklaces,tiffany Pendants, tiffany earrings and tiffany Bracelets.
Discounted tiffany
Sale Outlet provides hundreds of designer Tiffany Ring, necklaces and other jewelry in wholesale price. Tiffany specializes in.
ugg boots sale-Warm ugg boots for all the family remain at the heart of our collection,find your favorite UGGs from stunning designs-ugg boots uk.All kinds of adidas shoes On Sale.We hot sell the latest Adidas Shoes&
cheap adidas shoes.The products are first-class quality,
adidas shoes salewelcome you to purchase.
Tiffany jewelry has been an incontrovertible perfect gift idea. Here we have hundreds of cheap and discounted tiffany silver jewelry,including tiffany rings, tiffany bangles,tiffany bracelets, pendants,tiffany necklaces(tiffany necklace), charms, tiffany earrings,tiffany cuff links(tiffany cufflinks),and tiffany money clips,tiffany key rings for your choice. All our jewelry is 925 tiffany sterling silver guaranteed.
Post new comment
Would You Rather..?
Back to the gold for a minute here: according to Pearce, a gold ring weighing in at less than an ounce requires the following resources:
* 5.5 tons of water
* 30 tons of air pumped underground to cool the mine (enough electricity to power your home for a few days)
* 10 hours of human labor
* the fuel to ship it from South Africa to you
* 5.5 tons of water
* 30 tons of air pumped underground to cool the mine (enough electricity to power your home for a few days)
* 10 hours of human labor
* the fuel to ship it from South Africa to you
Submitted by hsnavely on Tue, 08/04/2009 - 11:05pm.
The thing that got me about the gold chapter was the bit about the mine-towns being a mecca for AIDS. I'd give up all the gold in the world to stop the spread of that disease.
Agreed, Sara. 35% testing HIV-positive is a staggering statistic indeed.
[url=http://www.flashreplica.com]louis vuitton[/url] are located in all major cities such as Shanghai, New York, etc, you may travel to these cities and get one for yourself.
I never buy from [url=http://www.flashreplica.com]luis vuitton[/url], the price is expensive and I always bought online.
Hi, everybody here, I just spent more than 1000 USD in [url=http://www.flashreplica.com]lv[/url] and bought one gift for my wife, I think it’s worth and the bag drives my wife crazy.
Anybody knows the numbers of [url=http://www.flashreplica.com]louis vuitton replica[/url] in CA, I need to call them and get my bag repaired.
You will find the newest tiffany jewellery fashion release on their official website.
I get this tiffany and co from my grandmother when she passed, but I would like to know if it’s definitely real, how can I do this?
In addition,buy omega watch the splendid replica watches are offered at our website,there are a lot of watches of world famous omega watches for sale brand,you can choose any style as you like,such as Omega replica Watches,Piaget watches and so on.
Shop creations of timeless beauty from cheap tiffany jewelrythat will be treasured always. You can buy cheap tiffany jewelry but high quality from us
Post new comment
Step Aside, Greenwashing
In the course of reading Confessions, it becomes clear that the "local = best" mantra isn't always as black and white as it seems (take author Fred Pearce's example of Kenyan green beans from yesterday).
Submitted by tmeronek on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 11:00pm.
Of course corporations should NOT be allowed to mislead the public as to whether their products are "local" or not. The problem is that we don't have legislation to prohibit this. Nor do we have the funds or man power to monitor these practices. WalMart is causing large dilutions in our "Organic" standards - because there are loopholes in the standards for Organic inside the US - as compared to other countries wehre WalMart purchases most of it's "organics."
True, it'd probably mean having to set up a program like the USDA has for organics. As you probably know, any company can use unregulated terms like hypoallergenic and natural (local's no different), regardless of whether the product contains arsenic or lead or whatever.
Post new comment
From the Author
Hello Biters,
Thanks for reading my book and being part of this Book Club.
Thanks for reading my book and being part of this Book Club.
Submitted by mroemer on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 11:00pm.
I say it's being a conscious consumer... As consumers we need to be aware of where our money goes, aware that each dollar that we spend is a 'vote' of sorts. Yes, the environment should be an important factor to consider, but it's not the only one.
I think that the problem that a lot of us have as conscious consumers is how do we actually know what we're supporting when we purchase something? Yes, the green beans from Kenya are supporting some hard working small scale farmers. But what about the prawn industry in Bangladesh? Or the coffee farmers in Tanzania? How much of my money actually makes its way back to the source of my purchase and is it worthwhile to support?
Growing up in the pre-Internet era, I was always one of those children who frequently asked two dreaded questions: "Mommy, where did this come from?" or "Why is this this way and not that way?" To this day, these sorts of curiosities have continued to kindle my brain. This explains why I was overjoyed to read the book, Confessions of an Eco-SinnerUkf8001axx
Another thing to consider is that if we increase the Kenyans' standard of living, they'll probably start to have more time to think about the environment, and thus will care more (since they won't be so consumed with basic needs such as clean water, housing, medicine, employment, etc.). For them, less time spent worrying about these things might translate into more time for education about issues like global warming. I know if I was just trying to make ends meet, saving the pandas wouldn't be top of mind.
Ok, here's an example of a pretty typical situation: Last night, I wanted to make a salad for dinner. My boyfriend was stopping at the local (neighborhood) market and I told him I needed a cucumber in addition to the bread he was already buying. When he came home, he told me the only cucumber they have is from Canada. He bought it and I used it in the salad. Obviously, it's disappointing that the market didn't have local cucumbers. But in order to get local cucumbers, we would have had to drive to Whole Foods. Instead, we didn't have to use the car last night. So, what's the trade off? The tangible gas and car ride to Whole Foods for a locally grown product or walking and saving gas to the local market and buying an imported product because of a lack of choice? I think this type of situation happens everyday and I can definitely live with the choice we made.
Hi Andrea...
OK, let's assume it is the carbon emissions you are interested in minimizing. Of course, I can't do the precise calculation because I don't know how far you are from the Whole Foods store, or how far (and by what route) the Canadian cucumber got to your local market. Nor whether the cucumbers were grown in similar ways or whether the Canadian cucumber had to be grown in an energy-hungry greenhouse. But I'd be pretty sure the best carbon option would be to buy the Canadian cucumber from the local market. Think of it this way: a cucumber is pretty light, and travels with a lot of other cucumbers. Whereas cars weigh some and making a special journey to the Whole Food store would almost certainly take a lot more fuel (and emit a lot more carbon) than the share of the fuel on a truck taken by one cucumber, even traveling from Canada. If the cucumber flew (unlikely?), there might be more of an argument.
If you were going to the Whole Food store anyhow, that would change things. Likewise, if you dropped by on the way back from somewhere else. Or going by bike or on the bus. Carbon may not be the only issue, of course. If the local cucumber is grown by local smallholders that you like, while the Canadian cucumber is grown by a big corporation known for exploiting its workers, you might think the social footprint outweighs the carbon footprint.
But as a general rule, the biggest carbon footprint for moving our food 'round the world is usually the last one - getting it from the store to your home.
-From the author, Fred Pearce
Post new comment
Welcome Back Again, Bookies
For the third installment of our summer Biter Book Club, we're trying something a little different: Fred Pearce, author of our August selection, Confessions of an Eco-Sinner, is gonna lead off the blogging to get the dialogue started.
Submitted by mroemer on Sat, 07/11/2009 - 4:00pm.
I’d love to discuss discount louis vuitton, but I am not sure if you really have one.
louis vuitton outlet
Anyone know http://www.flashreplica.com ">louisvuitton near by? I am looking for one but never get
Nice article, very helpful. Thanks!---
Nike ,Jodon ,kappa shoes are selling on the way..Come on
................Nike shoes ! Addidas ! crazy buying ------------------- Nike Shoes || air yeezy
In addition,buy omega watch the splendid replica watches are offered at our website,there are a lot of watches of world famous omega watches for sale brand,you can choose any style as you like,such as Omega replica Watches,Piaget watches and so on.
11111
tiffany jewelry hot sale now with discount. Tiffanyhotsale provides the best Tiffany & Co jewelry, including Necklaces, Bracelets, Earrings, Pendants and so on .
Tiffany Sale Provide 100% sterling silver tiffanys jewelry,you can buy discount Tiffany & Co jewelry here.Tiffany And Co Jewelry is the best jewellry
Stunning silver jewellery from tiffany
Post new comment
Your "No Way!" Moment
So as we wrap up the first set of reading for In Defense of Food, we've learned quite a bit I'd say. Pollan's got all sorts of great facts and theories scattered throughout this book thus far.
Submitted by mkrolak on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 11:00pm.
Leaping Lipids
As Mike noted yesterday, there are lots of powerful forces at work in shaping the food system - I just never imagined that large-scale experimentation would be one of them.
Submitted by alara on Wed, 07/08/2009 - 11:00pm.
I'm definitely a cynic when it comes to government, but really I feel like political forces pulling from all sides will never allow a governmental body to remain truly independent.
The only way it would work is if there was some large panel that was made up of enough folks to represent all those forces, so all those differing viewpoints would have to somehow come to an agreement. And then there'd have to be some sort of ombudsman or Director of Common Sense to double-check it with a skeptical eye.
But even then, I dunno. I'd personally rather just assume that if I eat whole foods, cut down on processed stuff, and get some exercise, that's about as good as I can do.
I'm wondering if campaign finance reform would have an impact on that. We also have an inability to define "expert" anymore in a way that's meaningful or useful. So which "experts" do we put on the panel? I'm afraid the only folks I'd consider listening to would be people like Pollan or the Organic Consumers Association. And Paige's Faerie Fridays sound wonderfully "pleasure principle" motivated.
Post new comment
Culture Club
I'm gonna sort of piggyback on Alison's Q from yesterday regarding food and Culture to ask: Do we have one here in America? (Before you answer, I'm not sure Fast Food counts.)
Submitted by mkrolak on Tue, 07/07/2009 - 11:00pm.
Relating to the take over of food by government, industry etc.
http://www.thechinastudy.com/
I think we do have a food culture, but it's an amalgam of many different ones, in light of the melting pot we are. Maybe that's another reason we've been so vulnerable to the shifting nutritional winds: when people immigrate to the U.S., they or their children usually choose to assimilate - and that means foodways (the social and economic choices related to food) too.
I like this definition of culture: enlightenment and excellence of taste acquired by intellectual and aesthetic training. Teaching ourselves how to buy and prepare healthful, delicious food, then sharing it with other people (more dinner parties!) seems like a solid place to start.
At least from what I observe in general it seems the eating culture in America can best be defined by the title of a fantastic book called Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink. Whether at home on a couch watching tv, in a car on the road or on a call at work, Americans seem to eat without thinking or paying attention to the process or the meal. This compounds when coupled with quick fast food meals a la Fast Food Nation. Reading books on this topic has made me aware of how I fall prey to this myself.
In reference to the response to my original post yesterday around what eating means to people as well as to today’s question on how we go about creating a culture, I think we begin by implementing a great mantra from Ghandi that a few of my friends use, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” I have been very blessed to begin to redefine our family’s eating culture with a little help from my friends. I have met a great group of parents at my son’s school, and now that summer is here, to maintain close ties until school starts back we have instituted faery ring Fridays. We gather at a friend’s house and do potluck. The meals are freshly prepared to share with friends. The kids play in the backyard and the parents enjoy wine and beer. We are even implementing a mix tape share so we can add music into the line up. At dinner we eat on the picnic table out back or table indoors and laugh and enjoy the day as it turns to dusk. This tradition is very recent, but has begun redefining how our family looks at mealtimes and also how we, as friends, look at each other. We have raw foodists, wheat allergies, vegans… doing potluck not only becomes a social gathering but a learning experience about the families.
I never buy from http://www.louisvuitton4sale.com/articles/Madonna_LV.html ">lv news, the price is expensive and I always bought online.
http://www.eiluxury.com ">louis vuitton sale are located in all major cities such as Shanghai, New York, etc, you may travel to these cities and get one for yourself
Post new comment
What about the pleasure principle?
Mike’s question Monday - do labels make you change your mind about eating foods? - is a good one, but I think Pollan is trying to show us that we need to pay more attention to Culture (the author uses the capital “C” here) and pleasure (yup, whether we enjoy the taste) as guiding principles to how we eat.
Submitted by alara on Mon, 07/06/2009 - 11:00pm.
I'd say about half the stuff I buy I like. I mean, if I only bought what I liked I'd have a basket full of ice cream and gummy bears every time I left the store, so I have to buy other stuff too.
The problem is that I buy "healthy stuff" -- veggies, etc. -- that's supposed to be good for me, but I mow down the cheese, salami, and chicharrones while the kale goes bad.
Yeah, I heart chicharrones, too, but even mama said that was a snack, right? IOW, there's cultural guidelines and there's, well, pure indulgence. And I think we know the diff.
I haven’t moved away from what tastes good, but I do weigh my options to attempt to get the “most bang for my nutritional buck”. I try to focus on whole foods and in so doing I may choose berries over bananas or broccoli over cucumbers in dishes, depending on what nutrients I believe I need to focus on the most in a week. My goal is to eat what I like knowing that I may not get all the veggies and fruit I need in a day, so make ‘em count.
Before I started reading In Defense of Food, I began shopping at Wholefoods and the local farmers' market. In doing so, I created a love for my food that was not just about taste, but about how beautiful it was to look at, about knowing how and where it was grown, and about knowing that I was supporting good causes. When I looked at my food, I knew it was good for me and my family. Everytime I entered my kitchen and saw the delectable treats that filled my fruit and vegetable bowls, or the bread basket on my counter, I praised their beauty in my mind (and even sometimes out loud if there was someone to listen). I firmly believe that love for that which nourishes you only enhances the flavor and nutritional value. Maybe it is psychological or maybe it is something more.
I have not completely eliminated processed foods from my pantry and refrigerator, however I do try to purchase ones that at least start with whole foods. My biggest challenge is finding foods that my children will eat, can easily prepare in my absence or take to school, and don't break the bank. The economy is making things a little more challenging for everyone and we have to make choices about what is important to us. Unfortunately, it seems the "big brand" businesses, like Kraft, are taking matters into their own hands and "bullying" the USDA and other authorities regarding labeling in the guise of making organic foods more accessible to everyone by making them "cheaper" or "more abundant". I just learned that Barbara Robinson with the USDA took it into her own hands to make it legal to "include" non-organic substances in certified USDA organic foods (baby formula was one of them). I was appalled. Learning that made me question whether I was actually getting the organic foods I thought I was (though I'm sure they are still healthier and safer for the environment than non-organic). I'm looking forward to reading everyone's comments. I've finished the book and it truly changed the way I look at my food.
Shannon -- re: admiring your food...I think you're onto something there. And I think that's probably what Alison is getting at as far as a Capital-C Culture regarding food in America.
We don't admire our food so much as slam it down during an episode of American Idol (or The Wire, if you're in my house). Most cultures have that reverence for certain ingredients...and from that admiration comes respect, which is definitely what we're lacking for our food here in America. The very idea of fast food negates that sort of lifestyle.
Shannon - I loved your comment and absolutely agree with it! I have started frequenting the farmer's markets lately and making a point of buying things that I know were grown locally. Besides letting you get excited and take pride in what you're eating, it's also so important to support your local farmers. It always put a smile on my face to look in my fridge and on my counter top and see beautiful fresh veggies, fruit, and breads!
I think that this ties into Culture quite strongly...it makes me think of perhaps how people used to live, you know, Little House on the Prairie style! What you eat actually becomes entwined with you in a way and becomes something that gives you a sense of pride and excitement.
To answer the question above, I honestly only eat foods that I like. I don’t pay much attention to the new crazes and fads or government food regulations. I simply won’t eat foods that I don’t enjoy to eat! And, I have to ask: what in the world are chicharrones?!?! What am I missing out on?!?!
I think that this ties into Culture quite strongly...it makes me think of perhaps how people used to live, you know, Little House on the Prairie style! What you eat actually becomes entwined with you in a way and becomes something that gives you a sense of pride and excitement.
To answer the question above, I honestly only eat foods that I like. I don’t pay much attention to the new crazes and fads or government food regulations. I simply won’t eat foods that I don’t enjoy to eat! And, I have to ask: what in the world are chicharrones?!?! What am I missing out on?!?!
Jeanette - Chicharrones are, well, fried pork rinds. I suppose they're eco in the way of the Native Americans...using every last piece of the animal? OK, now I'm really stretching. :)
Food admiration: beauteous!!
I've been appalled at the recent dialogues elsewhere around organic/natural with a whole lot of information about items labelled organic that are nothing remotely like the healthy organic we're in quest of. Pollan's guidelines for local and farmer's market are wonderful.
On the pleasure principle: Absolutely food is a part of pleasure. When did we go from making it an element -- the company with which we're spending our eating time, the atmosphere & environment in which we're eating -- to making it the main stage? And some of the additives, etc, remind me of the tobacco industry and their additives to cigarettes to make them even more addictive.
On the ciccharones -- more for you, darlins
:-}
tiffany jewelry hot sale now with discount. Tiffanyhotsale provides the best Tiffany & Co jewelry, including Necklaces, Bracelets, Earrings, Pendants and so on .
Tiffany Sale Provide 100% sterling silver tiffanys jewelry,you can buy discount Tiffany & Co jewelry here.Tiffany And Co Jewelry is the best jewellry
Post new comment