Octopus

I've always wanted to paint. I am hoping to make it my new faveorite passtime. I stayed in after my lunch guests today because I got a nasty steam burn from my tea pot -- another day of not doing my errands. I was bored, lonely and out of money, no shopping. So I painted. It's pretty bad, but I'd put it up on my fridge like a proud mom. I painted an octopus.

I have very fond memories of playing with the stingrays at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I love (to eat) those gelatinious sea creatures. The octopus has been on my mind for some time. My painted octo was orange even though the ones I eat all seem to be purple.

Read a great article in Sunset about families living on farms just south of the Bay Area. When BNY and I were driving cross- contry, we were talking about possible future plans and a farm is high on the list. I'd love to run an agriculture school teaching organic, biodynamic agriculture to young adults, focusing on urban youth. We'd have a working farm and an intensive, back breaking cirriculum that would be a true exploration of the work and the benefits of farming. Those who successfully completed the program would be eligible for a land scholarship -- we'd help them set up a farm and provide expert support. They'd farm and pay us back with a low interest loan and/or by hosting other students and participating in agricultural studies and community out reach. My foundation would buy trucks to form CSA's and make deliveries to inner city residents who usually have very limited access to fresh veggies and prime meats.

I once got into a huge fight with a very sheltered young (white) woman who swore that there was a CSA and/or access to organic produce in my East Williamsburg neighborhood. There is one crappy grocery store and a million delis selling non-perishables. One deli sold organic but at prices even I couldn't afford (my income far surpassed those living in the projects adjacent to my apartment). She was so sure that everyone had access to these luxuries. Oh wait-- it wasn't a CSA, it was a food co-op she swore up and down existed out there. Even with my priveledged status of having a college education and no kids, on my work schedule there was no extra time to work at a food co-op. She bet me $500 that there was a co-op within waking distance. One is lucky to get good apples in that neighborhood but she insisted that these things must be avaliable and that people were interested in devoting time and money to eat the fresh, organic fruits.

She had obviously never been to my neighboorhood nor any one like it. I was not nice to her after that. I called her a priveledged, sheltered something or other. Called her out on her ignorance (who the hell did I think I was? but I knew I was right). Then I felt bad. We shared an ice cream dessert.

I wanted to copy this article for her and pass it along via her friend, my coworker.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1813984,00.html

some other great sites for food news:
http://www.ethicurean.com/contact/ -- remember the video of downed cattle passing inspection-- saw it here

http://www.iatp.org/ -- information about agricultural policy as well as many food safety guides (i.e. what to eat, what to avoid an why)

http://www.culinate.com/home -- the slogan "Eat your ideal" says it all


that's a good start.