About Organic Eggs

I found this really interesting video about organic eggs and how some brands may be better than others.

Here's a link to the scorecard mentioned in the video.  I was disappointed to find that the brand we normally buy ranked among the bottom.  I'm even more grateful now that we get most of our eggs from my sister-in-law who keeps backyard chickens.

On a side note - one more week until the big move to our new house!

The Tiny House People (Documentary)

This is fascinating.

A Taste of Vietnam

My favorite site to watch online videos is vimeo.com, and among my favorite videos are the ones produced by the folks at The Perennial Plate.  I came across this short video yesterday highlighting some of the sights and tastes of Vietnam as experienced by the filmmakers and thought I'd share it with my readers because it got me reflecting.

When my family left Vietnam, I was still an infant.  Understandably, I have no memory of what life was like there.  Still, I can't help feeling something stir inside me whenever I see images of the place where I was born.  Two of my siblings have since gone back to visit but I've yet to do so.  I will admit that part me is afraid to make the journey myself.  Since the United States is the only home I've ever known, I'm certain I would feel out of place there to a certain degree (despite the fact that for the first time in my life, I'd walk the streets and see myself in the faces of most everyone around me). Still, I don't think my bucket list would be complete without a trip to where it all started for me.

Shocking

Warning - Your opinion of humanity will suffer after watching this video.  Here's a link to the article and even more disturbing slide show.

And the fact that some states are considering laws to make it a crime for an individual to seek a factory farm position with the intent of exposing such abuses is just unbelievable.

City Farmers

I love this video! I find it amazing that this film was produced in 1996. While you can argue that the urban agriculture/gardening/greening movement has now become mainstream, gentrified and chic even, this film is a great reminder that the seeds for this movement were originally sown by ordinary people in the community who wanted nothing more than to rid their neighborhoods of junk filled abandoned lots and have a place to grow food.

When you listen to these gardeners tell their stories, it's interesting to hear how many of them love their gardens because it reminds them of simpler times - perhaps of their childhood and their parents or grandparents who also farmed or had gardens. I think that in large part explains why I personally love gardening so much.

Wasted Food

“Taste the Waste“ — the trailer from tastethewaste.com on Vimeo.

It's always shocking to see huge quantities of food going to waste.

Yes! It's Friday!

It's nice to celebrate the end of a long work week with a good belly laugh. This video had me rolling this morning (and left me somewhat speechless)! See for yourself.

The Suburban-Urban Farmer

Who Grows Your Food? from Anthony-Masterson on Vimeo.

This is a great video. I think Lori Mason, the suburban farmer featured, expresses beautifully the reasons why many of us grow a vegetable garden. I wish I had a market garden like hers!

The Onset of Fall

Happy Fall Equinox everyone! I always think of this song during this time of year, when the early evening hours are noticeably darker, the air is crisp and you catch the scent of damp leaves and burning firewood when you step outside. I need to stock up on some marshmallows.

Urban Agriculture and Detroit

Watch the full episode. See more Need To Know.

Here is an interesting video produced by PBS regarding Detroit's developing agricultural scene. Can urban farming help to revitalize this once booming industrial city?

A Great Video on Growing Potted Citrus Trees

Growing Citrus in Containers from Cultivating Life on Vimeo.

Here's a great video on how to grow and care for potted citrus trees. I've actually been to Logee's Greenhouses in Danielson, Connecticut and purchased my Kaffir lime tree there. After watching this video, I realized that the problems I had with my Meyer lemon tree last winter were most likely due to a combination of three things - improper watering, low room temperature and using too large of a pot. Also, I think it's time to thoroughly prune my trees.

The Model Farm

Polyface Farm's natural selection from denny gainer on Vimeo.

I first became aware of Polyface Farm while reading Michael Pollen's The Omnivore's Dilemma years ago and wondered whether such an agricultural model would work on a national scale. I would love to tour Joel Salatin's farm one of these days. It's evident that he's truly passionate about his work and kind of crazy (in a good way).

The Life of the Dairy Farmer

From Grass to Cheese: The Nolan Family Farm from Milk Products on Vimeo.

I'll admit that I have passing fantasies about buying a small farm on which I would plant an heirloom apple orchard, grow a small market garden, raise a few dairy cows and make artisan cheese for a living. In my imaginary world, the grass is always green, the fruits and veggies are always flawless, the milk is always flowing and the cheese is always tasty. The reality of this life in all probability is much more uncertain and complicated. An honest and at times brutal account of such an undertaking is detailed in Kurt Timmermeister's memoir, Growing a Farmer, which I just finished reading the other day.

Meet Your Farmer - Reed Farm from Pull-Start Pictures on Vimeo.

One has to have a great deal of respect for today's dairy farmer. With the kind of commercial and regulatory pressures they currently face, it cannot be easy to carve out a living doing what they do. I'll try to remember this the next time I purchase a gallon of milk.

Today's Tidbit - Health Coverage for Farmers

Four Corners of Health Insurance - "My Son Needs It" from Everynone on Vimeo.

I've always wondered what farmers did for health insurance and whether there was a trade organization out there made up of small farms that band together in order to negotiate for more affordable coverage. Based on this video, I guess the answer is no.

It's sad that something like not being able to afford personal health insurance coverage can prevent you from pursuing your dreams and following in your dad's footsteps. I can relate somewhat to what these farmers are facing through my own personal experience. When Marc and I opened up a law practice together a few years ago, finding affordable health coverage for our small business was difficult to say the least and the plan we ultimately went with offered minimal coverage, despite the hefty premium we paid each month.

I'm sure many more young people would venture into the farming field if this was not an issue. Hopefully it won't be forever.

Today's Tidbit - Boston's Urban Farm

It's exciting to know that something like this is happening in our city.


Here's another video about The Food Project and the dedicated young people behind it.

The Very Definition of Stupidity!

Oak Park Woman Faces 93-Days in Jail For Planting Vegetable Garden: MyFoxDETROIT.com

This just makes me so mad! It seems this poor woman faces 93 days in jail for growing vegetables on her front lawn. If I was a resident of Michigan, I would be incensed that my state tax dollars were going toward prosecuting this woman. I find it most ironic that the district attorney doesn't feel compelled to go after residents in the neighborhood who allow weeds to take over their properties. It seems the town of Oak Park would rather see their residents neglect their front lawns than to actually put it to good use.

In my opinion, it should be a constitutional right (human right for that matter) to grow food anywhere you would like on your property.

Meet Your Farmer

Meet Your Farmer - Broadturn Farm from Pull-Start Pictures on Vimeo.

I've enjoyed watching these 'Meet Your Farmer' videos produced by the Maine Farmland Trust. Aside from the fact that they are beautifully filmed, I think it's important to understand the issues confronted by our local farmers if we want to grow a healthy local food economy. Listening to their stories, it's clear that these farmers are truly passionate about the work they do, regardless of their successes and failures. That in and of itself, in my opinion, is worth rallying behind.

If you'd like to view all 8 short films in this series, click here.

Cuba - A Model for Sustainable Urban Agriculture?

I'd read that there was a vibrant urban agricultural scene in Havana, Cuba but had no idea about it's origins or the extent of it's success. Viewing this video, I couldn't help but wonder whether or not this Caribbean city could serve as a model for other urban centers around the world that are interested in becoming more self-sufficient.

I try not to sound too political on this blog but it always irks me when short-sighted public figures (whom I'd never want to share a meal with) are quick to dismiss urban agriculture as some sort of crunchy granola elitist pipe dream. Maybe it's because they've never had to consider where their next meal would come from (a luxury most of us in this country are granted) or they have preconceived notions of farming as a occupation for the lowly. Let's just hope these people never have to endure a widespread food shortage. (I wouldn't want them to raid my veggie garden.) One thing's for sure - As our world population continues to grow, we'll have to find new more efficient ways of producing food in the limited space that we have.

Anyway, what was it that Plato once said? Necessity is the mother of invention. The veggie plots featured in this video and the systems established by the Havana growers are pretty inspiring. Could this model be replicated in your hometown?

My Idea of a Family Business

Meet Your Farmer - Chase Farm from Pull-Start Pictures on Vimeo.

If I could capture my dream for the kind of working life I'd like to lead in a seven minute video, this would be it. I have to admit that I've always been a bit envious of those who grew up working alongside their parents and siblings in a family business. Sometimes you just can't do everything yourself, especially when it comes to something like farming. Who better to rely on than those closest to you? The farming family featured in this video seem not only very driven but also very tight as a family unit.

It would be amazing to be able to start a business one day - one that fulfills my passion for food and growing things and one that can be passed down from one generation to the next. If you've started your own family business, I'd love to hear about it! I need all of the inspiration I can get!

The Farms of New York City

New York Farm City from Petrina TV on Vimeo.

This probably has to be one of the most beautifully filmed short videos I've come across online. If only we could live in a world filled with as much color. Yet another reason why urban farming rocks!

(On an unrelated note, what's up with Blogger lately?)