THANKSGIVING AND NEW FOOD TRADITIONS IN THE U.S.

FUTURE PUMPKIN PIES?

Tomorrow is a historical food holiday -- Thanksgiving. A time for family to gather and eat a meal that traditionally derives from the past. It usually includes some of the following; ham, turkey, stuffing, vegetables, pumpkin pie, potatoes and cranberries. It is a time to sit down around the table to eat fairly  "good for you food." 


The day after Thanksgiving, many folks return to the present American way of eating which is -- fast foods, soft drinks and junk foods. This present way of eating has been with us since 1980 and the results are obesity in the general population, especially in children. I'm sure you know all this. But why is junk food eating not declining or stopping altogether? Why aren't our children slimming down? Perhaps the answers are to be found in the video below titled Fault Lines: Obesity in America.


One of my favorite blogs on food is -- The Slow Cook -- where writer Ed Bruske takes us through many topics on eating good/bad food especially within the school lunch programs that children in large numbers consume every day. It is an eye-opener blog that tells it like it is. He is one of the persons featured in the video,  Fault Lines: Obesity in America -- one that everyone that eats in the U.S. should view. I have made it available below from youtube. You can also find it on the The Slow Cook site. 


I thank Ed Bruske for providing a blog with such in-depth coverage on what we are allowing to happen to our food systems here in this country. 


Have a great Thanksgiving and be sure and watch the below video, Fault Lines ---

ROBBING OUR BREAD BASKET

An old rickety barn sits in a flourishing field of tobacco and corn while in the background one can detect the sneaking encroachment of land development. Commercial, residential, plus highway development contribute to the loss of our country's prime acreage that is used for all of our food. Are you aware of this ongoing loss of prime farmland throughout our country? Remember we have been called the, "bread basket of the world." Perhaps we should reflect on what is happening to our "bread basket.".

A non-profit organization called the Farmland Trust works with federal, state and local leaders -- trying to keep farmers on their land and also to protect our environment. They tell us that less than 1/5 of U.S. land is high quality and that we are losing this fine land on an ongoing basis. Click here to view the top ten states that lost prime farm land between 1992 and 1997.

Think on this issue and be aware of the consequences the next time you think you need more development i.e. a new larger house, new malls, theme parks, and all the other forms of environmental commercialization.

IS OUR FOOD SUPPLY REALLY SAFER IF SENATE BILL S 510 IS ENACTED?

FRESH ORGANIC VEGGIES AT A FARMERS MARKET

OK, time to shout out. I try to stay away from such things on Folkways Notebook but once in a while something gets in my craw and I need to rant. This rant is about our food supply. Now the government thinks we need to improve the safety of our food by attaching tighter strings. Now I ask, who will this favor the corporate world or the human world? You be the judge. Below is a link to a site on the S 510 bill that is coming up soon for a vote in the Senate. I invite you to read all about it on other sites in the time that you have. It has already passed the House. It was to be voted on by the Senate on April 13th but has been delayed. If you feel the bill is not to your liking may I suggest a call to your Senator. The link below is a letter wrote by and signed by many of the small and local food producers in our country.

Congress.org

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/userletter/?id=48778&letter_id=4991309671

SASSY SPRING BRINGS LIFE

RED MAPLE -- BUDS BLOOMING WITH LIFE
Acer rubrum

SHED NEEDS PAINT TO ADD SOME LIFE

GARDEN WAITING TO SPRING TO LIFE

WILD ONIONS GIVE MY SALADS SOME LIFE

MY GARLIC WILL ADD ZEST TO MY LIFE

ANTS GATHER FOR SOCIAL LIFE ON MY PORCH RAILING

A DOG'S LIFE -- SAL CATCHING SOME RAYS

MY BACK OBSERVATION POST WHERE I WATCH LIFE SPRING INTO ACTION