Sustainability is all the rage.
Last week I boarded a bus with 30 professionals, grad students and other food politic wonks to explore the pieceses of an ever-increasing sustainable food system here in Oregon. Coined “The Oregon Sustainability Experience,” the week-long adventure drove us all over, visiting multiple participants and benefactors to the evolving sustainable food systems across Oregon. From Portland to Hillsboro to Monmouth to Corvallis to Philomath to Tangent to Junction City to Salem to Brooks to Woodburn and then back to Portland, we invested 40+ hours to investigation, analysis, reflection and immense discussion on the various topics that be.
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Tags: Food Politics, local food movement, NW cuisine, portland, seasonal eating
Posted on July 27th, 2010 by jared | No Comments »
Yesterday afternoon I stood amongst a dozen or so glowing high school students in a sunny garden on the East side of Portland. Over the last 4 weeks these students (plus the occasional others who showed up less frequently) met every morning at Fir Ridge Campus to work in the garden, the classroom and the kitchen. The grant I wrote several months ago (and received) funded the summer program. As I learned from some of the funders who joined us at the celebration, the funding represents part of the resources being distributed to projects in East Portland as part of the East Portland Action Plan.
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Tags: education, food literacy, portland
Posted on July 17th, 2010 by jared | 2 Comments »
Last night I stood in a mostly empty gymnasium inside a catholic church in NE Portland. Sitting down beside me were 18 men, women and children who had all escaped the comforts of beautiful summer weather to sweat in a large, metallic industrial kitchen. What might seem like a desperate attempt to reach out, was in fact a meaningful experience for all who attended.
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Tags: education, food literacy, Food Politics, portland
Posted on July 15th, 2010 by jared | No Comments »
As each day piles upon the next, it gets more and more difficult to write the next entry. Over the last month I have hit many obstacles in my idealized career in food – a romantic vision turned overly dramatic. A constant trouble for me is the blog. Every day that I do not write wears on me. As much as I hoped to find a balanced relationship with blogging, once I ceased to write daily, I seemed to have jumped ship. Maybe I am a man of little middle ground. I don’t know why I could not or cannot write more frequently during the week. Ironically, the longer I wait to write the more I have to say. And in short time I have no idea where to begin. Do I explore my own kitchen projects? Divulge the politics of food movements? Critique the Portland food scene? (Which of course plays into my weekly distresses.) In the worst case, I do what I’m doing now – I blog about blogging.
From the very beginning I wanted this public space as separate from my life. Yet the problems I face during the day will inevitably trickle down to this site. The most direct influence is the absence of writing. If I am distracted I am less likely to write. Over time this tendency inflates and the next thing I know I have not written in days, weeks, a month?!
In this short post of reflection, let me say this:
I am rebuilding myself and redefining my relationship with the food movement and my career. I am in the process of rediscovering my passion and potential. I am finding my voice (again.) I appreciate your patience during this process. If you like what I have to say you will come back. If you are tired of waiting, maybe it will be awhile. But I promise that this lapse is almost over.
Good Man Eats is making a comeback.
Tags: local food movement, portland
Posted on June 10th, 2010 by jared | No Comments »
Two years ago June 1st, my partner and I attempted the 100-mile diet for one year. At the time we lived in Minneapolis, and the frigid winters brought the challenge to a stalemate by the end of December. The 7 months of successful locavorism proved to be both informative and inspirational. I would go so far as to claim that the experience led me here today. Obsessing over food sources is a major piece to understanding our broken system.
Nowadays, I’m considering a return to traditional locavorism with a slight twist.
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Tags: afton field farm, Bulk purchase, Gardening, portland, seasonal eating
Posted on May 12th, 2010 by jared | No Comments »