I am interested in food. Everything about food. How it's grown, how it's transported, how it's prepared. I'm interested in food systems, food justice, food security. In early March I thought to myself, there has to be a large group of people who feel the same way and get together to talk about it! So I googled a few choice phrases to try and find a conference nearby. I came across the Good Food Festival in Chicago and the 2012 dates were only a week away. On a whim I booked tickets and convinced my sister, Devin, to come with me. 6 days later we were on a 6 hour road trip to a Holiday Inn near UIC campus.
While at the conference I met a lot of farmers and people interested in changing food policies. During the opening session I felt a swell of emotions rise up in my belly. My hands were a little shaky as I listened to a woman talk about her transition to farming. She said that she was recently giving a speech to a large group of mostly white, middle-aged, bearded, flannel-wearing farmers. She came in sporting dreaded hair and leather pants; she told her audience, "Gentlemen, this is the new face of farming." I texted Sammit, "these are my people."
I was able to thank, in person, the man who picks out the best oranges I've ever eaten. (His name is Scott and he's the buyer for Door to Door Organics.) I learned about the 2012 Farm Bill, backyard chickens, 4 food preserving methods, and how to compost everything. Devin and I got a little tipsy at the Localicious food tasting event. We also ate some amazingly delicious things: 1) Sour Cream Ice Cream, 2) Smoked chicken on creamy cheesy polenta with cilantro micro greens, 3) BBQ Chip Chocolate Bar, and 4) Herbed Pistachio Pesto.
I decided that weekend that I'm going to make strides toward becoming a farmer. Half of the U.S.'s farmers right now are 55 years old or older. There are not enough young people interested in pursuing farming as a career even with its glamour and six figure salary. Because of this there are a lot of farmers who are interested in passing on their valuable information and the USDA is providing grants for farm start-ups. Sammit and I had a "farm-talk" this past week and have hatched a plan. We're starting small, buying our first house this summer with enough land to start a market garden.
While at the conference I met a lot of farmers and people interested in changing food policies. During the opening session I felt a swell of emotions rise up in my belly. My hands were a little shaky as I listened to a woman talk about her transition to farming. She said that she was recently giving a speech to a large group of mostly white, middle-aged, bearded, flannel-wearing farmers. She came in sporting dreaded hair and leather pants; she told her audience, "Gentlemen, this is the new face of farming." I texted Sammit, "these are my people."
I was able to thank, in person, the man who picks out the best oranges I've ever eaten. (His name is Scott and he's the buyer for Door to Door Organics.) I learned about the 2012 Farm Bill, backyard chickens, 4 food preserving methods, and how to compost everything. Devin and I got a little tipsy at the Localicious food tasting event. We also ate some amazingly delicious things: 1) Sour Cream Ice Cream, 2) Smoked chicken on creamy cheesy polenta with cilantro micro greens, 3) BBQ Chip Chocolate Bar, and 4) Herbed Pistachio Pesto.
I decided that weekend that I'm going to make strides toward becoming a farmer. Half of the U.S.'s farmers right now are 55 years old or older. There are not enough young people interested in pursuing farming as a career even with its glamour and six figure salary. Because of this there are a lot of farmers who are interested in passing on their valuable information and the USDA is providing grants for farm start-ups. Sammit and I had a "farm-talk" this past week and have hatched a plan. We're starting small, buying our first house this summer with enough land to start a market garden.
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