Pollan on PBS

This evening on PBS, Bill Moyers conducted a captivating interview with sustainable food guru Michael Pollan on his weekly show. The lively discussion highlighted the effects our food system has on our health, the economy, the environment, and global food security. As solutions to our failing food policies, Pollan recommended (as he has done in his articles and books) that by engaging in the simple, yet powerful acts of gardening and cooking, "you declare your independence from the culture of fast food."

To read the transcript, listen to the podcast, view the vodcast, and find links visit the show's website.

Thankfully

Heritage turkeys from Top o' the Hill Farm in Northwestern Illinois.

This Thanksgiving, I am most thankful to share good, clean, and fair food with loved ones.

Thankfully there is healthy soil, sun, air, and water for food.

Thankfully there are mindful people to raise the plants and animals that ended up gracing our plates...

I am especially thankful for these things because they are at risk: our topsoil is quickly disappearing, our climate is changing, our air and water has become unsafe in communities all over the world. The irony is that the very food system dependent upon these natural resources is ruining them.

While our holiday table bounded with roots and vegetables from our garden and our farmer friends' fields, possibly our biggest, or maybe our newest, adventure was finding the locally raised, organic, heritage Bourbon Red turkey we feasted on. After seeking out this treasure, it was comforting to see the farm our turkey was raised on and to know that the way it was raised led to healthy meat. Grass fed, foraged birds, that are supplemented with organic feed, and who have access to plenty of fresh air while roaming the wide out of doors are naturally better for the eaters.

Heritage breeds preserve tradition and flavor and our health. Find out more about heritage animals from the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy which works to promote the preservation of these endangered breeds. Heritage turkeys can be purchased through Local Harvest or Slow Food Chicago's Turkey project.

Seeds of Hope

The seeds of hope have been planted with Obama's election to the presidency. Now the world is watching to see if these seeds will grow and the sustainable food community is abuzz with the recipes for growth (literally). Politics determine the policies that determine the health and wellness of our society. Whether Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Green, Independent, or Other, the next president of the United States will have an impact on your world.

A number of recent articles & weblogs celebrate Obama's position on food while others urge reform and offer recommendations to the new administration for promoting food justice, public health, and sustainable agriculture.

• From Slow Food USA: Yes We Can: Change Our Broken Food System
• From Grist: Michael Pollan and other food authors and activists offer their elevator pitches for Obama
• From FamilyFarmed.org: Obama to Support Local and Organic Food
• From FarmAid: Willie Nelson's Open Letter to Obama
• From Marion Nestle's What To Eat Blog: Who Will Obama Appoint?