This dialogue reminds me of the event I attended on Friday for one of Green Cure's board members, Phil McGrath, who is one of the last of our local family farmers. He was honored at a celebration for his environmentally responsible farming practices (organic) from the Wishtoyo Foundation and the Ventura Coastkeeper's. To some, it may not represent a call for honoring but when you consider the fact that in Ventura County we have the most expense land that I know of in California (or probably anywhere for that matter). The going rate for our farmland is $2,000 a month verses maybe $200 per month for property inland. As a result, our farmers are forced to grow "luxury" crops that often times require high inputs of water, fertilizers, and pesticides. So as you can see, farming organically and having to grow luxury crops verses row crops, in Ventura County, is a major event.
My connection with the ongoing flow of conversation is, slow food or slow farming is all the same but often times not seen as such. To illustrate my point, here we are in a room filled with elitist type people, who supposedly cared for the environment and the finer things in life. First we were served a mixed green salad (that Phil could have easily supplied this establishment with) and a piece of overcooked salmon with a side of broccoli (I think it was broccoli) all for the small price of $125.00 (beverage not included, not even coffee at the end). Everything that we were served was either trucked or bussed in from who knows where. Whereas, the man we were honoring, Phil, could have easily supplied the ingredients for our dinner (except the fish). Phil has to also truck his "exotic" type vegetables out of the county to LA in order to make the profit he needs to cover expenses, for example, land. In the past, I have had discussions with our local restaurateurs and they state they can't afford to purchase locally. What's wrong with this picture folks? Anyway, I often times do not do well at these types of events. I found the snobbery of both the Moms against Pesticide use and the Indians presented a little too much for my taste. Needless to say, I spent most of my time with outside with the wife of the flute player talking when I should have been smoozing the crowd for big $$'s. It was clearly apparant to me that any other conversation that I came close to having with anyone could have been dangerous, as a reflection of a few close encounters with individuals. To me, "slow foods" is altogether different but I can see where an organization promoting this can attract elitist type who haven't a clue as to where food comes from. For myself, I like to tie the two together. From the garden to the table, sort of speak. Deborah Mills ______________________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden
