Buy local meat and eggs

Buy your meat and eggs from local farmers. Don't support the market pressures that create monsters like Austin DeCoster, now responsible for a national outbreak of salmonella and nearly half a billion eggs being recalled from the market, due to the appalling conditions of his "farms".

Sure, local meat costs a lot more, but think about what makes 99-cents-a-dozen-eggs even possible. Before the environmentally destructive practice of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) became commonplace, eating meat for the vast majority of us was far more a luxury as demand far outstripped supply, and most eggs came from the backyard hen house.

The costs you "save" by buying factory farmed meat and eggs are merely being passed on to the communities and exploited workers affected by the producers unethical practices.

In the summer months most neighborhood farmers markets feature local producers - Black Earth Meats, for example. Another option is to join a meat CSA or co-op, such as the one at True Nature Foods in Edgewater, where you can have access to locally pastured, grass-fed beef, pork, and chicken, as well as fresh eggs.

The shells are much stronger and the yolks a bright orange from the levels of beta carotene in their diet. The beef cooks faster and has a more wild taste from the abundance of grass it eats that the animal evolved to consume. Also, consider that corn-fed beef is far more likely to contain stomach-acid-resistant e. Coli bacteria, since the environment of a corn-packed rumen (the organ that converts grass to protein) is highly acidic. The outbreaks of this pathogen are not coincidental with the rise of CAFOs.

CAFOs also present some of the most dangerous working conditions imaginable, and take advantage of illegal migrant labor.

Volunteering at the Family Farmed Expo

5 AM came pretty early Saturday morning, the day of the Family Farmed Expo; a sort of trade show for local food growers and consumers being held at the UIC Forum, beginning Thursday, March 11th.

Because of work obligations, Patty and I weren't able to attend the previous two days, and very regrettably missed the Localicious party on Friday night, a sampling of the offerings from the exhibitors as well as local restaurants and celebrity chefs using local and organic ingredients. However, we were very excited to sign up to volunteer, so much so that we grabbed the 7:30-10:30 AM slot, and after hitting the snooze a few times we were out the door on our bikes into a rainy, blustery morning, in search of coffee before arriving at the Expo. Thankfully, Daylight Savings Time didn't start until the next day, otherwise we'd be leaving in total darkness, as well.

Caffeinating at the Caribou down the street from the Forum on Halsted:



After getting a bit lost in the hallways of the forum, we pushed open enough doors to hear the growing activity of the Expo from the main showroom. We checked in, and while Patty left to go spread linens over the exhibitor booths,...



I went to help the registration booth prep for an expected attendance of over 2,500 Expo attendees...




After sorting Expo programs into paper bags in which attendees could carry exhibitor items and collateral, and tearing wrist bands for easier access during the pre-opening lull, it got very busy, very fast. I simply checked attendees at will call, while other volunteers signed in exhibitors, guests, and took day-of sales, as well. For the last hour of our shift, Patty directed people at the door to the appropriate lines.

I hate it when the volunteer signed up for the next shift is late, and luckily today that wasn't the case at all. I actually had 15 minutes to show her the ropes before putting on a wrist band of my own, grabbing Patty and couple of bags, and wading into the festival, now going at full-bore:



We browsed the booths: looking at CSA options (I chose one: Farmer Tom's - I'm not yet ready to drop $700-900 on a full share right now, so this one allows me to buy weekly, with a small annual membership fee. I get organic produce year round, and locally grown when in season), and chatting with soap vendors, grass-fed beef and dairy producers; sampling barbecue, cheese, microgreens, and locally-made honey, mustard, ketchup (bought a bottle), and salsa.

I picked up a copy of edible Chicago, a free guide to seasonal, local foods in the area. Patty bought some dog shampoo for Jack (he smells great). And know this: if you haven't tried Traders Point Creamery's grass-fed yogurt and cheese, you are really missing out.

Celebrity chef Rick Bayless serving up some locally-sourced soup to the crowd after his workshop:

Hump Day

I just came out from under a rock, apparently, in starting this blog. My friend Tina alerted me to a relatively (late 2009) new resource for "locavores," (which I'd also never heard of) localyolkel.com.

What is specifically so great about this site is its CSA guide.

I'd really appreciate any feedback or reviews on any of these producers from those of you that have experience with them.

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I really enjoyed Freakonomics when it first came out, but the contributors have really begun to lose my interest, with their proclivity for cleverness and "betcha-didn't-think-of-that,-didja"-ness over actual research and factual data to back up their smarminess. (Okay, more than losing favor.) Actually, I was on their side on the whole global warming solutions flap that blew up during the book's preview, as you'll see here. But, when the book's release revealed they were just cavalierly suggesting global warming would basically fix itself and that everybody was just a bunch of Chicken-littles, well...

Today, at the Freakonomics blog, they dug themselves another ad-homonym hole with a little discussion about grass-fed beef. My own comment is linked here.

Waiting for spring

Not much to report, since not much is growing yet, so I thought I'd share a few things in the meantime.

Sunday I visited the Local Harvest Winter Farmer's Market just around the corner from my Irving Park apartment. I didn't buy anything, because there was nothing I immediately needed, but I noticed I am starting to recognize a lot of the vendors. There was local lamb, grains, and microgreens for sale, as well as organic tomato salsas and baked goods. I also saw locally produced denim and mattress-tops, interesting enough.

I learned that most CSA shares will not be available until June 1st, and that I have until April to decide on one and still get a sizable early-opt-in discount. It will be pricy however: some full season shares cost as much as $800 for produce, and $900 for meat. However, either could easily be split between two people, or even among three. I will do a bit more research on size and quantity, but I think I will choose a CSA that doesn't require a long-term commitment since there are many times I'll be traveling this year for bike racing.

I have also decided that until then, I'll be planning my garden, both outdoor and indoors, and will be making a composter soon. (Thanks to Natalie for the link.)

Finally, Michael Pollan has a new book coming out and was featured in "10 Questions" for the most recent issue of Time.