Addressing the US Food system

Credit Rob with finding and sharing this, but I figured it was time someone updated the blog. He thought you all would enjoy reading this article.

It's written by Michael Pollan (Omnivore's Dilemma, and other great books). It's addressed to the president elect and it's all about the food in the U.S.

not necessarily cooking...

I think no matter what your political persuasion is you have to agree that being dependent on foreign oil puts the US in a difficult position.

I clearly have a dog in this fight, but I thought this article was interesting and important as many Oles are in Turkey right now.

Recent Olaf News

I don't know how often you guys check out the college mainpage, but recently there have been several articles pertaining to mission of our house. Two spotlight Menning's Dad and Kristin Johnson.

Links for your reading pleasure:
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/26423049.html?page=1&c=y
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=521347
http://www.minnpost.com/brianvoerding/2008/08/12/2915/when_st_olaf_students_say_bon_appetit_they_really_mean_it

Food Culture

As summer is winding down, and I am actually getting time to thoughtfully read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle a very interesting topic stuck with me, the idea of a food culture. Coming back from a camping trip and being secluded in a car for hours on end I began to think about it. Do we have a food culture? It is easy to think of other food cultures, we eat them here all the time; Indian, Thai, Greek, Italian, Chinese (sort of). It begs the question, what is "American Food"? Greasy McHamburgers made from more high fructose corn syrup than anything else? I hope not.
Can we come up with a food culture for ourselves? I know as a kid a big part of my food culture was hotdish and potlucks. Meat, potatoes, and greens were present at every dinner, even when potatoes or peas weren't growing in my grandpas garden or anywhere else within 500 miles for that matter. Is it even possible to eat seasonally in Minnesota when we have long, cold winters? This is what I am hoping to find out through the Wendell Berry House and experiment with the other guys who have decided to cook their own meals. Barbara Kingsolver relates how they were able to eat seasonally and locally for an entire year, but is it feasible for a college student living in a smaller community to do the same? If I haven't reverted to Easy Mac and Ramen by the end of the year, I think it will have been a worthwhile experience.

Earlier this month I changed my cafe meal plan to the 90 meal option. This was mostly because David Beck and Will Tanner were not only going to, but they were excited about doing it. For a while I was super nervous, I wondered how difficult it would be. For the first time in my life I would be responsible for providing the majority of my meals.
Then, this last week while I was working at the STOGROW farm, I got really excited about the idea of cooking for myself. I’m not sure what changed exactly, but I decided I wanted to make the most of what’s to come. So, yesterday I picked 4-5 pounds of basil and Abby Benson (a fellow farmer) helped me make pesto with it. I’ll put the pesto recipe I used below.
This morning I went out and picked 7 ½ pounds of strawberries from Lorence’s Berry Farm. I then sliced the strawberries, sprinkled a little sugar on them and threw them in the freezer next to the pesto. Frozen strawberries are excellent on ice cream and in smoothies.
Once STOGROW tomatoes start coming in, I hope to sun dry, can, and make some tomato sauces for next year too. I’ll post again in early September on the results.

Pesto
Ingredients:
1 Cup (packed down) of fresh basil
Anywhere between ¼ to 1 cup of freshly grated parmesan cheese.
1-2 garlic cloves
1 lemon slice
A handful of Pine nuts
6-8 tablespoons of olive oil

Directions:
Using a food processor of blender (preferably a food processor) dump the basil, olive oil, garlic, parmesan cheese, pine nuts into the food processor. Then squeeze the lemon over everything. Run the food processor until you get the texture you want. If you want freeze the pesto, pour the pesto into an airtight bag or Tupperware container then pour 1 tablespoon of olive oil on top of all the pesto and seal the container.

I am wary of fiction in which the narrator uses the term "I reckon" regularly, but in Wendell Berry's short story Stand By Me published in this month's Atlantic Monthly I think that he is successful.

enjoy!

fun

Fun in NFLD. with the Wendell Berry boys

The lighter side...

So I've been noticing a bunch of more serious, thought provoking posts and thought I would break the routine. Check out this video, it's pretty good and ties in with Kingsolver's book... sort of...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiJ8jQZCfjY

Enjoy!

Kingsolver on NPR's "Speaking of Faith"

We have, or at least should have begun reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle this summer to help clarify the mission of our house next year. I would also encourage you to watch the documentary King Corn, as we will be showing it during one of our early house events. This past weekend, I was driving down I-35 past the exit for Greene, Iowa to return home to Grinnell with my girlfriend and listening to NPR's "Speaking of Faith" and to my surprise, the spotlight this week was on an interview with author Barbara Kingsolver.

The focus of this interview was on the ethics of eating, and the audio of the broadcast and further reading can be found below at the link to the NPR website:

Ethics of Eating

Solar Powers Time to Shine

Solar photovoltaics have their challenges, from shortages of silicon to the sheer cost of purchasing and installing solar panels, but a new report from the Prometheus Institute says that both these problems will be addressed over the next few years, leading to cheaper solar and an abundance of capacity to produce.

Based on their research, Travis Bradford, president of the Institute, says that prices for traditional silicon-based panels should fall from $3.66 per watt (2007 figures) to $2.14 per watt in 2010, and more impressively, thin-film PV should go to $1.81 per watt from $2.96. When coal, currently the least expensive source of power, is around $2.10 per watt to generate*, the expected drop in price for solar will make it far more competitive.

Any news that solar is becoming more affordable is great as it will encourage more individuals to install them at home, and businesses to do likewise, either to offset their electricity consumption or installing them in a for-profit initiative. The report, however, also highlights an interesting figure - and companies who are currently building silicon-producing facilities that will come online in the next couple of years, should pay attention: The current global production capacity for silicon and thin-film panels is around 3.14 gigawatts, but will hit 12.36 gigawatts in 2010. That's an increase of just under 400%, an enormous amount that is sure to be welcomed by the environmental community.The demand, however, is only expected to be 6.76 gigawatts, up from 2.94 gigawatts in 2007, leaving over 5 gigawatts of unused capacity. Hopefully this will drive prices further down, resulting in greater demand, but this may have already been reflected in the statistics.

The reason for the drop in prices is due to the expected hike in silicon production, a shortage of which is currently being felt. It is expected that silicon availability will quadruple to 125,302 tons by 2012, providing a massive oversupply of the material to the industry. Thin-film manufacturers who use no silicon will not be affected by this overabundance, however they will have to compete with the dropping prices of conventional panels, hence the drop in price.

It may also, though this is probably wishful thinking, push governments to start offering more incentives to those who install solar in a bid to use up the remaining capacity and financially support their manufacturers who by this point will be a very large industry, employing tens of thousands of people.

Source: Ecogeek.org

Apologies

Whew!! Finals are over, now we can begin to post much more frequently.

I am about halfway done with Barbara Kingsolver's latest book, Animal Vegetable Miracle. Its the perfect story for the Wendell Berry House. For the book, Kingsolver moves here family to a rural Virginia farm and attempts to eat only what her family can make or buy from the local community. For the most part Kingsolver is dead on. She makes a coherent argument for the importance of understanding our food.

I would urge each of you to read this book. I assigned it for all of the Wendell Berry House members and think it captures the essence of what we a re trying to do next year.

p.s. I will be posting my summer reading list in the coming days. I'd really enjoy it if anyone reading the blog reads some of the books with me.

An Inconvenient Trash

Hosted by Media Studies 360, "An Inconvenient Trash" will show from 2-4 p.m. on Friday in Viking. "An Inconvenient Trash" is a mockumentary about sustainability at St. Olaf.

Take a break from studying for finals and see what they have to say.

Beef with bike storage at St. Olaf?

This isn't really necessary at St. Olaf, but it's still kind of cool.

It's a civilian spin-off of a bike first developed for use in military transport and parachute airdrop by the Montague Corporation. The SwissBike is a full-size mountain bike with 26" wheels that folds down to a 36" x 28" x 12" size in under 30 seconds via a quick-release system. It doesn't require tools.

Pick one up for as low as $679. The top of the line, 27-speed model, will run you $2,250, though.

Lily Pad Solar Panels

Fill the desert with solar panels? Install them on roof tops? No.

ZM Architecture has designed some large lily-shaped solar panels for installation in the River Clyde. "After winning the International Design Awards Land and Sea Competition, the concept has been passed on to the Glasgow city council in hopes of a trial going forward in the near future. Essentially, energy gathered by the discs would be transformed and exported to the national grid, and integrated motors could rotate the pads in order to follow the sun for maximum output."


Source: Engadget.com

Morel Season

Ahh, Morels! Yes, Mother's Day has come and the lilacs are in full bloom, but what this really signifies is the peak season for Morel Mushroom hunting! Concerning support for local foods, foraging for your own food is also a great way to eat sustainably while becoming more aware of the land and it's bounty using the season as your cooking guide. These delicious treasures can be found around the base of dead elm trees where their network of hyphae utilize the nutrients accumulated through the elms roots. They can be found under these trees for 2-3 years after the elm dies. They range in color and size from the earliest 'baby grey's ' to the much larger cream colored 'giants' that typically appear later in the season. And while their sponge like appearance may seem to appeal to little critters, they're quite easy to clean, you simply slice them in half and rinse them under water or you can soak them in a saline solution, but I must warn you this does slightly impede on their robust flavor! The Morel is greatly prized for it's distinct flavor, categorized as Umame or the sixth-sense, it has a meaty/nutty flavor unmatched by any other mushroom. My favorite way to prepare these delectible treats is to saute them in butter and put them on a home-made pizza or in venison stir-fry. They are also great stuffed with smoked gouda and tossed in pasta. For the unseasoned morel hunter they may be tricky to spot, but often if there's one... there's two... then five or ten more and a couple dozen later you've hit the jackpot!

Rainy day rides

Spring has sprung! The grass is turning green, the tulips are blooming, the squirrels are copulating, what more could you ask for? Unfortunately spring also means cold, wet, dreary, and rainy days. It is really easy to ride your bike to work/class/downtown when it is 70 degrees, the sun is shining, and the birds are singing but it becomes more difficult when it is raining. I'm going to share with you a few tips to make your rainy day ride bearable if not as enjoyable as a ride on a beautiful day.

1) KEEP YOUR BIKE WELL MAINTAINED! - This doesn't mean
adjusting the rear derailler or re-greasing the bottom bracket, the most important thing is to keep your chain WELL OILED. Go down to Mike's Bike's or Milltown Cycles in Faribault and pick up a bottle of chain lube!!! they are really cheap and it is an easy way to make you bike last much longer. The trick is to lube the chain after it gets wet, or once every couple of weeks. this keeps the chain from rusting, the chainrings (gears) from suffering unnecessary stress, and the rear derailer (a $50 - $80 fix) from snapping. The following link is for Ernesto chain lube which is a soy based, biodegradable, and renewable chain lube. How's that for sustainable? Plus it works like gangbusters! Pick up a bottle of this stuff, it will protect your bike, you'll spin faster and with less resistance, and if your bike is squeaking, oiling the chain will most likely solve your problem.

http://ernestolube.com/

2) Carry a plastic bag in your pocket - This is for when you need to park your bike. Put the plastic bag over your seat so it stays dry. That way when you get back on to ride again, you don't look like you're sweating profusely from an undesirable area. Plus sitting on a dry bike seat is much more comfortable than a wet one.

3) Invest in some rain gear - A no-brainer. Get some quality rain gear that you can use. If you don't want to get your hair wet, an easy way to prevent this is to wear either a baseball cap, cycling cap, or anything else under your helmet.

4) Don't pump your tires to their maximum pressure - This is just simple physics. when the ground is wet, it is easier to slip and wipeout so you want more of your tire making contact with the ground. You should be able to look on your tires and see a range of PSI. On wet days, stay in the lower range of PSI. You may be a bit slower but you won't slip out.

5) Dry your bike! - Once you've been out in the rain, be sure your bike gets dry again. If this means bringing it inside or under an overhang, do it. If you are really serious, pull the seat out of the frame and flip your bike upside down to let the water drain out. Rusty chainrings and chains are an easy way to ruin a perfectly good bike.

6) Ride more conservatively - The ground, your brakes, and your tires are all wet. Don't expect to be able to come to a screeching halt. Also, if you tend to run stop signs (as many cyclists do including me) when it is raining out BE SURE to at least slow down. I've had too many an instance where I've almost caused an accident only to escape because the car saw me in time. Cars weigh more than bikes. Even if you have the right of way, it's not worth playing chicken with a one ton brick of steel and metal.

7) Wear a helmet - Suck it up and just do it.

The big thing to overcome is the mental block of biking in the rain. Trust me. It's not that bad. Plus you can roll into your next class or pop into Blue Monday and look like a real hardcore badass. Sustainability isn't just biking when it's convenient for you, you really have to make a commitment to it. Especially now when gas prices are meant to reach $4 a gallon by June, motivating yourself to ride in all weather should be much easier. Here's to a greener, more bike friendly planet!

Go ride your bike!!
--Beck

oil

In today's New York Times there is an op-ed piece by Thomas Friedman about the decline of democracy around the world. Friedman argues that as the price of oil goes up democracy around the world recedes. 

Friedman's point is a good one; global politics are too closely related to a non-renewable resource. Yet, I am not sure if the federal government can do much about this problem. I think (and believe) that it takes strong local community initiatives-like the Wendell Berry House- to create a truly sustainable world. 

The government cannot force people to believe in it, however it can help start the conversation. 

once it hits your lips

Things in my life that have changed since we received the 'green light' for our proposal:

1. I turn off the lights in my room more frequently

2. I don't leave the water running when I shave

3. shorter showers

4. General increase in awareness of sustainability organizations on and off campus

5. General ridicule from my team mates

6. Surprise from the college republicans (which I am member of)

7. People who I don't know sending me e-mails, and coming up to me in Buntrock expressing their excitement for the house

8. a renewed love of rob smith

Overall, I am a lot more aware of the resources I am using now.

Hobbies

This is kind of an old article, but I just remembered it, and I think it pertains in an interesting way to sustainability. 

It discusses the efforts of instrument builders (largely guitar makers) effectively getting the most out of the resources needed to get the desired tone and playability out of their products and protesting the use of these resources on projects that prove wasteful of the full potential of the resource. Frequently it seems that the arts have more leniency when comes to sustainability because after all it is "art". But the fact is that resources are still being used up faster than they are replenishing; and instruments wear out. So I think it is a positive thing that companies are looking into this sort of thing. Reality is (in my opinion) that we're gonna keep making art and music, but we don't have to do it in a wasteful way.

Global Cooling?

Global climate change(GCC) is a buzz word around St. Olaf's campus. It is hard to have a conversation about politics without getting into the topic. Yet, I am always astounded at the lack of unified data on the subject. Faculty and students like to say that the "trends" are undeniable, but I wonder what in fact are the trends?

It seems that every week there is data that proves or disproves the existence of GCC, and the effects of greenhouse gases. I just wish there was a consensus.

I was just reading an article in the American Thinker about the distinct possibility that the Earth maybe entering a mini-ice age. While worrying, it seems to be another in the long line of dire predictions soon to be proven false.

However there is a compelling argument for the green and sustainability movements that the Wendell Berry House is apart of: beauty. If we all try to live lives in which we reduce our impact on the world, leaving a smaller "footprint", the worst that can happen is we improve the beauty of the Earth. The best that can happen is we curb global warming and stall the apocalyptic vision some environmentalists foresee. In both cases we win.

Regardless of what the data shows we as a people should be called to better our society and planet. Furthering sustainability is one very important part of that.

Recipes for Change Cookbook

first off, for anyone reading this blog, i'm sorry.

we have not been keeping our end of the bargain and giving you anything to read, but we hope to start keeping up.

good news, since the house has been approved for next year i have been hearing a lot of buzz around campus; it seems that people are actually interested in learning what it means to eat and live sustainably. two people who have come to talk to me are seniors katie godfrey and daniel stromeyer. this year they received a finstad grant to start a sustainable cookbook, and thought the wendell berry house would be the perfect group to carry it on next year. 

the cookbook is a perfect addition to our house and i urge all of you to buy a copy. we will also be accepting submissions of essays and recipes for next year's cookbook, so please submit them. just e-mail nussbam@gmail.com with any of your submissions.

one more thing, rob is being a very good co-president and has just completed the application to become a student org. so look out for the coalition for sustainable eating next fall!

A Tree Free Lunch

Shameless plug of the week:

If you remember the survey sent out earlier this year regarding Bon Appétit bag lunches and providing an Eco-friendly alternative, this survey was not from Bon Appétit but a student group on campus, who are selling these 100% recycled heavy duty cotton bags in the Finstad Marketplace for $5.

If you can’t swing by the marketplace, they will soon be offered for sale in the Cage.

The Wendell Berry House 2008-2009

It's official, we have been approved for a ten person honor house! We will keep you updated with all of the happenings through this blog and the e-mail alias.

"Against PC's"

My sister Mia just brought an essay of Wendell Berry's to my attention: "Against PC's" (http://www.harpers.org/archive/1988/09/0025614). It was published in Harper's Magazine in September 1988 and denounces the use of computers:

"How Could I  write conscientiously against the rape of nature if I were, in the act of writing, implicated in the rape?"

I do not know if Berry now uses a computer, but this essay poses a peculiar problem for a Wendell Berry blog. Is it possible to have a blog that jives with the ideas of Berry?

I do not know what Berry would say, but I think the use of a blog is key to spreading the ideas of sustainable living to those who are off-put by the "radical" aspects of the sustainable living movement.

As a house, we are trying to reach-out to the computer using-and loving-population. Yes, we want to be involved with the existing movement, but we want to spread the message that sustainability is not a political issue, rather it is something you do everyday within your community.

Thus, the best way to get the word out is through the technologies we use everyday. Yet, we hope to use the blog only as the starting place, the house and our kitchen will be the location of the conversation.

"So I decided to stop writing tracts about just what I believe. I wanted to engage those who had never and would never pick up one of my existing books- books they might dismiss because they challenge the status quo... I wanted to write a dialogue in order to provoke dialogue—to get people talking”. –Francis Moore Lappe

Welcome!

This is the Blog for the Wendell Berry House on the St. Olaf College Campus.

We hope to use this as the vehicle for discussion of Sustainable cooking and everyday living.

Enjoy!