Updating Land Use Policy Before It’s Too Late

A number of US cities have already instituted planning policy that protect both agriculture and open space. However, smaller cites without these land use policies are now feeling the consequences of sprawl and the need for action. Missoula – the City and the County – is a perfect example.

Who’s Responsible for Your Dinner?

Last Sunday, as we sat down to dinner, we realized that three family businesses were responsible for most of the food on our plates. Here is our “tip of the hat” to these fine folks!

From Sex Worker to Farmer

When 29-year-old China Dessale approached the Wain Hotel where she used to work as a commercial sex worker, carrying a basket teeming with cabbage, carrots, lettuce and eggs, the hotel owner couldn’t believe his eyes. He remembered China when she was 15 years old. In desperation, China had joined the same hotel to make a livelihood in Ethiopia’s risky commercial sex worker industry.

Organic, Natural Livestock Systems Are Sustainable

Our Good Food on a Budget correspondent, Kate Hilmer, recently finished reading Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. “One thing is for certain, and this book made it painfully clear to me: meat matters,” says Kate. “To what extent does it matter? It’s a complex and personal question that each of us must decide for ourselves.” Anne Schwartz, a Washington farmer, responds to those like Kate who are trying to decide whether or not to eat meat.

Let’s go viral with Meatless Mondays

My first month of offering Meatless Mondays in my kitchen is over, and I’ve received all my survey forms back. I can officially proclaim it was received with great success. From my point of view, I admit there is a learning curve. Classes/dinners required substantial prep on my part – particularly in coordinating which components of dinner I wanted prepared ahead of time, and which I wanted to demonstrate live.

Meat Matters: The Implications of Eating Animals

For the past two weeks I’ve gone from a selective omnivore to very selective, teetering in on the brink of vegetarianism. I’m not sure yet which way I’ll fall, but I’ve made a few important decisions to ground me for the time being. One thing is for certain: meat matters. To what extent does it matter? It’s a complex and personal question that each of us must decide for ourselves. If you’re looking for answers, Eating Animals is a good place to start.

Voices From the Farm: Getting into the Swing, More Lambs and a Blizzard, the Last Battle Ends in a Victory

March 22, and lambing of the second group began. Everything was going smoothly until March 25. when a huge blizzard hit us. The sheep were very nice about not lambing during the height of the blizzard! There weren’t many problems except for a close call on April 9. We did not lose any lambs in this second group, and only one in the first group, so I was getting very close to my dream of “No lambs lost!”