SOMETHING IMPORTANT!
Like so many, I pay attention to the frequency with which I hear various subjects, to try to determine trends. That has to be tempered with awareness that where you are and what you’re doing may color what you hear.
That being said, I’m hearing from a lot of different directions and sources, that people are looking at trying to use more and more locally grown foods…both for health reasons, because it helps our local economies and because it “feels” better as well as tasting better. Amazing isn’t it? We’re beginning to figure out that the foods we eat and our health are linked.
There’s also something about linking to your local community that completes a circle. There is a commonality between food and handmade pottery, in nurturing us, our families and our communities. The level of humanity in growing, harvesting, preparing and serving food to each other is complimented by the use of utensils that have been made by people you know.
A couple of years ago there was an article in Ceramics Monthly which explored this in more depth.
Recently, perhaps partly because the ‘growing season’ will be upon us soon here in Minnesota, we have become aware of the almost explosive growth of CSA farms, and local organic foods, changing what we eat to be more healthy and healthful.
There has been a spate of books recently that talk about these topics.
A few we’ve read and can recommend highly are:
- “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” by Michael Pollan
- “The Hundred and Fifty Healthiest Foods” Jonny Bowden
- “Good Calories-Bad Calories” by Gary Taubes
- “In Defense of Food” by Michael Pollan
- “Weeds and Why They Grow” by Jay McCaman (for gardeners)
If you have thoughts on this topic, and other good books to recommend on better eating, please share by posting a comment below.
Adam and Laura have taken over Katy and Peter’ August Earth CSA Farm and renamed it to Loon Organics. They’re still looking for some members, as is a new CSA “The Farm of Minnesota” being established by Dan and Donna Moe. They won’t be certified organic for a couple of years, but are using organic methods now (Website to come shortly). They can be reached at 320-587-7882.
Dan observed in a visit a couple of days ago that if you consider cost of food as part of healthcare, you can spend a smaller amount on food and pay for it in bad health later. Or you can pay more for food now, live better and have better health later with lower costs for medical care.
If you’re not in the Hutch area, we strongly recommend looking at www.localharvest.org which is an excellent starting resource for locally grown foods.
This is all another reason we’re so excited about our new line of Ceramic Flameware Stovetop Cookware. It adds another dimension to being able to use handmade pottery for cooking.
