Bits and Pieces

From Naturally Local: Life of a Foodie, Farmer, Free-Spirit and Activist

I had a post circulating in my head for two months about World Food Day (October 16th), but two weeks of visitors and a teething 7-month old baby has left my brain better for snippets. Do you ever have days, or perhaps entire weeks like that? You can read about some of the current (tip of the iceberg) issues on Food First's website.

Regarding Pigs
A call from Lucinda one evening, softly telling me on the phone that my pigs were on their way sparked my imagination. I saw darkness, heard the hushed whispers, the soft snorting and treading of pigs...of course, they weren't all my pigs, but as a meat-eater, I felt responsible for honoring all of them. I choose Barbara Kingsolver's term "harvest" when referring to the collection of animals for food. Someone told me that it was disrespectful to compare the sacrifice of animal creatures to eating salad. I disagree, as I have the same level of reverence for any vegetation I consume. That comes from gardening (sometimes fruitlessly!) and the knowledge that we share 40% of our DNA with lettuce, amongst other vegetables. 40%--how can you take a salad lightly after knowing that?

CFAF virus
The other day, I felt really tired. I wanted to eat strawberries. In November. In Missouri...right. And fresh peaches. And blueberries. I am quite sure that I caught the CFAF virus: craving far-away food virus. That is Far as in Distance and Far as in Spring-won't-be-here-for-several-months Far. "Blast this local food organic thing!" I shook my fist at the sky--or rather, my cracked ceiling--blast blast blast! And then I remember how fattening imported and non-organic food is--really, it has more calories! The energy to develop pesticides and fertilizers, create GMOs, ship produce from far off places like California, Ecuador, Hawaii and even South Africa--those strawberries probably have at least 5,000 calories each, if not more. Can you assign a caloric value to the infringement of human rights? I'm thinking the use of illegal immigrants and all its trappings. Methyl Bromide. Fruit bred to look more beautiful than it tastes (this is a reoccurring theme in food, as well as popular culture, no?) I see the face of a worker made ill because of chemicals use in this particular agriculture. I see the chemicals wash into the watershed, past homes with children playing in yards. Into the streams, rivers, aquifers and oceans. Ah, no thank you. I'll just wait. My impatience is gone. I'm cured!

In Season

Brussels sprouts were instant love for me. Or so I thought. I am a massive greens eater. If there are massive amounts of greens around, well...you get the picture. Have you ever had a chat with someone and found something somewhat familiar and thought you knew everything thing about it, come to find you were totally off? It's very human, and how we make connections, and why we have the ability (if we choose) to say, "Oh, I was soooo wrong about THAT! Excuse me! I thought I knew." Well, that is what I did to Mr. B. Sprouts.

I thought I knew Brussels Sprouts. What's not to recognize? They look like tiny cabbages--how hard can they be to cook? Not hard at all, provided that you don't treat them like a cabbage. That thing with apples and vinegar--not so good with brussels sprouts. Asian stir-fry? Possible, but not optimal. Now, a simple treatment where they are sliced in half and drizzled with oil and a sprinkling of salt and pepper...roasted for 25-35 minutes or until as tender as you like (I tend towards less rather than more time).

If you enjoy greens, these are better than french fries. Really!

"If they don't want to get on the bus, they don't have too."

If I were forced to shop at a conventional grocery store, I would be a vegan.

In case you are currently tearing into a fecal matter laced, cancer laden, and inhumane piece of mystery meat from Walmart right now- I will spare you the gory details, but when you finish you can check out the following link for more information on why http://www.mercyforanimals.org/factory_farming.asp

If, after you have read the above link, you are wanting to know how I can be a self described, animal rights activist carnivore, here goes. (Beware- the sad realities of how we get our meat even in a humane way can still leave you a little shaken).

My mother raises hogs, they are raised on pasture and fed corn or milo depending on her crop rotation (she plants her own row crops to feed them). They are left on their mother until they are ready to be moved to the “fat hog” pen. They are never given any types of hormones, so they grow at varying rates. Thus, when it comes time for slaughter you have to sort out the ones of the right size. This is done by opening and closing certain gates to create a path to the hog cart, and then standing in strategic places so that the hogs see the opening you want them to go through. There is no stress for gatherer or hog in this method. In fact, my mother has the saying that “If they don’t want to get on the bus, they don’t have too.” If the hog of the right size doesn’t want to go- it doesn’t. At first, this didn’t make since to me. Wouldn’t she end up with a pen full of really really big hogs that never wanted to go? The answer is no, somehow it works out and the ones that didn’t go this time go the next time.

The next step is that the hog cart, hooked onto the tractor, is driven 1 mile to the local locker. Since the animals haven’t been stressed for a difficult loading or a long journey, they are free of stress hormones that some vegetarians will swear makes people a little edgy after eating a big hunk of meat.

The locker is owned by a local family, Elvin is responsible for the killing and cutting up of the animals, and Barb does the scheduling. They are always busy and normally you have to get on the schedule a few months in advance. They are always open for inspection, will answer any question you have, and will even show you the meat locker if you want. This is a definite change from the cloud of secrecy large processing plants hide behind!

One would wonder, why, if they are always busy and do such a great job, they wouldn’t expand. The answer is quite simple (I asked them the same question), because they only process a few animals a day they don’t ever become numb to the fact that they are actually killing another creature. Since they aren’t numb, they are able to kill the animal swiftly & efficiently - they don’t them to suffer anymore than the rest of us do. Also, because they only kill a few per day they are not under the stress that a traditional meat packing worker is under to keep the assembly line moving quickly. Therefore, they are able to make sure each animal is “tended to” properly before moving to the next one.

All in all, the eating of meat is a personal choice, but if one is to eat meat, it should be the norm that it has been raised by people who take the care of their animals seriously, and processed in a way that honors that animal’s sacrifice.

Here's to real Autumn weather and real food!

I remember feeling cheated by fall as a kid. School was in full session, the city pools closed for the season, and paper pumpkins and autumn leaves adorned the open windows and doors of my classroom--doors and windows open because it was 93 degrees outside. It wasn't enough that the discord between the visual cues of decorative hay bales and swimming weather felt deceptive to my 8-year-old little brain, but that clothing stores also seemed to follow that same crazy logic. Gray wool trousers and button-down-shirts deemed as "in season clothing" didn't cut it in ice cream and watermelon weather, no matter what reality manufacturing and sales tried to apply.

In college, I had the same disappointing realization about food. Food, as I knew it at the time, was not what it seemed. To make a very long story short, an affair with A Tomato is what tipped me off. And who here hasn't experienced the disappointment of a supermarket tomato? Even worse, who here has but didn't know at the time to be disappointed? Always available, beautiful in the market with its shiny, taut skin and bright red color--what's not to love? Oh, the flavor. Does bland and grainy count as a flavor? But the store was selling the tomato. The signs said "delicious, vine-ripened tomatoes!" Nothing indicated that the tomato was bred to withstand shipping, rather than bred to taste delicious. Oh, but wait, it was suppose to be delicious. Delicious can be a relative term, but I think you have to draw the line at some point. Point being when the tomato doesn't taste like a tomato. And then there's the tomato's long drive across the country (California tomatoes in Missouri, in August!!). What was I paying for, really, and did any of it make sense?

That reality of not even knowing what we deserve from our food with regards to quality, source and safety is most disturbing to me. Our odds as informed and deserving consumers have improved over the past few years because of the recent surge of interest in the environment, obesity and food safety, but there is still that discrepancy between what authorities say our food is (safe? organic?) and our expectations (how safe is they're definition of safe? what does it mean to be labeled organic?) . This is why Lucinda, and farmers/food suppliers like Lucinda, are so important. They are the people who are there loading hogs at 3am for processing and can explain why happy pigs are so important just before they are harvested. They are the experts on the phone, constantly trying to find us a good deal with organic produce, and who can tell us "Hey, that peach, it's not so organic and here's why." Sometimes, they are the people who give us the answers to questions we never knew to ask. For them, transparency in growing practices is the rule, not the exception.

So, here I am. And who am I, you might ask? No one in particular, really. I was a customer of Clark's Organic Market for over a year before Lucinda "Went Farm." Like you, I'm here because I support Lucinda and her purpose, as well as enjoy the food she once distributed, and now grows. I thought it would be interesting to bring a consumer perspective, and admittedly, have my vicarious yearnings for my own farm (currently not a practical endeavor) addressed through real news and real experiences from the Clark Farm.

Here's to Autumn weather and real food! No fake tomatoes allowed!
Jennifer Basuel

No rest for the weary in Farm Town.

When I gave up my “busy” lifestyle in the outskirts of Kansas City to live in a town of 600 hundred and be a full time farmer, I had visions of long expanses of time that I would be able to read, play and relax. In fact, I was slightly concerned about boredom. (All farmers giggle now)

To give a taste of farm life, I am going to give you a rundown of the last 24 hours of my life.
A week ago I started to get a slight cold brought on by ragweed, not enough rest, and probably a host of other variables. By yesterday when I finally went to the doctor it had become full blown pneumonia, requiring a steroid shot and antibiotics (I declined the antibiotics out of stupidity or the very real fear that I may someday become immune to them if I take them to often – I am not sure which).
At any rate, this morning I was up at the crack of dawn to milk my cow. After I milked her, I brought the milk back to the house, strained it, and put it in the refrigerator. I left a note for the hubby on what to feed Fiona for breakfast and was off to pick corn. One might wonder why my husband was sleeping in, while I was up and at it with pneumonia, but for those of you that know him you will understand that milking a cow is not his forte. Furthermore, Fiona was starting to feel under the weather and does much better with co-sleeping than she does in her own bed, so I wanted to make sure she got plenty of rest.

I didn’t buy my own land until later in the summer so I planted 5 acres of sweet corn at my sister’s house 5 miles up the road from us. Since I had an order of over 300 ears of corn to fill for FreshConnectKC, I had to get to picking. What I was not prepared for was the amount of dew I was going to encounter, and therefore became soaked to the bone by the end of my little corn adventure.
I borrowed some dry clothes from my sister and headed to grandma’s house to pick pears, once again for FreshConnect, 100lbs of pears and a few lbs of tomatoes later I was ready for the next part of my morning.

I headed to my mother’s house to shuck my corn. I did this for a few reasons-
1. The hogs love the husks so there was no sense in chancing that a family without a compost pile would end up with them.
2. I am proud of the corn I raised, and wanted to make sure that I checked every ear of corn for quality.
3. We didn’t use any chemicals on the corn so a few worms had their fun with the tops of them. I don’t mind it, because I prefer to share a bit rather than poison the poor creatures. However, I understand that most people don’t want a creepy crawly on the top of their ear. So, better me to clean them up than send them to an unforgiving customer.

After the corn was shucked, cleaned, and packed it was time to get Scott (my dear husband) on his way to Kansas City to deliver the produce and head to work.
I headed back to the house, had a quick bite to eat, did a bit of paperwork and put Fiona down for a nap. After she got up we headed to mom’s farm to check the daily family report, have supper and then off to our own farm to check on our cows.

Thankfully, we have an adopted bottle calf so I only milk once a day giving the calf fee access the rest of the time.
Although we do use rain barrels, we don’t yet have a pond so we are currently hauling water from my brother’s house to the cows. The process is quite an art form as the water barrels are heavy, and you have to tip them over into the water trough. Since it is my brother’s 21st birthday I decided to take the nightshift solo. I tipped one over, and was ready to start on the second one, when it fell out of the truck. I got out to try and lift it (not sure why I thought I would be strong enough to do this), and the new mama cow (just had her baby today) decided to let me know she wasn’t that into me tonight.
Unable to pick the barrel up and not wanting to test my running ability on bad lungs against a new mama cow, I opted to head back to Cole’s and fill up an additional barrel of water to bring back. I did, and when I got back, it was dark, and I am deathly afraid of the dark. So, I climbed from the cab of the truck into the bed, and tipped the barrel over. Finally, the chores were done!

I headed back home, got Fiona into the bath, myself into the shower, and am finally ready to get some long overdue rest!
What I am finally starting to realize is that being a farmer is like being a parent. It doesn’t matter how tired/sick you are, you can’t call in!

This is a story, a story about a girl.

This girl was walking along the road marching to the beat of her own drum on the way to a place where farmers farmed, and people ate. A few people decided they liked where this girl was going so they followed her. Then one day, another group of people approached the girl and told her they were going to the same place, only they had a boat, and would be able to get there faster. So she decided to get her people together and get on their boat. It wasn’t that long into the journey on the boat that she realized that they weren’t going to the same place at all, so she confronted them. They did not deny that they were going somewhere else, but explained to her that she didn’t have a choice now that she was on the boat… because she couldn’t swim. So she did the only thing she knew to do - fight for her beliefs and control of the helm. However, in the end she was outmanned, out moneyed, and outmaneuvered and lost the battle. As punishment, they bound her, gagged her, and threw her overboard.

As she was fast sinking to the bottom of the water, stricken with grief over her inability to have seen them for what they were in the beginning, and ready to give up all hope.. the most amazing thing happened. A group of friends who had watched what had happened jumped in after her and pulled her ashore. She was bewildered as to why they would save her when she had inadvertently led them to evil, and lost the battle. They explained that they still needed to get to the place she was going, and she would need to find a new way.

So in the end the girl realized it was never a story about a girl, but a story of hope, friendship, and the ability, in times of trouble, to never give up..

KC Door to Door Organics

“As of May 15, 2009 I will no longer be
a part of KC Door to Door Organics. This was a mutual decision that will allow me the
opportunity to continue with my path of supporting local farmers and the important role
they play in sustainable food systems. Cheers and Happy Eats!”

HR 875

I have lots of farm stories to tell, but wanted to post a quick note about hr 875, as I have had many emails asking for my thoughts. Please keep in mind that the following is just my opinion. I will also keep you updated as I am defintely staying on top of this.

Hey Everyone-
Have been researching this bill quite a bit, and have a call in to a few of my friends in D.C.
It cuts to the heart with me as organic farming is what pays my bills (Well along with Scott's tips from Harrah's).
I defintely agree that too much regulation just leads to those with the means to get around them... getting around them. This legislation is the result of a few scares, all of which prevented if a. current legislation was enforced, or b. consumers took matters into their own hands by knowing who sells them their food, and how it is grown/processed/ packaged.
With all of that said.. right now it seems like this bill is still in committee, and according to my friends back east Missourians as well as many Americans are letting their voices be heard about protecting small/ and organic farmers. Thus, it is unlikely (At this point)to pass without numerous admentments.
This bill is also very vague, and does not outlaw backyard farming as many have suggested, the interpretations that people are getting are derived merely from it's vagueness.


Cheers, Lucinda

Keeping it "Real"

As some of you may have noticed, I have been in a bit of a funk lately. Just a bit ago I was taking orders, answering questions, delivery produce in my little red car, and barely breaking even. However, I knew each of my customers by name, your setbacks, and your joys. After the news piece aired, we have gained many new customers for which I am so very thankful because of the impact we will know be able to have on Kansas City, and the environment.

However, I have felt great sadness, because I want to know you all personally. You see, my personal identity through my business has always been derived from having a personal relationship with those that buy from me, and those that grow for me. Simply put, real people eating real food, grown by real people.

So this week, I am at my mother’s house in the middle of nowhere helping put crops in the ground, and taking back my identity as a real person. I will be putting my best foot forward in sharing the information about who grows for us, who I am, and getting to know you.
Weather your young or old, skinny or overweight, mother of 6, or a sassy single- it is your stories that are amazing to me. I want to know them, and I want to know you. I also want you to know me… so here are some tidbits about the “real” Lucinda.

I am mother, a wife, and a horrible housekeeper. I am sucker for a good cup of coffee, rarely check my voicemail, get 1 station on my t.v.., and am fascinated by what makes people tic. I am not a vegetarian, I am not a raw foodist, but appreciate both. I believe in empowering others to do the best they can with what they have, and take great joy in meeting people that embrace who they are.

Ok, now that I am done being all sappy- I am off to plant lettuce.

A lesson about Fertilizer from Father Frank

So yesterday was such an action packed day that I hardly know where to begin. I had lunch at Eden Alley with a great group of you, and an uncooking class in the evening with Rachel Francassa (www.lemonsinthekitchen). However, it is a morning conversation with a priest that sticks out the most in my mind.

Father Frank from Saint John the Baptist on Strawberry hill came in to the warehouse yesterday morning for his weekly visit and to pick up the leftover produce to take to the poor. Father Frank doesn’t speak very much, but sits and listens quite a bit. He comes to the warehouse once a week to pick up leftover produce, and to check on the people that work at the warehouse (I have the feeling that they all go “way back”).
I pulled up the news blurb from Channel 9 news, and showed it to him. His eyes were filled with pride like no one but a father could have. He then decided to tell me about growing up on a farm, completely organic of course because there was no other way to grow food when he was young. Then, with great sadness he told me about post world war 2 farming. He conveyed the very inconvenient truth that commercial fertilizers became a big deal after World War 2 because the government had to keep the people working that had jobs at nitrogen factories formerly used to make explosives. It is hard to convey through one dimensional communication the sadness in his voice. However, I truly got the feeling that he felt oppressed in a free country when he was speaking of how the nitrogen fertilizer was explosive, and people got hurt just by farming. But then again, aren’t we all oppressed in a free country when we choose to follow what is main stream instead of using our minds to make decisions based on what is best in line with our values? After he left I did a bit more research about this topic, and found a very informational article at http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe40s/crops_04.html.
I am intrigued to more of his story now- how did he go from farmer to priest?

One Among Many

Within a few hours all of you should get an email regarding the merge of Clark’s Organic Market and Door to Door Organics, and I wanted to let you know what this means for us as a community, and the part you all have played in it.

Clark’s Organic Market has evolved from a small storefront in Excelsior Springs, MO to a community of 300 strong making a difference in our community and our world. We are a testament that one joined together with many can affect the prosperity of all.

With all the saddening economic news, and political woes in our world, it is easy to push the topics of sustainability to the foreground even if those very topics are way out of the current situation we find ourselves in. However, we as a collective group have been able to forge ahead and stand up for the values we believe in. By purchasing organic products grown, made and produced by real people we have formed a coalition against big corporate farms that think because they have lots of money, cheap labor, and scientist in a lab coming up with concoctions to cut corners, that they can take over our food system. Instead we have stood behind the real people that understand that farming is hard work and they have a responsibility to the land we have borrowed from the next generation. We, as a group, have sent a message to Monsanto that we shall not allow them to remove the seeds our forbearers saved and cultivated for thousands of years from existence.

Together we have proved that when our government fails us, and gives subsidies to large corporate farms without regarding to the negative impacts they have on our world as a whole, that we will stand up for social justice by buying from our neighbors!

We have and will continue to create a culture of people that rewards hard work and stands behind real people, eating real food, produced in a sustainable way.

We will now be joined with Door to Door Organics owned by David Gersenson, the son of a midwife, father of 2 year old Shiloh, and husband of a lovely lady named Theresa. With this joint venture we will be able to give our customers more bang for their buck so good food will be available across more economic classes. We will be able to leverage our buying power of customers based across the country to stand behind the “little guy.”

Without you, I would be one standing alone, but instead I am one among many, and for that you will have my enduring gratitude.

With sincere appreciation.
Lucinda Clark