WI Budget Repair Bill Bad for Our Health

I don't normally explore politics on this blog in quite this fashion..but the historic events going on in my home state of Wisconsin right now demand attention.

Not only could Governor Scott Walker's Budget Repair Bill undermine our communities’ socio-economic vitality by eliminating most public workers’ bargaining rights, reducing pay, and putting our public schools at risk, but our state public health programs could be effectively destroyed. 

Because the bill would give the Walker administration power to gut funding to public health programs administered through the Department of Health Services our health programs for the impoverished—essential services our seniors, children, and farmers rely on—could be cut without any input from the legislature.  I spoke with a nurse colleague of mine today who expressed concerns that our SeniorCare and BadgerCare programs could be slashed.  “Immunization programs, free clinics, medication assistance for seniors, well women’s programs....they’re all at risk.”

This is why so many of my friends and colleagues have joined the tens of thousands protestors around the capital and here in Milwaukee as well.  There are so many ways we can raise our voices against the dissolution of citizen rights.  You can read the bill here and then take (or continue to take) action....you could start with something as simple as this: Join the Wisconsin Wave.

Celebrate the Seasons with Local Flavors

My contribution to the December Slow Food WiSE newsletter...

Imagine what it must have been like, a century ago, for a Wisconsin boy or girl to get an orange in their Christmas stocking. The exotic scent of citrus, the hint of sun, the golden juice... In a time when oranges are ubiquitous year-round, it might be hard to understand how special a short seasoned, far flung fruit might have been for a child. Eating locally and seasonally, for the great majority of history, has been the only option. The truth is that so many of our familial, food, and holiday traditions have gone by the wayside in lieu of bigger portions, faster foods, more gifts... The food traditions of the holiday season have long been connected to the ecology of the immediate world around us- and if we keep this in mind when choosing our celebratory foods, we might gain a deeper appreciation of the place we call home.

Winter in Wisconsin (with nary a ripe tomato to be found) is home to many lovely cold weather, and year round foods. Highlighting some of our region's special foods for menus and gifts at holiday gatherings promotes community and often inspires story telling. Nationwide, Slow food USA's Ark of Taste and Renewing Americas Food Traditions Alliance are two important programs that are aimed at saving endangered foods and preserving America's Food Traditions. Many Ark of Taste products, such as Sorghum Syrup, are grown, raised, or produced in the Mid-west. To learn more, go to the national website: www.slowfoodusa.org.

Consider the following Wisconsin foods for your winter gatherings:
* Cheeses
* Jams, Jellies and Preserves
* Storage Fruits & Vegetables
* Grains
* Maple syrup and honey
* Meat, Fish, and Fowl

Resources for finding local Wisconsin foods:
Farm Fresh Atlas of Southeastern Wisconsin
Local Harvest
Savor Wisconsin
Eat Wild
Milwaukee Community Supported Agriculture Initiative