Gerrit and I are trying our very best to be more conscious of our food purchasing habits. We are picking organic and local farm grown food choices whenever we can. It’s not easy, but we are trying. The industrialized food system is just bad news for our health, our environment, and our workers. For more information on the harm this system is doing be sure to check out the film Food, Inc .
We have a wonderful Farmer’s Market right here in our own neighborhood of Waverly in Baltimore. We used to go quite often and then fell out of the habit. We made it back this week and our committed to going every week for our fruit, vegetables, eggs, cheese, and bread needs.
Gerrit made us a to-die-for-delicious homemade soup last night with the vegetables we bought this weekend. With a loaf of fresh sesame seed topped bread on the side it was pure heaven.
I was to busy filling up shopping bags to get many photos this weekend. But here are a couple of our awesome Waverly Farmer’s Market.
(Click on images for larger versions.)
Yup, what was wrong with us to get out of the habit for so long. That Farmer’s market is the only place in Baltimore you can find Kohlrabi, as well as fresh red and black currants. It almost feels like living in Soylent Green where a little bit of real, fresh food is an orgasmic experience 🙂
Hi, Alice!
I’ve seen a couple of your posts where you mention factory farms and industrialized farming. I’m not disagreeing with your stance but I’m curious as to how you think change might be affected. We have the cheapest, safest, and most plentiful food supply in the world in the US. And as long as the majority of the people either can’t afford certified organic, which is expensive to produce, or have Wal-Mart mentalities, it seems we’re stuck. Do you think most people are willing to go back to having a garden or keeping their own livestock? In my experience, most people would rather spend their time recreationally and, unfortunately, eat FAST FOOD! UGH!
As long as Americans buy into the “more for less” fallacy, what hope is there? Corporate farming is like any other business…be it banking, retail, or entertainment. Monopoly is the name of the game. Vertical integration, packers producing their own product, has virtually destroyed smaller family farms chances of survival, thus necessitating larger and larger scale farming in order to make a profit. Family farms are a dying breed. Try employing 20-25 people and providing 401-K’s, health coverage, and other benefits these days! Most farmers can’t afford to scale down in order to go organic and make it. And most people just want CHEAP, not healthy food. Because, really, who can seriously afford Niman Ranch organic beef, pork, or poultry?
Sorry for the long comment but I am sincerely interested in your thoughts on this subject about which you seem so passionate.
AND…I love your blog. My father was a professional photographer who owned a lab and art school in Philadelphia and so I enjoy your unique vision of your world! Thanks for sharing!! 🙂
Hi Jamie,
Thanks so much for your comment! I have to admit I am far FAR from an expert or even well informed on the subject. So my short answer is I don’t know.
My longer, and admittedly somewhat rambling and unfocused, answer is that I feel like something has just got to give here. We are so far away from where we need to be. I wonder how anyone can look at the hell that is a factory farm and not know that it is simply wrong. It is so harmful to the animals, the environment, and our own humanity. Knowing that the average food product is traveling 1,500 miles to get to our local grocery should give us pause. The realization that our nations food supply is actually controlled by really what is just a handful of corporations driven by the almighty dollar to the detriment of our health, our environment, and our farmers should have us enraged.
But the reality is as you say it. The current system makes food cheap and plentiful and the majority of people are not only unwilling to make a change but economically it is not feasible for many. I know I have an internal struggle every time I reach for the organic apples or carrots instead of the other because I know it is going to hurt my wallet and I can ill afford it. But I am in a circumstance that allows me to make those choices more often so I try to whenever I can. The more of us that do the more we will effect a change. Walmart for example in response to consumer interest is now carrying organic choices like Stonyfield farm products. May seem like a small thing but in reality it is HUGE. Now the average family that is struggling to make ends meet might be able to make the choice to buy the organic yogurt because the huge buying power of Walmart will make it affordable for them. Also their Great Value private-label milk will now come only from cows not treated with the artificial growth hormone rBST. Again consumer demand has made a difference.
Small steps led to big changes. People are in business to make money and if they see they can make more money by supplying us with more organic choices, free range meats, hormone free products etc at affordable prices then they will do that. Buy organic and free range when you can and support your local farmers market. Took us a long time to get into this mess but maybe we can help turn the tide. I certainly hope so.
Thanks for your nice comments about my blog! It is nice to hear that someone is enjoying the “stuff” I am putting out into the world . I often wonder if anything I am writing or posting is even seen. So WHENEVER someone comments it warms my heart. When they write something nice it make me do a happy dance.
A professional photographer for a dad…lucky you!! 🙂