Something I feel like I've known most of my adult life is that eating fresh food from your own garden is simply the best.  Unfortunately, that's not how I have lived my life.  Convenience, poor habits and temptation have been key factors in my developing unhealthy eating habits.  I also believe what others, and myself, have believed to be "good food" has been a misnomer.  When I was very young, I thought eating a whole bowl of artificial whipped cream was "eating good", at least until my mother gave me the opportunity to sit down and have the whole bowl to myself.  Suffice to say, my concept of "all the whipped cream I could eat" was no longer on my list of "good foods to eat".  Personal food culture, which can involve alot of different factors, including our emmotions, usually dictates what our eating habits and good food concepts are going to be.  I posted a good 'common sense' article link today that I think gives a down-to-earth assesment of common sense eating.

http://www.positivelypositive.com/2011/10/19/the-basics-of-eating-well/

Bon Apetit!

I found another one so I can't resist passing it on so that I can do my part to educate others as to the controversies regarding GMO's.

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/why-arent-g-m-o-foods-labeled/?ref=geneticallymodifiedfood


Bon Apetit!

I was soooooooooo excited to see the post I've linked to for you to review.  Please, if you have ANY concerns at all about GMO's or Mansanto or preserving your right to naturally reproducing seed that is nonhybrid, please copy and paste this link everywhere you possibly can and make a committment to follow this case closely, notifying every representative you can of this action!
http://rareseeds.com/GMO_lawsuit

Bon Apetit!!!

We just returned for a little trip to the Bahamas to help with the celebration of a dear friend's birthday.  While it was a lot of work, it was also a fun time enjoyed by all.  Returning to the Ozarks, where Chef Roland and I live, we were greeted by the arrival of Fall with it's clear, crisp skies.  Time for a change and to begin wearing the warm clothes!

On our trip, I had the opportunity to speak with other people who had their concerns about their own food production (gardening plans and projects), as well as their concerns regarding GMO's.  As more and more people become aware that there are some VERY REAL concerns regarding the food sources that we have available to us, it becomes paramount that we each take whatever opportunities we have to keep the information flowing.  Talk with your family, friends, neighbors and any stranger that will listen.  Write to your representatives and any organization that you can think of to help enlighten them as to what your food concerns are, especially regarding, but not limited to, GMO's.

I am posting a link that I think gives good information that helps to keep food health concerns regarding GMO's crisp and clear and will help us all start to prepare as we face VERY SERIOUS health questions that demand that we all start taking action.  It's the public that must become educated on the issues regarding GMO's, seed monopolies, and the threats that corporations pose when it comes to the foods we have available, or not, for our consumption.


http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/05/01/this-company-may-be-the-biggest-threat-to-your-future-health.aspx

Bon Apetit!

Ugh!! No more apologies, I'm a bad blog manager!  Such is life........
Today, I am following a quest to learn more about where our food comes from and on "the other end" of the food chain, it starts with seeds.  Unfortunately, seeds are usually only considered by people who work with them, like gardeners.  But, let's say you don't garden and don't plan on gardening.  That's okay, there's tons of people who do and they are the ones, especially the large food producers who get to make the decisions as to what you put into your mouth.  If we believe the old adage "what you don't know can't hurt you", well, you know how that works!  The more light shed on a subject, the more clarity and the more informed we can be as consumers so that, by our food purchases, we actually can have a significant impact as to what foods, and the quaility of the foods, that are put into the food market.

Even if you are still confused as to why you should be concerned about genetically modified foods (GMO's), I hope you will read over this interesting information that I found on Wikipeida.  If anything, it gives you a little more insight as to who Mansanto is as a major player, if not almost a monopoly, in the world of food production.  (By the way, they are also the ones that developed Agent Orange, a heribicide/defoliant used during the Vietnam War era.)

Bon Apetit!

The "seed" of something is usually considered its 'genesis', its nucleus, where something germinates from to become something else.  It's miraculous how the basis for our whole food chain, which we are MOST DEPENDENT upon comes from little, sometimes miniscule, seeds.

Likewise, an idea, a dream, and a controversy of with Fascist/Disctatorship-like characteristics can spring from 'a seed'!  In previous posts I have referred to Genetically Modified Organisms (primarily food) and the HUGE concerns that we, as a consuming/dependent public should have regarding them.  Not only are there some main concerns such as biological compatability and unknown health consequences, the most concerning is the idea that we no longer will have the freedom to produce our own food.

Some people have referred to me, Elaine Parny, as an alarmist and that I unnecessarily focus on the negative.  I can tell you this, if the public does not go out of its way to question, investigate and advocate, it will be subjected to tyranny in every area of their lives.  And, with the control over food production, any ruling agency will, in fact, have the government sanctioned capacity to exploit your dependence on food and to regulate what you can and cannot have for food consumption, unconcerned as to your optimum health but rather prioritizing the producers profits.  Case in point, please read the following:

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateU&navID=&page=Newsroom&result&dDocName=STELPRDC5092024&dID=152103&wf=false&description=USDA+Grants+Protection+to+40+New+Plant+Varieties+&topNav=Newsroom&leftNav=&rightNav1=&rightNav2=

Wow!!!  I looked through my postings here at Food For Thought and I'm embarassed.  Keeping a blog current takes a real commitment and I've just been going in toooooo many directions.  Sorry that I've not posted recently.  Hopefully, I'll get back on track soon.  I've got pics to post and it seems there is so much going on in the 'food world' that it makes food shows look tiny!

Roland and I visited France in May and while visiting family, we also investigated new restaurants and checked out various locations for our 'field trips' where we go to visit markets and chateaus on our culinary tour, A Taste of Le Berry.  We were hoping to put something together for October and now it looks like we will be postponing our next tour.  We've had several people say they were interested and if you have any questions regarding our tour package, please contact us through our contact page here on the site or rolandpar@hotmail.com .

I hope you all have had an opportunity to get involved in food production in one way or another.  It seems everywhere I look, more and more people are getting involved in local gardening, markets, cooking programs and community pantries.  Ironically, the government is quickly changing food laws that will eventually impact us all and it seems they are doing so without bringing those laws into the public forum.  So, I encourage each and every one of you to take a moment and use your browser bar or your favorite search engine to seek out at least one article a week related to "food laws".  Give us some feedback as to what you find and 'your take' on what you think about that information.  Let's help each other to learn!

I came across a blog that I find very informative and is a good example of a person who has looked into the subject of food/nutrition/production.  I hope you find it interesting, as well.

Bon Apetit!

http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/can-we-eat-well-conveniently/

We know what we like and, what we like is good food!  How we love to go to our favorite restaurants, over to grandma's or enjoy that Sunday family get-together.  We have our favorite's no matter where we go and the grocery stores are packed with more choices than we can take home at one time.  Variety is everywhere around us and we love it!  Soon, that could all come to an end.  Sorry, I have a link to another article to alert you to a growing threat to the foods we eat and food's availability, in general.


It's the Bees.  Maybe you've heard of Collapsed Hive Syndrome already, but I know there are many people who have never heard of the crisis and how alarmingly threatening it has become to the food supply of our planet.  Please,  read over this article and understand, it is by the food consumer becoming more aware of food production practices, such as how pesticides are used, and then becoming politically involved, we have a chance to slow down the incidence of Collapsed Hive Syndrome and, hopefully, to reverse this dangerous trend.  At the rate it is happening, we have little time left.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/8306970/Einstein-was-right-honey-bee-collapse-threatens-global-food-security.html

Bon Apetit!

Yahoo!!  Spring has sprung and, regardless of ticks and poisen ivey, I'm there!!  Unfortunately, we had to sell our tractor last year that would have been able to turn over the spot where I would like to put our garden.  And, it's been a bit wet.  So we are late getting our ground prepared for it's new inhabitants.  Chef Roland is a very good mechanic so, he has the privilege of working over an old rototiller we have to see if he can get it running.  He's a diligent guy and I'm sure he will not give up until he has conquered that machine.  Hopefully, we will be turning the soil over next weekend!  (Rather, I should say, I will be wrestling with that thing in hopes of getting some seed into the ground.) 


I have managed to get some flower seeds and roots into the soil, hoping to attract the many birds and butterflies that we have visit our place.  I like keeping the critters happy and the pop of color is always nice during the growing season.

I really believe that spring is the season of hope and I do want to encourage and lift up by the articles that I post on our website.  The age we live in seems a far cry from what we wish it would be.  I know alot of us are wondering what direction history is taking us.  I do believe that I would be negligent if I did not stop and take this opportunity to encourage you in becoming more responsible and involved in your personal food production.  I'm sure there are alot of uncertainties for many of us and there are many of us who are blessed to go about our daily life without much difficulties.  However, given the seemingly increasing instability of world economics and how they affect us ultimately through the global food market, I believe we must, at least, give some thought to the possibility that the food products we consume, could become more scarce or increasingly unaffordable, even to those with a more stable income.

With that said, I would like to post a link to a report that, I believe, gives a clear overview of world politics and how they do play a role in what you pay for food products and how those food products are becoming less available in the global food market.  Please take a moment, even if you aren't too concerned with these issues, and read over the report before you dismiss it as not possible.  If, after you read the article, you believe that there is a significant level of truth to the article, I would again like to encourage you to go out and invest whatever monies you can, even if it is just a few dollars and purchase seed to grow food for yourself.  Many of us do not have a garden space available so, I would direct you to do an internet search on the subject of "container" gardening or "urban" gardening.  You would be suprised what you can grow in a windowsill or on a balcony/patio.  Also, don't be overly concerned about bug control or fertilizers.  If you grow native plants they are very hardy.  They and "heirloom" seeds reproduce themselves and you need to know that "hybrid" seeds DO NOT reproduce themselves.  This is important to know because if food should be difficult to obtain, purchased seed will also be difficult to acquire.

You can do an internet search to find common items in your own home that are just as good (and better) than chemicals that are commonly advertised as necessities for gardening.  I, myself, look for household tricks (such as diluted soapy water) and use implements like an old knife to garden with.  I am, by no means, a gardener.  In fact, this is really the first time in my life I've really made an effort to get some gardening done.  Mine is small at this time but it is something and I am learning as I go.  A good bug catcher I discovered that my family in France uses is empty soda bottles that have the "funnel" top cut off and inverted back into the bottle.  They rig them up so that they can hang them in their fruit trees with a little sugar water in the bottom.  The flies/bugs are attracted, go inside the container and can't seem to manage their way back out.  I tried that last year, for the first time, and it helped to keep my persimmon fruit from having eggs laid in them. 

Another direction I have been pursuing is to search out native plants that are, in fact, edible and nutritious.  It's something I do for fun and as a hobby, at this time, and, who knows, maybe that information might come in handy should I get lost in the woods.  :)  I read that the new baby pine needle tips are extremely high in vitamin C and you can make tea out of them.  Fun stuff to know.  Did you know that the purple fruit and "leaves" of a prickly pear cactus are edible??  The fruit makes excellent jelly.


Another interesting way that you can become more involved in your own personal food production is to research and learn to "can" your own food at home.  There are several techniques to process and preserve food and if you should come across a good deal in the store or famers' market, or your neighbor gifts you with some of the bounty of their own food production, you will able to "keep it back" for months to come.  Food preservation is a good way to stretch your dollars in the food market.

Fine dinning, going out to our favorite restaurants to enjoy well made food with family and friends, and trying our own hand at culinary creations is always a true joy and blessing and I pray you have many.  Always take a moment to consider helping out your local food banks and discover what types of food/garden programs are in your area.  Get involved and "play" with your food!!

Here is the link:  http://www.offthegridnews.com/otgNCurrent/Food_Shock.pdf

Bon Apetit!

Since I've referred to Mansanto in various articles and links I've posted, I thought I would give you a link that, I think, gives a very good overview as to why we should be concerned about this corporation and how it is negatively impacting our world.  Here's the link:

http://www.naturalnews.com/030967_Monsanto_evil.html


http://www.naturalnews.com/030913_Monsanto_suicides.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/030406_GMOs_survey.html


http://www.naturalnews.com/030940_Bill_Gates_Foundation_genetics.html