Food Corps

AmeriCorps is one of those programs that everyone should do. Think Peace Corps but domestic. In 1993 President Bill Clinton passed the National and Community Service Act, which among many things, created AmeriCorps.

The premise is simple: Our nation suffers from rampant poverty. This historically complex dilemma causes a vast multitude of problems. Think institutional racism, and a whole lot of concerns come to mind: housing, employment, education, crime, pollution and even food. It’s not that Clinton started the program to overcome poverty, per se. The opportunity to participate in AmeriCorps enables young and old to directly serve the populations in need. From this well-intentioned need for public service, there is news of an emerging potential on the food front.
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Tags: education, Food Politics, local food movement, USDA
Posted on April 20th, 2010 by jared | No Comments »

I Thought I was Starting the Food Revolution!?

Looks like blogging isn't the only way or the best way to to start a revolution!

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Tags: education, food literacy, local food movement, USDA
Posted on March 29th, 2010 by jared | 1 Comment »

Sourcing “The Local”

What does “local” mean?

In the neighborhood, down the street or across town? Maybe the nearby countryside fits the bill or the afternoon cruise to the mountainous or oceanic regions? Once we determine the meaning of the term, then we can talk about the owner of locality. For example, does the farmer determine her blueberries to be local or does the family at the farmers market? Clearly, both the consumer and producer have a stake in the word and its ambiguous meanings. That being the case, who are we to trust?
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Tags: Bulk purchase, local food movement, NW cuisine, portland
Posted on March 25th, 2010 by jared | No Comments »

The Grass-Fed Manifesto (part 4)

The truth will see you free (and prevent heart, blood and weight ailments.) As I’ve discussed in the past, the importance of eating animals that are raised and fed pasture their whole lives is imminent. I have no desire to repeat myself on this issue, rather I want to use a recent New York Times blog post to reiterate the credibility of my claims.
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Tags: afton field farm, Grass-Fed, Joel Salatin, local food movement
Posted on March 24th, 2010 by jared | 1 Comment »

News to Be Proud Of (if you live in Oregon)

The Ashland School Board voted 5-0 to change the school lunch program. The advocacy of concerned parents in the community spoke loud and clear. Starting next fall, the school district will no longer buy crappy food and services from Sodexo, Inc. (what kind of name is that?!) and will source all of its food from local farms that grow organic food! This my friends, is news to be proud of.

For all you cynics out there, you will be happy to know that costs will increase and will affect the district’s budget. At the same time, the seemingly abstract idea of healthier kids will take precedent over cheap food. No more pizza for breakfast or french fries as vegetables. Now the kids will get the chance to eat real food on a daily basis.

To read the original text, go here.

Tags: education, local food movement, portland
Posted on March 14th, 2010 by jared | 1 Comment »

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