Tax Season and Court Cases

Instead of paying my annual sales tax and filling out 1099s for the deadline tomorrow, I am blogging. After blogging I plan to surf the internet for “insulated tote bags” while cooking up a batch of vegetable paella.

The Midwest Organic farm conference is next month.  Todd and I normally save up to go to this since it is the meeting place for all sorts of beginning and prospering small farmers from Main to California.  It is where I once heard a scientist definitively link pesticides to cancer, where I learned about the endangerment of organic beet seed and the success of high tunnels, and where I learned to have optimism in this line of business.  It is where Todd and I go to feel inspired.

Alas, we will not make the trip this year, but we can garner inspiration from other sources.

One such source is the publication by MOSES (the same organization that does the farm conference) called  Organic Broadcaster.  I read an article that detailed the new class action suit against Monsanto.  To get all the details you can visit the Public Patent Foundation website at www.pubpat.org/mnsanto-seed-patents

It is a complicated case but the reason for it is this:  “The organic plaintiffs were forced to sue preemptively to protect themselves from being accused of patent infringement should they ever become contaminated by Monsanto’s genetically modified seed, something Monsanto has done to others in the past.”

The article I read and am now quoting from is

“Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association et al. v. Monsanto  -- David Takes on Goliath”

Organic Broadcaster v. 20, No. 1.

 “Society stands on the precipice of forever being bound to transgenic agriculture and transgenic food.  Coexistence between transgenic seed and organic seed is impossible because transgenic seed contaminates and eventually overcomes organic seed.  History has already shown this, as soon after transgenic seed for canola was introduced, organic canola became virtually extinct as a result of transgenic seed contamination.  Organic corn, soybean, cotton, sugar beet and alfalfa now face the same fate, as transgenic seed has been released for each of those crops, too.  Transgenic seed is being developed for many other crops, thus putting the future of all food, and indeed all agriculture, at stake.”

Scary stuff, huh? 

A more amusing quote from the same periodical:

Chick-fil-A Says “Eat More Kale” Shirt Confuses Public

A silkscreen design artist from Vermont is being warned by national fast-food chain Chick-fil-A to stop selling his bestselling t-shirt that simply states “Eat More Kale,” citing the phrase muddles the company’s famous “Eat Mor Chickin” campaign. 

I think I'll go google "Eat More Kale."  And THEN I'll do my bookkeeping.

Peasantly,

Julia

ps  KEEP THE RENEWALS AND SIGN-UPS COMING! NOW'S THE TIME!

Two Winter Markets!--Happened Today!

Thanks to everyone who made it to the markets today:

January 8th

Chicago – The Glenwood Sunday Market – Glenwood Ave at Morse “Your Green Stop on the Red Line at Morse” 6962 N. Glenwood 9am – 2pm

Chicago – The Logan Square Farmers Market – 2135 N. Milwaukee at The Congress Theater 10am – 2pm

__________________________________________________________________________________

Todd and I try to support our local farmer friends whenever we can.  We know that buying produce and meat directly from the farmer is a decision with huge impact. 

So it is with trepidation that I confess sometimes I go to Whole Foods on the premise of market research.  I do the research, and then I buy the bathsalts.

Todd says that

“Whole Foods is where to go if you want to see a bunch of people trying really hard not to smile.”

He’s including us in this, of course, because it is hard not to be impressed by the selection and the display at Whole Foods especially when you can buy mason jars for refilling your honey. The cupholders, the blood oranges, the express checkouts!  The wine bar, the cheeses, the fresh figs!  Every turn has been anticipated by a team of designers so that you barely have to remember where you parked your car and you are ushered invisibly right where you want to be.  I am sure the brilliance of the marketing experts is rewarded well.  I sometimes wonder about the farmers.

People who love food will always love Whole Foods, but the best way to support truly local farming on small acreage is to do so directly, at markets or –even better—by joining a CSA farm.   

Still Life With Squash

Kale for Christmas or Whenever

Missing fresh veggies?  Is everyone now grateful for the time they spent blanching and freezing this summer?  Ready to pull out the chard yet?
Since December was so mild, you will likely find fresh local kale or spinach for sale at a Chicagoland Winters Farmers Market.  Check this website for dates and locations:

www.faithinplace.org

or

https://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6265/images/All%20Markets%20Flyer-2.pdf


Wherever you find your kale, below is an idea to convert kale haters to kale lovers.  Avoiding the usual tricks like adding bacon and butter, I followed this simple procedure this Christmas for tenderizing kale leaves and converting kale haters:

Kale Recipe For Brothers-in-Law Who Don't Eat Kale But Should

• First de-stem the leaves and chop. 
• Then "massage" in balsamic vinegar, a small splash of lemon and a healthy dose of salt.  When you massage it, you'll notice the salad reducing in size which is what you want, because it means it has started to break down and soften.
• Sautee chopped garlic in about 4 TBS olive oil.  
• After the garlic cooks for two minutes or so, add the marinated kale.  
• Reduce heat to medium low and stir frequently.  The leaves should still be a nice green, but soft.

• (If you want even softer kale, add a little water or wine and cover the pan.  Check by listening for water simmering.)

Enjoy and try not to gloat!

A photo from last year, actually.  No snow on the farm right now.