Food is at the foundation, but really it's about life.
May 29th, 2009
“Food is at the foundation, but really it’s about life.” – Will Allen, farmer and founder of Growing Power, featured in FRESH.
Last night I was lucky enough to be at a Yelp.com elite event – a screening of FRESH at Harvard University. Have you heard about this movie? FRESH did a great job of keeping the feeling hopeful and inspired as it documents the US food system.
A system that is, mildly put, totally screwed up.
Cute, happy pigs. Not screwed up.
One of the inspiring farmers featured in FRESH is Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm. Ever since I read John Robbin’s book The Food Revolution, I have been all kinds of enamored with Joel and his farming practices. Written up in books, starring in movies – the guy is a regular Agri-celebrity!
Will Allen was also featured for his work in Milwaukee, WI with Growing Power. This is a 3-acre plot of land that not only grows food sustainably, but teaches others how to do the same. For Will, it’s all about those wriggly slimy worms turning food waste into gorgeous soil and keeping the natural cycle going.
The auditorium at Harvard was full of people young and old, some city residents, some local farmers. It was just a fantastic gathering. At the end of the film everyone was smiling and clapping and…looking over to the left side of the room where the filmmaker and its stars were filing into the auditorium – including Joel and Will.
You’d have thought I just brushed elbows with Brad PItt. It was so exciting to see these guys in person, here, in the city. Like two worlds colliding.
Happy to have had my iPhone, wish the photos were better though!
When they opened it up to questions, I am not ashamed to say that I jumped out of my seat for the microphone. It was a big crowd! I said:
“I am a holistic health counselor, working with private clients to overcome everything from eczema to anxiety and weight loss by eating real, quality food. I help them find it, buy it, and prepare it. But the biggest obstacle by far is that most people don’t know how to cook fresh food. They look at this head of kale and say, ‘What am I gonna do with that?’ So my question is for the farmers – how do YOU like to prepare the excellent food your farm produces?”
Everyone laughed at this for some reason. Maybe it was the thought of the hulking Will Allen in an apron standing over a stove, wooden spoon in hand.
Joel Salatin answered first. He said that his favorite way to start cooking real food is to use a slow cooker. Chicken, beef, pork, whatever, throw it in and let it cook all day. He said, forget the 20 minute meal! How about a zero minute meal because it’s cooked all day and is ready when you walk in the door?
Great idea. I actually don’t own a slow cooker but now I feel inspired to try one out! They are quite energy efficient and from what I understand, super easy to use.
Next, Will Allen spoke. Although he never quite answered my question about how he likes to prepare his food, he stressed the importance of learning to cook and reaching all ages. After all, we’ve missed a few generations – recipes and methods like canning have been lost somewhere along the way.
Finally, Chef Michael Leviton of Lumiere in West Newton, MA joked that as a restaurant owner he doesn’t want people to learn how to cook…he’d rather they come eat at his establishment. But of course, if you cook like they do at Lumiere, you won’t need to do much. Sustainably grown, farm-fresh ingredients require little more than salt, pepper and olive oil.
Another member of the audience stood up and recognized the 10 or so sustainable farm owners in the audience, which was really neat. She said to the rest of us, “It’s not enough to buy the food.”
What, me? Grow my own food? But…but…
Well, this stuff is happening. Food is being grown without chemicals. Animals are being treated with care. Farms are learning to produce food by working WITH nature, not against it. Like a return home after a long visit away, farming is coming back to its roots.
Will Allen reiterated by saying, “We’ve got to grow farmers. We’ve got to grow soil.” It’s such a simple thing. Why does the thought of running my own farm scare the bejesus out of me though? It’s just dirt.
I imagine this is how most people feel though, like it’s up to someone else to do it.
On the topic of dairy farmers, Joel Salatin said, “People think it’s safe to feed your kids Twinkies, Coco Puffs and Mountain Dew, but not to drink the milk that comes from a cow??”
Joel, answering questions after the event.
Well put. I came away from the night inspired to plant a garden in my bathtub, since that’s about my only option in this urban dwelling. But I think there ARE ways to grow food in containers, indoors.
Do you grow your own food, indoors or outdoors?
By the way, on the topic of sustainable farming, don’t forget to enter to win free Massa Organics! Contest closes June 4th.
This post is part of Food Renegade’s Fight Back Fridays.
Thanks for sharing this. I can’t wait till we bring FRESH to Austin!
Cheers,
May 29th, 2009 at 3:45 pmKristenM
(AKA FoodRenegade)
I saw FRESH a couple of months ago and loved it! You asked a great question, because it does seem like a lot of people in my generation have no idea what to do with fresh food. I was lucky enough to learn a lot from my grandparents, and I’ve also picked up great ideas from the many blogs that I read. Many of my friends look at me like I’m crazy when I stop by the farmers’ market and pick up a new vegetable and settle in for an adventure. The slow cooker idea is a fabulous one, and I should use mine more often. I’m so jealous that you got to talk to the stars of the movie!
May 29th, 2009 at 5:02 pmI grow herbs in a 1/2 wine barrel on my balcony. I have some tomatoes starting too. They aren’t looking so lovely at the moment but I’m hoping to save them. I agree though, the thought of farming scares me…but only because I’m pretty sure I’d kill all of it!
May 29th, 2009 at 5:30 pmI can’t wait to see that movie!
We’re lucky to have plenty of space to garden. It’s definitely a learning (and rewarding) experience. Protecting and nuturing our relatively small garden can be a big job, I can’t imagine doing it for my livlihood (although I’ve thought about it recently). We also see it a little bit as a social statement, too and secretly hope that our neighbors will see how easy it is to grow their own food and join us in creating their own victory gardens.
May 29th, 2009 at 6:28 pmHow cool! Sounds like quite the experience. And btw – yes, we must get you a slow cooker. It will change your life!
May 30th, 2009 at 7:28 amGreat post! This year I took over our school garden, its about .25 acre. Its been great to get the kids out there connecting with food. Many of the classes were able to have a salad with their home grown produce already which was a big sucess. We are leasing the garden out to the community in the summer months so that the produce get used and the weeds get pulled.
PS I LOVE LOVE Massa Organics. They are a local company for me and the BEST brown rice out there!
May 30th, 2009 at 7:31 amGood for you for standing up and asking such a wonderful and thoughtful question. I have got to see FRESH – makes me feel good to know that the screening was well-attended – people want to KNOW! Great post.
May 30th, 2009 at 7:40 amKristen – you’re gonna love it! thanks for hosting fight back fridays
Katie – it’s true, most of my friends can’t cook, which is why I started Cooking Club to get people cooking in a comfy environment. thanks for your comment!
Amy – cool! i bet i could do something in a barrel of sorts…
Sara – it is TOTALLY a social statement. like, freedom of choice, freedom to eat real food and not what the gov’t is subsidizing and big biz is making millions off of. GO YOU!
CulinaryWannabe – i know, i saw one this weekend but then I thought maybe I’ll wait ’til fall when warm stew-y things will feel good
Amanda – You pretty much rock the house
Thanks for the Massa testimonial!
Heidi – Yep, lots of folks there but then again it was crunchy Cambridge, MA. Hopefully it will be well received all over the country.
May 31st, 2009 at 4:19 pmSo envious of your getting to attend this event! I bet it was a great time and full of wonderful information. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but now I know I need to for sure.
May 31st, 2009 at 5:01 pmI LOVED this post…and what a clever question!
May 31st, 2009 at 9:12 pmI would love to grow my own food…but I don’t have a green thumb….it’s so sad! every plant I try to grow just withers and dies! I have the death thumb!
HOW cool! What an event. I have heard lots of great stuff about this film. I only have 1 tomato plant right now but I plan to expand!
June 1st, 2009 at 8:32 amLovely post – and very inspiring. I’ve been looking forward to FRESH since I first got wind of it — it should be here soon.
We do grow quite a bit of our food — mostly outdoors, though through the winter we keep herbs and chard in pots on a sunporch. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as reaching out the window with a pair of scissors and leaning back in with a bunch of leaves that will utterly transform the food!
June 1st, 2009 at 9:40 amThere’s so much truth in what Joel Salatin said!!
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:44 amBTW, raitha is a yogurt based salad with either veggies or fruits in it. “Dahi” is hindi for yogurt
Hi Michelle,
I grew up in a house where my family had an organic garden. It was a lot of work but so well worth it. Even though I moved out a long time ago, I still help out with it and it is great to just pluck a tomato off the vine, wash it and eat it raw. It tastes so much better than the conventional version. I have read articles where people are doing organic gardening by putting plants on the windowsill and at the entrance of their of apartments. There is a way to do it.
And like the others said, I look forward to the movie.
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:04 pmI love my slow cooker.
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:33 pm@Lori – yes, it was awesome! see it for sure!
@Sophia – a death thumb, huh, sounds serious
@Erica – you are beating me by 1 tomato plant!
@Becky – mmmm fresh herbs. heaven. can i come over for dinner?
@Sweta – thanks for the info, as always! had you heard of Joel before this movie?
@Nadia – There’s definitely a way. And I’m going to figure it out. One of these days…yes, i will!
@Vered – Now I know what my Christmas list will have on it for sure
June 4th, 2009 at 8:20 am[...] Girl Gone Domestic (healthy teriyaki like chicken)24. Michelle @ Find Your Balance (Panel discussion with stars of FRESH)25. Traveling with Baby – raw peach cobbler & raw bananaberry cobbler26. Kimberly Hartke [...]
June 4th, 2009 at 10:52 amHi there,
I started my very first vegetable garden this year, and most of the seeds have sprouted. I didn’t really expect them all to since I’m new at this, so I have a feeling I’m going to have TONS of squash, zucchini, peas, tomatoes, cucumbers and (hopefully) carrots. I’ll share.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:42 pm