The Anatomy of Gumbo

Speeding through the last few pages of my newest pleasure, In Defense of Food an Eater's Manefesto, I come bearing a few words of pleasure, habit, & truth. My beautiful wife is stirring up one of my greatest pleasures in food... Gumbo (mmmm, yes, that's right)! The traditional New Orleans fare is our current ambition to master. Good food, tradition and companionship is the most essential part of culture- Defining the core of what all of us value. Here is a link to Kelly's favorite online cookbook: 101 CookBooks, by Heidi Swanson (which Kel references multipul times a week for scrumptious homecooked vegetarian fare). Search for Vegetarian Gumbo Recipe and add some good turkey sausage and maybe a good Las Palomas cocktail and join us.

Michael Pollan's book, In Defense of Food an Eater's Manefesto; outlines much truth in our societies habits concerning food. While I dwell over the dubbed term 'The French Paradox' which brings light to the opposition between French and American eating habits; whereby the F'ies maintain (and have for hunderes of years) a high cost, high fat, small portion intake, with overall far higher health ratios comparitively. The Americans, in contrast, have come to maintain this kind of brian-washed ideal of cheap, chemically induced mass-produced food. When will we open our eyes to this inter-cultural reliance and acceptance of the spread of such conglomerates as Wal-Mart, Costco and all other mass production food chains which supports not only the concept of over- consumpumtion but over-conception? Each of which paralleling on the notion of living beyond our means, over-consumtion to such a level that is beyond what is both not good for us as indidividuals as much as it as not good for our earth (Monsanto cares nothing of our health or our earth).
In Pollan brings to light mind-numbing statistics such as Americans eating a fifth of all their meals in the car, or how Americans spend the least amount of their disposable income (9%) than any other industrial society while eating upward of 30% more than any other industrial society; I ponder. Anyone who has not read this alarmingly eye-opening piece by Pollan, needs to educate themselves on the effects of what our government has instilled in our mind. An Eater's Manifesto has given me a goal to maintain alongside my wife... to eat an entirely vegetable-based salad for every lunch I can. Reading this book has illuminated my vision on eating healthy, or should I say eating to preventing chronic disease named after what has been called 'The Western Diet'.

I challenge us all to get to know your farmer. Asking them how they grew the food we all consume and begin to understand the more we know, the more care in the thing we consume, the more we can truly appreciate ourselves. The 1st grade term of we are what we eat holds true, and it wasn't until I read this book did I really do some soul searching in understanding why what food I consume and how I consume it really effects my life. Enjoying a home cooked meal of locally grow produce with my beautiful wife, laughing over life's challenges and triumphs is the root of culture, & most importantly happiness. If we can't enjoy every bite with the ones we love; what are we spending our time doing. Eating a microwave dinner, with a can full of high-fructose corn syrup in front of a T.V. is not living, it's dieing. I apologize if I have offended anyone, but dig deep and think. I believe that a stronger connection to our food will only enhance life. The extra time spent eating, speaking, cooking will only grow our personal happiness.

I leave this entry with a painted picture. My best-friend, lover, & wife cooking up a tasty meal that originated in the city we got engaged (& spend our 1 yr anniversary) listing to some great music, drinking, eating, smiling, and laughing. It is what life is all about.

World Population to Hit 7 Billion by 2011, New Stats Show

World Population to Hit 7 Billion by 2011, New Stats Show: "
Africa's population has now passed one billion and at current rates will double by 2050. School children in Central African Republic, photo: Pierre Holtz/UNICEF, Humanitarian and Development Partnership Team in CAR via flickr/Creative Commons.

Here's a sobering thought for your Friday morning: Mongabay reports a new study by the Population Reference Bureau shows that by 2011 ...Read the full story on TreeHugger

The Importance of Topsoil, Water, & Food

I have begun the growing in significance topic of water scarcity. Combine that concept with severe top soil erosion around the world and what do you get? Food scarcity.

I didn't write in this blog to scare, intimidate, and have no intention to neglect other very important issues. For me, the most fundamental thing to all our lives is water, wood, and shelter.

Water: We are tapping our groundwater and snow pack reserves at alarming rates around the world. As the world population continues to grow it will use more water. As countries continue to develop in developing regions such as Africa, and Asia the pressure on their water resources will continue to increase. This is not just a African or Asian problem where huge populations are growing at alarming rates, but also an American problem. Given I am writing this from the New York City area and we have basically spent the last 30 days under water, the largest problem lies in the west. From extensive irrigation in California, arid land city population rise such as in Phoenix, and continued and extensive water waste in infrastructure and agricultural use; we driving ourselves off a cliff. I just read an interesting article in the December 2008 issue of National Geographic which highlighted the issue of damming up the rivers in Northern California and southern Oregon and its effect on Chinook Salmon populations. We recently had a "30,000" salmon die off from 1 river valley (Klamath River) alone. Environmentalist are trying to remove the dams and farmer's are asking for more water. Both have very valid points, but I wish to point out the one big flaw in the farmer's point. Most farm in the US and world are huge centers of waste regarding water. Farming techniques have developed over the past few years and most significantly Israel, the land of little water developed the drip irrigation system. The most efficient way to water a crop, providing enough water to the roots to optimal growth. Our great American farms mostly use significantly more water than they need, so why fight for the overuse of water when the market (price) should force you to become more efficient.

Topsoil: What is better than digging in a garden, planting a variety of crops watching and waiting while you watch the mature? Better? Well how about being gone for a week to find that all your beans have been eaten by an animal. Very annoying. But seriously, Top soil erosion & fertile soil aeration is becoming an increasing problem in areas with very larger population such as China and India. China I believe is seeing the largest problems regarding this. The Gobi Desert is growing, fast. Hillside farming through unsustainable practices and eroding, fast.

What this means for food: Less water + less soil + larger appetite = ??? You don't have to be a scientist to figure this one out. My greatest concern is what happens when China cannot feed it's population anymore? There will be political unrest, death, and I hate to say it but political conflict. I don't mean to single out the Chinese, but there is a list of countries that face severe problems. Haiti has some of poorest individual in the world, that lack basic freedom of water and food. Why? For a period of 5 or 10 years the population grew with the market or government offering a sustainable method of energy and heat. Haitians went into their forests and cut down almost every tree in the country. Since then soil erosion has been a huge issue, without any trees and a hurricane coming how will the soil stay in place? Soil erosion turned into water scarcity because the trees and soil held in the water to be release slowly in rivers. Which meant severe flooding and famine.

No more doom and gloom from me. The tools are at our disposal to correct the inefficiencies in the world. What is lacking is education. I hope this post made 1 person interested in learning more (not from a grammatical point of view though :) )

Water Shortage

Water scarcity will be a problem well before global warming, oil, energy, will be. Water and our food system go hand in hand. Right now in California, they are in the 3rd year of drought. Bad enough that farmer's are cutting down orchards and letting the land go baron. On average a farmer in the central valley is receiving 30% less water than they were 5 years ago. With the lower of water tables all over the west, pumping it yourself is now not becoming an option.

Treehugger.com recently published a article titled: Water Shortages Rising Across the Globe, But Especially India showing how and why Water shortages are occurring all over the globe. Aside from our western states, China, India, and Africa are being hit really hard. "By 2025, India, China and select countries in Europe and Africa will face water scarcity if adequate and sustainable water management initiatives are not implemented, and an estimated 3 Billion people will be living below the water stress threshold".

There is an inevitable wall about to be hit. Population growth & pollution are growing so fast, that I believe sooner than later we will be having serious water issues. In the article, they say "By 2050, per capita water availability in India is expected to drop by about 44% due to growing populations and higher demand, as well as higher pollution levels". This is scary.

Pick up the movie or book titled: Blue Gold. Both a great source of information concerning water issues.

A great resource to avoid using plastic disposable water bottles is getting a reusable water bottle at ECOBAGS.COM. There are many styles to choose from.

Top 50 Green Energy Purchasers

I am as shocked as you probably are. The E.P.A. announced it Top 50 green energy purchasers HERE. Of the top 5 companies I owned 4 of their stocks and didn't even realize it. It obviously makes me feel better with new realization of the information. I think the most shocking must be that Whole Foods(#5) purchases 100% of energy from renewable resources and Wal-Mart(#15)purchases 8%. That sheer volume of difference is exacerbating the 'Wal-Mart' effect. Whole Foods, while they are progressive only throw a drop in the bucket of what Wal-Mart has the capability to complete. Next most shocking, City of Oil (I mean Houston) right up there as the largest city purchaser of renewable energy. As I continue to read I have to retract my previous statements because Kohl's Department Store is # 3. Kohl's. I connect Kohl's with cheesy 30-60 year old woman's clothing. And now this. Wow.

This was as shocking as is was enlightening. I suggest for all to amuse and educate yourselves.