Signs of harvest are all
around. The afternoon sun
glows amber over the fields
and the farm stands are
filled to overflowing with
vegetables and fruit. We’re
lucky to live in a place
where we can have such an
immediate connection to
the food we eat.
If you live outside of one
of the local villages, you
might even live on a bit of
land that fed (or feeds) your
neighbors.
Our house here in Fly
Creek was never a proper
farm. For more than 100
years it was a one-room
country schoolhouse. Where
the coal room once stood,
now we have a den. Where
students once sat in their
rigid little desks, now we
sit around a kitchen table
and take in the view of the
rolling hills outside.
That view includes our
own little foray into agriculture.
Next to the house,
we have a small plot of potatoes,
squash, corn and
beans. The corn and potatoes
seem to be doing alright,
but the beans and
squash seem to be a nonstarter.
Thank goodness we
don’t have to rely on our
growing skills to feed the
family all winter long here
at Schoolhouse Farm.
We have been thinking a
lot about food, though. And
— judging by the books
people have been reading,
I’m not the only one.
Julia Child’s ``My Life in
France,’’ tops The New
York Times non-fiction
bestseller list this week,
and ``Julie and Julia’’ is
close on its heels at No. 3.
At Nos. 13 and 15 are
Michael Pollan’s books ``The
Omnivore’s Dilemma’’ and
``In Defense of Food,’’ respectively.
Barbara Kingsolver’s
``Animal, Vegetable, Miracle,’’
clocks in at No. 23, and
if you count Elizabeth Gilbert’s
``East, Pray, Love’’ as
a partial meditation on
good, food, well you can add
a No. 10 bestseller to the
list.
The common ingredient
simmering through all of
these books (plus Mark Bittman’s
``Food Matters,’’
Marion Nestle’s ``What to
Eat,’’ Carlo Petrini’s ``Slow
Food Nation’’ and many
others) is the notion that
we have ventured too far
away from the source of our
food and that factory-produced
food is bad for our
bodies, bad for the environment
and bad for the local
economies. It may also be
bad for our souls.
In his book ``Anger,’’
Buddhist monk Thich Nhat
Hanh asserts that the first
step toward cooling the
rampant flames of anger in
our lives and our society is
to consume food that was
created without violence.
He asks, in essence, if you
think it’s physically and
emotionally healthy to
nourish ourselves with the
suffering of others. No
thanks.
That doesn’t mean being
a vegetarian. But it does
mean eating meat that was
produced with humane,
compassionate practices.
But how can you know if
the factory farm 2,000 miles
away treats its livestock
humanely?
You can’t. But you can
know whether the farmer
down the street treats his
cows decently.
And vegetarians aren’t
off the hook when it comes
to consuming food created
compassionately.
Who picked that juicy
apple in your fruit bowl?
Was it a woman or man
who earned a living wage?
Or was it a 10-year-old
child who needs to skip
school in harvest season because
Mom and Dad’s paychecks
won’t cover even the
most basic living expenses?
And was the apple grown in
a way that nourished the
soil from which it came, or
is it all red and shiny at the
expense of the surrounding
environment (and the
health of whomever sprayed
the pesticide)?
I’m glad I don’t have to
rely on my own farming
skills to survive the approaching
winter months.
But I would much rather
live in a world where communities
sustained themselves,
where people knew
exactly where their food
came from and where every
dollar I spent on food supported
a farmer rather than
a corporate executive’s
monthly bonus.
Elizabeth Trever Buchinger
is what she eats. You
can connect with her at
www.moremindfulfamily.
wordpress.com.
Columns
This Wonderful Life: A harvest that’s good for the soul
- Columns
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In These Otsego Hills: The losses are adding up ...
It is with sadness that we note the passing of long time friend, and distantrelative, Jane Patrick. Over the years we have worked with Jane in a number of organizations including Women’s Club and the Community Advisory Committee at Bassett. And, of course, in later years we joined her, along with the other Dinner Belles, for any number of delicious meals. But we do think that our favorite memory that we shared with Jane was when we discovered, having both married Cooperstown natives, that we shared Cooperstown Christmas plans.
Continued ... -
Up On Hawthorn Hill: Bird Feeder?
Bird feeder is a relative term. At least that is the case around here. A few mornings ago we spotted the first rabbit to visit the feeders. Normally, all we see during the winter are rabbit tracks crisscrossing the gardens.
Continued ... -
From Fly Creek: Cheers for the Blue Rabbit!
My handwriting’s always been an embarrassment. Way back in elementary school, while most of the others were developing a clear, sometimes graceful hand (especially the girls), my penmanship showed no improvement.
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In These Otsego Hills: This and that ...
We have found the weather so far this year to be on the unusual side. And while we have no problem with the fact that we have received very little snow, we are of the opinion that what we have had instead is not particularly to our liking either. In fact, we are very hesitant to venture out much as we live in fear that the rain will turn to mixed precipitation which will freeze into a sheet of ice. And we are definitely opposed to encountering a sheet of ice underfoot. In fact, we are so hesitant that we now have taken to canceling our participation in events based on what just might be a dubious forecast.
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Book Notes: Feinstein’s latest is sheer enjoyment
Most people who follow sports have probably heard of John Feinstein. As a nationally known author, sportswriter, pundit and broadcaster, he has brought a unique angle to sports journalism. His groundbreaking book on Bobby Knight’s 1986-87 Indiana University basketball team, “A Season on the Brink,” still resonates today as an all-time classic.
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Book Notes: No Trekkie should miss Shatner’s books
It would be hard to find a television phenomenon as popular as “Star Trek.” Even though it was only on television for three seasons and 79 episodes (1966-69) it attracted viewers and devotees that still follow it passionately 45 years later. The fanatical supportspawned several movies and television spinoffs. Star Trek conventions continue to this day. There has never been anything like it.
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Up on Hawthorn Hill: Making sense of things
A book I have been reading investigates the various ways over time that we have made sense of the world. It carries the reader through to the present via several seminal classical texts and ultimately aims to suggest a strategy for “ finding meaning in a secular age.”
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In These Otsego Hills: ‘Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist.’ − John Adams
Last week we were asked if we would be interested in previewing a documentary, “The Empire State Divide,”produced by the Foundation for Land & Liberty. And we were more than happy to do so as we understood the documentary dealt with the problems that continue to face family farms.
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From Fly Creek: Now wait a minute!
On the ninth day of Christmas, driving down Cooperstown’s Eagle Street, I saw something astounding! No, not “nineladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans” etc. I saw one jogger jogging. And puffing on a cigarette.
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In These Otsego Hills: Goals of the past and goals of the future
We have long subscribed to the concept that we are always more successful if we, number one, set a goal and then, number two, meet it. And this was our thinking when we decided before Christmas to watch at least part of every college football bowl game. It was perhaps an odd, if not completely nonsensical, goal.
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In These Otsego Hills: Not to our liking ...
It is with sadness that we note the recent death of Steve Nagel. The son-inlaw of our late husband’s cousins, Alice and Harvey Eckler of Fly Creek, Steve was married to the Ecklers’ oldest daughter, Gail. We had the pleasure of spending Christmas Eve with the Nagels and the Ecklers in Fly Creek, greatly enjoying the delicious food and delightful conversation.
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Up on Hawthorn Hill: Of birds and faith
I watch birds quite a bit. Every five days or so I send in a report to Cornell as partof its annual Project Feeder Watch program. The data, collected from volunteers from all over the country, enables scientists to track population trends. I would spend quite a bit of time checking out the visitors to our feeders anyway. Participating in the feeder program makes a personal pleasure that much more meaningful. It is rare that aesthetical and scientific endeavors work in tandem.
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Book Notes: Biography captures the real Stephen Colbert
It would be hard to find a comedian as unique as Stephen Colbert. As the host of “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central he hasmanaged to leave his mark on the nation’s consciousness in both a serious and humorous sort of way. His unusual wit has allowed him to become American icon. It would be difficult to find another entertainer quite like him.
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From Fly Creek: Christmas and varied blessings
I’m still astounded! The last farmers’ market before Christmas, I was sitting up front, directly under the ceiling heater, shmoozing with the hoi-polloi. (That’s an awkward linguistic mix,but let’s let it go.) As I sipped my hot coffee, a gloved hand came to rest on my shoulder and a warm voice said, “Merry Christmas, Jim.” I looked to my left—it was Santa Claus!
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In These Otsego Hills: Always a learning experience ...
We must admit that we thoroughly enjoyed our 2011 Christmas celebration. We partook of Christmas Eve dinner at the home of Alice and Harvey Eckler of Fly Creek and Christmas Day dinner at the home of Sandy and Al Bullard of Milford. We had our usual Christmas Day brunch at home on Pioneer Street, although we must admit it was a tad bit later than usual as, what we enjoyed most about Christmas, namely our granddaughter Abby, took a great deal of time opening her Christmas presents.
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In These Otsego Hills: Coming up ... 2012
Difficult as it seems, 2011 is fast coming to an end. And it is always our hope that as a year draws to a close, the issues which have been in the forefront during the year will be resolved. Unfortunately, we suspect that will not be the case this year. Instead, we are fairly certain that many of the issues that plagued this year, will continue to plague next year. Thus we will find ourselves still musing about the same issues we have spent time with already. And while we have not come toany conclusions about many of the issues, we do think they would all likely benefit from both sides thinking critically about perspective, risk assessment and possible solutions.
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Up on Hawthorn Hill: Circularity
When she was a puppy my dog Gabby would run in what I described then as “circles of joy.” She celebrated her15th birthday a few weeks ago and despite the inevitable frailties that old age imposes upon all of us, she is doing pretty well.
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Book Notes: Grisham doesn’t disappoint
John Grisham is one of this country’s most popular authors. Every time he publishes a book it’s an instant best-seller. He appeared on the scene about 20 years ago with his tense legal thrillers, “A Time to Kill” and “The Firm,”and hasn’t stopped producing top-notch novels since.
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From Fly Creek: Still singing, beyond our hearing
This column from Christmas 2001 still speaks deeply to me, and perhaps will to you, too. Take it, please, as my Christmas gift.
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In These Otsego Hills: The 2011 Cooperstown Carol
Since 1984, with the exception of one year, 1999, we have looked forward at the end of the year to going through all the issues of the paper in order to glean those news items which have been worthy of note throughout the year and which should make their way into our annual Cooperstown Carol.
Continued ...
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In These Otsego Hills: The losses are adding up ...
