"As with everything in life, eating is a series of personal choices. The more education we have, the better choices we can make."

-- Meg Hourihan via Megnut.com

I have found myself agreeing with A LOT of what Meg has been blogging about lately, but as a former vegetarian and as someone who is also becoming a lot more aware about how the food I eat is produced and the impact it has on my health, the animals who provide it, and the environment in general [in the last few weeks, I've read The Omnivore's Dilemma, Grub, and Real Food, and have I just started The Ethical Gourmet], her entire post, which I've quoted from above, really resonated with me. Read it here.

I guess my feeling is that "just go[ing] vegan" is tantamount to ignoring the problem, perhaps in the hope it will go away. It also strikes me as a little arrogant. The vast majority of people in my neighborhood aren't going to go vegan, can't afford to buy grass-fed and pastured and organic foodstuffs and have to rely on what's available in the local Food Dimensions store and bodegas - which means, for the most part, industrially farmed products. Aren't they as deserving of fresh, wholesome, clean, healthy foods as I am?

Going vegan doesn't change what is going on in factory farms. I realize that I am very lucky that I can "vote with my pocketbook," and can spend my food dollars on supporting producers who provide sustainable and ecological products. This has become a priority for me, but I realize that not everyone can or will make the same choice. I do believe that awareness and education are the first step to change. Maybe if enough of us show our disapproval of industrial farming, perhaps changes will happen where they need to - within factory farms and the government agencies who oversee them, and consumers, the animals, the producers and the environment will all see benefit.

We've been busy this weekend.

Happily, I now have appropriate footwear.

Yay, happy feet.

My beautiful green beans, limas, red bell peppers and some of our newly planted herbs? GONE.

We just arrived home to discover that, for the second time, while we were away, and without any warning, someone came into our yard and dug up more than half of what we had planted in the garden this year.

Still no oven. Garden decimated. Grr.

Edit: Mike just got off the phone with the landlord. It was apparently "overzealous weeding." Heh.

Pea, Fava Bean & Goat Cheese Risotto
Originally uploaded by Jenblossom.

Check out my latest contribution to ChronicBabe.com!
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June 22, 2006 — Birf! Day!