Biofuels not the way of the future

Our dependence on oil does need to stop and biofuels do provide an alternative, but, ultimately this option is not completely guilt free. An article posted on NPR today stated how some lawmakers, activists and citizens of Seattle are addressing these issues associated with biofuels.

As Martin Kaste suggests in his article, biofuels still use nonrenewable sources in the form of soybeans, corn and other grains otherwise used for human consumption. People won't die off if we suddenly convert to biofuel, but our already overwhelming surplus of corn and soy will continue to grow if cultivated strictly for veggie oil/biofuel. Further, if the bottom line continues to churn the wheels of production, irresponsible and unsustainable farming practices will reign supreme and contribute to environmental degradation.

It's reassuring that the people of Seattle didn't commit entirely to biofuel. Biofuels can be a viable option, as long as those fuels are extracted and recycled from already used cooking oils.

Martha Stewart envy

Martha! Martha! Martha! Love her or dislike her (sorry, I don't use the word "hate"), she knows her stuff and definitely has made a living off her attention to detail - perhaps to the point of obsession - and the importance of self-sufficiency. 

Why all this talk about Martha? Well, yes, I am a fan (and thus feel comfortable addressing her by her first name), but I also had the day off from the farm today and Martha's show was filming from her home in Katonah, N.Y. To say it is a beautiful place is an understatement; her estate and its grounds are immaculately manicured and pruned and puts most other houses to shame. She has endless numbers of gardens, botanical, edible and otherwise. Her meticulously kept lawns and hedges - from prominent landscapers and nurseries, no less - are a site that the average homeowner and middle class American can only dream. And, to make me even more envious, Martha is a firm believer in organic, eco-friendly methods to gardening and landscaping. Even her livestock enjoy homeopathic treatments! 

Viewers who don't quite share the same appreciation for Martha as I do may hold some resentment toward her, but she does deserve some kudos for knowing how to grow her own food, cook with local ingredients and can! What a life. 

On the show, she and some of her fellow rich friends harvested from the garden and local chefs canned pickles with her, cooked with local beef - not a favorite part of the show, but nonetheless better than factory farm alternatives. How she manages to remain free from dirt amazes me; grim probably fears her.

Sure, her lifestyle and attitude can be seen as pretentious and borderline OCD. Sometimes it becomes a little too much even for me (need I mention a Halloween episode in which Martha painstakingly made little ghosts with lollipops, tissues and perfectly cut string...?) Nonetheless, I really respect Martha for her ability to make domesticity and self-sufficiency admirable, and, yes, perfection look so damn easy. And, if she can't make or create it herself, she always gives a shout-out to the local businesses, growers and experts who sustain themselves off their craft. 

It's still all about supporting local economies, even when you're a big name domestic diva.

"An Edible History of Humanity"

Economist business editor Tom Standage recently appeared on NPR's "Talk of the Nation" and discussed his latest work An Edible History of Humanity.

In the interview, Standage talks about how humans have long adapted plants and animals to fit their needs. This is nothing new; however, food has also served as a cornerstone to not only how people physically survive, but how the wheels of society function. While it's rather rudimentary, it is equally profound: Food dictates history.

Click here to listen to the interview and to read an excerpt from Standage's book.

Refocusing the reGreen

As you can tell, this is the first post in a really LONG time. I recently graduated college, and, in between working full time and writing, I've contemplated where I want to take this blog. 

Because there's so many of you reading my blog - ha - I wanted to let readers know what I plan to cover on this site. Because my passions include food, farming, environmentalism and sustainability, well, there will be a lot about those subjects in posts. 

I also have the pleasure of returning to Riverbank Farm, an organic farm in Roxbury, Conn., this year and learning more about agriculture and immerse myself in the local food movement and surround myself with some amazing people. I am a proponent of supporting local growers and businesses as well as seasonal flavors, so look for recipes - most, if not all, vegan ones - and pictures from the farm and markets.

If there's something further you'd like to see, please feel free to post a comment. Happy reading!