A Dash of Faith and a Dollop of Love Like many traditional dishes around the world where written recipes are virtually non-existent because the cooks -- women, people of color and other groups considered second-class citizens-- were not allowed to attend school and often couldn’t read or write, their culinary legacies were handed down verbally with a dash of faith and a dollop ... Continue Reading
Earth Day Every Day: Grains of Wisdom: Sustainable Rice Cultivation
When most of us think of rice fields, we vision expanses of flooded rice patties, Asian peasants with traditional conical hats, knee-deep in muddy waters, planting rows upon rows of seedlings... There is a movement a-field that is impacting how rice is grown around the world for the better. S.R.I. (system of rice intensification) is a sustainable method of growing rice that ... Continue Reading
HERstory is Our History in Cooking and Poetry: How to Cook Cow Peas
Traveling back from Charleston, I'm reminded of Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor through her cooking and poetry in Vibration Cooking Or, The Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl. Here is how to cook cow peas: "Remove all the peas that look weird and wash and soak in cold water. Cook in some kind of boiled meat until done." Here is how to cook red rice: "Fry smoke bacon in a skillet ... Continue Reading
Black, Hispanic Kids Targeted by Ads for Junk Foods
Black, Hispanic Kids Targeted by Ads for Junk Foods Education, awareness (and exercise) are needed from all sides to address poor eating habits and improve children's health especially in low income communities: parents, kids, schools. Media isn't to blame but highly influential. Education and awareness obviously starts at home. Sedentary habits like watching more ... Continue Reading
Precious Water, Event Proceeds for Puerto Rico
Clean drinking water is a precious resource we often take for granted. Our humanity depends on it yet millions of gallons are wasted or misused. We're donating proceeds from our October events to support relief efforts in Puerto Rico. We hope you will give, too. Best Ways to Help Puerto Rico ... Continue Reading
Pancake flap: Aunt Jemima Mammy Stereotype in Question
Pancake flap: Born a slave in 1834 in Kentucky, Nancy Green was the first Aunt Jemima "Mammy" in 1890. More about the case Diane Roberts, a professor of Southern culture at Florida State University in Tallahassee and author of The Myth of Aunt Jemima, said that "Mammy" stereotype "romanticized the cruelty of slavery for a nation reconciling the trauma of the Civil War. "It's ... Continue Reading
Shop Community Owned French Broad Food Co-op
Food Co-Ops are a wonderful way to enjoy natural food, local produce and invest in the local community. Community owned and operated, decisions and policies are made democratically by voting members. Sevananda Natural Foods Market Co-op is Atlanta's original natural grocery co-op since 1974! In addition to packaged and bulk foods, I can't ever leave the ... Continue Reading
Reduce Food Waste: A Billion Dollar Tragedy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8xwLWb0lLY Here's an excellent piece on Food Waste and how it's being perpetuated not by science, safety or facts, but misinformation, myth, and fear. Ineffective labeling policies combined with consumer and industry's unfounded fears around food safety liability result in an unbelievable amount of good food wasted, enough to feed several ... Continue Reading
No Bees, No Food: Bumblebee listed as endangered species
Bees are responsible for pollinating most of the plants that require insect pollination to produce fruits, seeds and nuts. Like other bees, rusty patched bumblebees pollinate important crops such as tomatoes, cranberries and peppers. A bumblebee is now on the endangered species list for the first time in a "race against extinction," the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced ... Continue Reading
International Women’s History Month – Grow. Run. Mentor.
CALL TO ACTION--get involved, run for office, board, whatever level. I have run and served in public office, won 4 out of 5 elections! What about you?! Or nominate, mentor, inspire. Time to roll up the sleeves! Start local. No experience needed obviously. Have heart. Be fair. We need folks to help build positive, healthy communities and schools and support ... Continue Reading
Food and gender: Fruit beers girly?
Fruity beer dudes: I can hook you up with the one guy (out of 50 women) who came to my tofu cooking classes! Tofu, ferns, quiche...and now lambics! Be strong, be true to your fruity self, and drink on! Food and gender: Fruit beers girly? ... Continue Reading
Choco Pie-filled balloons launched at N. Korea
Food and politics, it's all connected, ain't it? Call it Choco-vism. South Korean activists and North Korean defectors launched balloons laden with Choco Pies at North Korea this week after the popular chocolate treat reportedly became the target of a government crackdown. Nearly 200 activists released the 50 large helium balloons carrying 10,000 Choco Pies — a combination ... Continue Reading
Food for Thought: Exploring Food, Culture, Race
Everything important and memorable in my life has revolved around food. It’s been my enemy, friend, and salvation. From being allergic to almost everything as a baby to becoming a “raccoon foodie” who eats anything as an adult, it’s a classic love-hate relationship. The personal has also been political. If you, insult my food, you insult me, my family, ... Continue Reading
Sustainable Fisheries: Good Fish, Bad Fish
What is "troll-caught" salmon? Trollers are small boats that fish by hook and line. Fishing this way means that there is little impact on the environment and minimal by-catch, or non-targeted catch. Troll-caught salmon are caught one at a time, cleaned by hand and packed in ice. Careful individual handling results in top quality and superb flavor. Troll-caught Coho salmon ... Continue Reading
Small & Minority Farmers Workshop
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