Archive for the ‘Food-Nutrition-Health’ Category

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Alice Waters: Join the Local Food Revolution

Sunday, September 4th, 2011

by Catherine Haug, August 30, 2011

Thanks to Sally J. for the Alice Waters video link.

For those who have been reading my posts for a while, this will not be news for you, as buying & eating local has been my project for much of my adult life. But perhaps this will inspire you to join the local food revolution as well. Alice Waters (Edible Schoolyard, Slow Foods, Chez Panisse) has been championing this movement now for decades; she calls it a “Delicious Revolution.”

Watch her 4-minute video: Edible Education. She talks about how the Edible Schoolyard (founded 1995) provides hands-on experience and knowledge for the kids, and excites them about sustainability and enjoying the outdoors. She believes that this kind of program should be in every school, beginning with kindergarden. “Bring kids back to their senses, if you will.” Why not here in Bigfork?

Here is more advice from Alice, for both parents and educators (see page 2 of the Edible Education article): (more…)

Posted in Community, Food-Nutrition-Health, Gardening | Comments Closed

Junk Food vs Veggies

Sunday, September 4th, 2011

by Catherine Haug, August 31, 2011

MontPIRG (Montana Public Interest Research Group) poses a provocative question:

“Every year, $10 to $30 billion in taxpayer subsidies go to just a few cash crops that end up in nearly every processed food — in the form of corn sweeteners in the soda and soybean oils in the Twinkies. [From Here’s an Easy One, The New York Times, Jan. 15, 2011]

Fresh fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, receive no subsidies.”

For the answer to the question, and for information on taking action, go to The Price is Wrong. If you have difficulty with that link, go to MontPIRG Take Action Page, and scroll down to the link: The Price is Wrong.

See my earlier post:  America’s Garden or Subsidy Garden? for another take on this topic.

Posted in Agriculture, Food-Nutrition-Health | Comments Closed

Milk War

Sunday, September 4th, 2011

by Catherine Haug, August 31, 2011

By now I’m sure most of you know that I’m an avid supporter of raw (unpasteurized) milk, despite the preponderance of public opinion that pasteurized milk keeps you safe. Do you wonder why?

Back in the early 1950s we had many dairies here in the Flathead, and most of them delivered their farm-fresh milk to your door in glass bottles with special paper caps. This milk was not pasteurized. As a growing toddler, I thrived on raw milk.

But as time progressed, dairies consolidated or closed; milk was pasteurized and sold in markets. Those who wanted it could still get raw milk, but we had to drive to the farm to get it. By the time I was on my own, raw milk was very hard to find, so I stopped drinking milk altogether, to avoid the mucous produced by pasteurized milk.

Why did public preference change? For the full story, go to RealMilk.com, but read on for the short version, and also a discussion on the healthfulness of raw milk. (more…)

Posted in Food-Nutrition-Health, Health | 2 Comments »

Food-Swapping in the Flathead

Sunday, August 28th, 2011

by Catherine Haug, August 28, 2011

Flathead Food Swappers is a new Facebook group, launched by Kathie Lapcevic and a friend. I have added this link to our ESP links column under Food: Local/Organic Links, for your future reference. Here’s a printable flyer about the group: Flathead Food Swappers Flyer.

From Kathie Lapcevic:

Flathead Food Swappers

Inspired by other food swaps across the country, we aim to be a group of kind folks who meet several times a year to swap homemade 7 homegrown food and celebrate the diversity of foodstuffs available in our community.

We’ll swap most anything that is homemade or homegrown:

  • Extra garden produce (fruits, veggies, herbs, nuts, etc.)
  • Seeds
  • Wild-harvested / foraged foods (including wild game)
  • Home-canned items (high-acid food only)
  • Home-dehydrated & frozen goods
  • Homemade lacto-fermented foods
  • Home-grown eggs, meats, milk, etc.
  • Home baked items (breads, cookies, cakes, etc.)

For more info:

  • Check us out on Facebook: Flathead Food Swappers
  • Contact mtkatiecakes(at)yahoo(dot)com (address disguised for security).

 


Posted in Exchange, Food-Nutrition-Health, Free Stuff, Home & Ranch | Comments Closed

New USDA diet recommendations: My Food Plate

Saturday, August 27th, 2011

by Catherine Haug, August 26, 2011

USDA: My Food Plate

(icon, above, from ChooseMyPlate.gov)

In June of this year, the USDA replaced its food pyramid with “My Food Plate” in attempt to make it easier to understand how much of each of 5 food categories to eat: Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Protein, and Dairy.

USDA recommendations, and Cat’s comments follow: (more…)

Posted in Fermentation, Culturing & Curing, Food-Nutrition-Health, Gardening, Home & Ranch, Livestock | 2 Comments »

Gathering Summary: Lacto-Fermentation, with Don Bates & Jeanette Cheney, August 17, 2011

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011

Bread & Butter Pickles

by Catherine Haug

(photo, left, of lacto-fermented pickles by C. Haug)

This is just a short synopsis; you can find more detail in the complete, printable pdf file: Gathering Summary: Lacto-Fermentation with Don Bates & Jeanette Cheney, Aug 17, 2011.

See For More Information (below) for the recipes handouts.

Presentation Topics

Presenters Don Bates & Jeanette Cheney described and demonstrated the following, and brought samples and tasters to tempt our taste buds: (more…)

Posted in Fermentation, Culturing & Curing, Food-Nutrition-Health, Gathering Summaries | 2 Comments »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »