Grandpa Ed was right...

My maternal grandmother's name was Dessie Mae Tucker. My grandfather's name was Ed Hall. She was tall and raw boned and plain spoken- some would say ornery. He was tall and thin, quiet and patient. They lived in Paris, Tennessee so we only saw them for about 10 days in the summer when we were kids. I always think of my grandparents this time of year when my garden really gets going and I start thinking about the process of canning, drying and freezing produce for the winter.

Every summer, my family would drive down in the family's station wagon to spend a couple of weeks with my grandparents. My sister and I would always sleep in the back bedroom when we would visit them. The double bed was against the wall so when the sun rose, the light would come in the window behind us. The opposite wall was lined with canned goods from their farm-- tomatoes, green beans, pickles, beets, carrots, pickled watermelon rind, corn, okra. It had a certain smell that I now recognize whenever I can my own garden surplus.

Their farm was considerably smaller by the time we were born but still way bigger than anything we ever saw in Detroit. At one time, my grandpa raised animals as well as vegetables and fruit. What are now called "heirloom" tomatoes were the same ordinary, sliced tomatoes that my grandmother served at every supper, still warm from the garden. We always loved going out to the garden after the evening meal where Grandpa showed us how to pick a ripe watermelon. (It falls off the vine when you tap it.) There was nothing like it!

It's amazing what has happened to our country's food system in the last 50 years. I remember hearing Grandpa Ed talk about the dangers of pesticides and herbicides, factory farming and genetic engineering (I seem to remember his saying something like "I reckon them scientists think they can tinker with nature") back in the 1980's. At the time, I didn't really understand the scope of the issues or the impending disaster but I certainly got the message that Grandpa thought it was a bad idea. I am sure that he would not be happy to see how our environment, our economy and yes, our national security, is being destroyed.

So, what can we do about it? First, we have to recognize that the current food system is broken. And, many of us do. There are more and more informed consumers making the choice to buy locally produced food that is raised in an environmentally responsible way. From this position of engaged consumer, we need to become enraged activists. This is a little tougher but we don't have to sell our stuff and move to a commune (now called intentional communities, more on that at some other time) or handcuff ourselves to the gates of Monsanto Corporation. But, we can do more than Know your food, Know your Farmer as the slogan goes ... in other words, go beyond shopping at the Farmer's Market and growing our own food.

A couple of organizations that I support are:

Organic Consumer's Association. The link to their website is http://www.organicconsumers.org/. They work to keep organic standards from being watered down and will help you keep up-to-date on federal and state legislation affecting our food system. They send email action alerts when legislation is being considered with clear ways to make our voices heard.

The Farm to Consumers Legal Defense Fund. They actively support family farms and work on policy issues related to our right to purchase raw milk and other nutrient dense foods directly from farmers. In the State of Michigan and in many other states around the country, it is illegal for farmers to sell unpasteurized milk. My family has owned a share in a dairy cow for more than a year now as a way to get access to real milk. The milk is wonderful and it is our way of being both an engaged consumer and an enraged activist. The corporate food companies feel so threatened by these farmers that they have launched aggressive campaigns to defeat any legislation that would loosen the current restrictions. Their website is http://www.ftcldf.org/

So, from my little corner of the world, we will keep gardening, shopping at the Farmer's Market, canning, freezing and drying our own food. I will also write letters and emails to our elected officials, spread the word to friends and family, donate money to organizations like OCA and Farm to Consumers Legal Defense Fund and pray that the changes will be made.

It's a Farm Thing- Summer Vacation 2009

I love living in the city, but always enjoy vacationing up north in Michigan. We have such a beautiful state and I want the boys to appreciate how people live in other parts of the world, so we are starting right here in our home state. Thanks to my friend, James, we have had access to his cottage which is about 3 1/2 hours from home. It is in Oscoda County and most of the surrounding area is rural. The boys can fish right off the dock on James' property. Theo did a great job of teaching his little brother how to fish. Khairi caught several fish with his "Lightening McQueen" fishing pole, including a 14" small mouth bass (we threw her/him back in.)

Last year, I became friends with Jill, who lives across the road and this year, she invited us on a field trip. She took us to an Amish bakery and country store. The bakery was a small house that you entered through the front screen door. On the counter were these wonderful breads, pies, cookies and cinammon rolls. All the items had price stickers on them. There was a can on the counter with a sign that said "Put your money in the can." We bought some cinnamon rolls and then headed down the road to the country store. Now, if you are not familiar, the Amish are a close knit community that shuns many of what we would consider necessities (cars, electricity, phones, etc.) The country store is a little unusual because it is open to the public. Although, unless you know someone who lives nearby, you would not likely find it on your own. I purchased a 10lb. bag of unbleached flour and some chocolate.

I asked Jill if she knew where I might buy farm raised chickens. My family and I do not eat strictly vegetarian, but we don't eat conventionally raised meat. (Read Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan or Fast Food Nation by Eric Schosser or Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver for more on that topic). We spotted a postcard on the board in the store that stated "Chickens. Call Mary. Phone Number" I called and Mary indicated that she raised chickens on her family farm and had dressed and frozen birds available. We headed over to meet her at her home.

We arrived about 15 minutes later and were greeted by a young Menonite woman and her dad. This part of Michigan is also home to a large community of Menonites, who also live very modestly. (Although many do drive, have phones and electricity, etc.). I purchased three chickens. Mary's dad offered to show us around the farm. I'm not sure who was more excited... me or the boys. Mr. T took us out to the cow pasture, where about a dozen cows moseyed over to us. A couple of them even let us touch them. Mr. T explained that he raised cows, pigs, chickens for meat and he processed animals from the surrounding farms. We met a couple dozen pigs that were outside in their large pen. Inside the barn were the most beautiful Rhode Island Red Chickens. Mr. T went into the chicken area and brought out two warm, just laid eggs for the boys. He then took them into another area of the barn where they could see and hold two-day old baby chicks. We talked about the work of the farm, how the animals were cared for, etc. He also told us about his missionary work to Haiti. We finished our visit by admiring Mrs. T's garden. She came out from the house to harvest some onions for something she was cooking inside.

Mr. T invited us to come by again and we said our good byes. I got the feeling that Mr. T does not generally give "tours" to people who come to buy chickens from his daughter. I felt definitely felt honored.

Theo, Khairi and me hanging out with Mr. T's cows.

Fishing at dusk on Moon Lake.

The view of Moon Lake from the back deck.