Texas Farmers Blogging for Business and Pleasure
07:29 AM CDT on Monday, August 25, 2008
By JESSICA SIDMAN / The Dallas Morning News
"Texas farmer Sid Greer was checking on his cattle last summer when it suddenly began to pour. He ducked behind a tree and watched as the rain filtered through the pine trees, glowing in the sun. The sight of the rain and the smell of the earth were so overwhelming that Mr. Greer ran inside to write a blog post. "It was almost a sensuous experience, so I wanted to share it immediately," said Mr. Greer, 59, of Daingerfield, Texas."
To read more of Sid's musings, please see his blog: http://www.greerfarm.com/blog/.
Monday, August 25, 2008
DMN Notes SF "Woodstock of Food "Gathering
Our own Dallas Morning News has taken note of the Labor Day weekend gathering of the nation's super-foodies (that would be us) in San Francisco.
Joyce Saenz Harris, writes in Sunday's edition: "Some 50,000 people are expected to participate in this country's first Slow Food Nation event, a gigantic 'Woodstock of food' to be held over the long Labor Day weekend in San Francisco."
Her article traces the roots of Slow Food Dallas from Timothy Mullner's kitchen in 2003 to our convivium-soon-to-be-chapter's 160 members today.
Current leadership team member Mark Monfrey notes that many Dallas members are "more interested in the social networking that Slow Food provides," but says that the political side also plays an important part in the movement's mission. "If we don't take an active role in government and politics," he says, "these small farmers won't have a chance."
Here, here.
Anyone out there interested in adding to our 160-strong membership roll should mark two dates on their calendar:
Tuesday, Sept. 9, 6:30 pm when there will be a new member "Meet and Greet" at the Veritas Wine Bar at 2323 N Henderson Ave. (between 75 and Greenville).
Sunday, Sept. 28 - Annual Meeting at a time and place to be determined.
Also if you're planning to attend the gathering in San Francisco let our current leader Jennifer Uygur know at juygur at sbcglobal.net. She'll connect you with other Dallas Slow Foodies who plan on going.
Joyce Saenz Harris, writes in Sunday's edition: "Some 50,000 people are expected to participate in this country's first Slow Food Nation event, a gigantic 'Woodstock of food' to be held over the long Labor Day weekend in San Francisco."
Her article traces the roots of Slow Food Dallas from Timothy Mullner's kitchen in 2003 to our convivium-soon-to-be-chapter's 160 members today.
Current leadership team member Mark Monfrey notes that many Dallas members are "more interested in the social networking that Slow Food provides," but says that the political side also plays an important part in the movement's mission. "If we don't take an active role in government and politics," he says, "these small farmers won't have a chance."
Here, here.
Anyone out there interested in adding to our 160-strong membership roll should mark two dates on their calendar:
Tuesday, Sept. 9, 6:30 pm when there will be a new member "Meet and Greet" at the Veritas Wine Bar at 2323 N Henderson Ave. (between 75 and Greenville).
Sunday, Sept. 28 - Annual Meeting at a time and place to be determined.
Also if you're planning to attend the gathering in San Francisco let our current leader Jennifer Uygur know at juygur at sbcglobal.net. She'll connect you with other Dallas Slow Foodies who plan on going.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
NAIS: Putting Local Ranchers Out of Business
Seems Congress is now trying to help the US Department of Agriculture make what has been billed as a voluntary system, mandatory, and in the process shut small farmers and ranchers out of the farm-to-school program. The system is the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) which is a USDA plan to electronically track every livestock animal in the country (an ill-conceived, bureaucratic nightmare that masquerades as a food safety measure).
Today, the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a provision of the 2009 Agriculture Appropriations Bill that was introduced last week by Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). It would require all meat products for the school lunch program be purchased only from livestock premises registered with NAIS. Long story short: The extra cost NAIS imposes on small ranchers and farmers will in many cases put them out of business and out of the farm-to-school program.
Ironically, the farm-to-school program is all about improving children's nutrition while providing family farms with a reliable market.
A lot of groups are opposed and are trying to get the measure defeated. If you're interested in supporting local agriculture (and if you're a Slow Foodie you probably are), you owe it to yourself to get smart on NAIS and actively oppose it.
Here are some good sources:
The Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance. Based in Austin, it's a leader in the fight against NAIS.
The Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund, which is filing suit against the USDA to halt the implementation of NAIS.
Today, the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a provision of the 2009 Agriculture Appropriations Bill that was introduced last week by Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). It would require all meat products for the school lunch program be purchased only from livestock premises registered with NAIS. Long story short: The extra cost NAIS imposes on small ranchers and farmers will in many cases put them out of business and out of the farm-to-school program.
Ironically, the farm-to-school program is all about improving children's nutrition while providing family farms with a reliable market.
A lot of groups are opposed and are trying to get the measure defeated. If you're interested in supporting local agriculture (and if you're a Slow Foodie you probably are), you owe it to yourself to get smart on NAIS and actively oppose it.
Here are some good sources:
The Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance. Based in Austin, it's a leader in the fight against NAIS.
The Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund, which is filing suit against the USDA to halt the implementation of NAIS.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Eden's Organic Garden Center to Launch New CSA
Eden's is taking the pulse of the southeast DFW area to see what level of interest in supporting a new CSA there is. Marie is looking to break ground for a fall garden - cool season veggies mostly and a salad eaters dream come true. So, if you're interested, let her know via her website/email (mailto:eogc@airmail.net) or call her at 214-348-3336
A CSA or Community Supported Agriculture is, according to Local Harvest "a way for the food buying public to create a relationship with a farm and to receive a weekly basket of produce. By making a financial commitment to a farm, people become "members" (or "shareholders," or "subscribers") of the CSA. Most CSA farmers prefer that members pay for the season up-front, but some farmers will accept weekly or monthly payments. Some CSAs also require that members work a small number of hours on the farm during the growing season.
"A CSA season typically runs from late spring through early fall. The number of CSAs in the United States was estimated at 50 in 1990, and has since grown to over 1000."
A CSA or Community Supported Agriculture is, according to Local Harvest "a way for the food buying public to create a relationship with a farm and to receive a weekly basket of produce. By making a financial commitment to a farm, people become "members" (or "shareholders," or "subscribers") of the CSA. Most CSA farmers prefer that members pay for the season up-front, but some farmers will accept weekly or monthly payments. Some CSAs also require that members work a small number of hours on the farm during the growing season.
"A CSA season typically runs from late spring through early fall. The number of CSAs in the United States was estimated at 50 in 1990, and has since grown to over 1000."
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Texas Inspired Stilton Soup
Here is the recipe for the Bosque Blue soup that Susan and I brought to the recent Summer Potluck Dinner hosted by Peter and Julie Schaar.
It is actually a recipe for stilton soup but Veldhuizen Farms Bosque Blue is so close to stilton it is a very fitting substitute. http://www.stiltoncheese.com/us/recipes/bluesoup.html
Veldhuizen Farms Bosque Blue is, at present, only available directly from the creamery. Their web site, with an ordering page, can be found here: http://www.veldhuizencheese.com/
The wine used in the cheese was the 2005 Barking Rocks, Blanc du Bois, Granbury Texas . Their web site can be found here: http://www.barkingrockswine.com/
Enjoy!
Andrew Chalk
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Mozzarella Company's new raw milk cheese
At a recent visit to the Mozzarella Company, we bought a new creation called Palo Duro. It's made from raw cow's milk and bathed with wine as it aged. According to Paula Lambert, "it was made last August, so it has been aged for almost 9 months. It is quite firm and can enjoyed as is with fruit chutneys and fruit pastes and it can be grated for salads and even melted in all manner of dishes.
It has a gorgeous reddish rind that comes from bacteria linens that have developed naturally. This lush exterior brought to mind the gorgeous colors in West Texas' famed Palo Duro Canyon which was the inspiration for its name.
Only a limited quantity of Palo Duro was produced, so when the supply is gone there will be no more until next year. It is only available at the Mozzarella Company in Deep Ellum. So, hurry to get a wedge or even a small wheel of this magnificent cheese."
If you miss this one, you can get Paula's other raw milk cheese, Blanca Bianca which debuted at our 2003 American Farmstead Cheese Tasting event and was showcased at Slow Food Cheese 2005 in Bra, Italy.
rs
Only a limited quantity of Palo Duro was produced, so when the supply is gone there will be no more until next year. It is only available at the Mozzarella Company in Deep Ellum. So, hurry to get a wedge or even a small wheel of this magnificent cheese."
If you miss this one, you can get Paula's other raw milk cheese, Blanca Bianca which debuted at our 2003 American Farmstead Cheese Tasting event and was showcased at Slow Food Cheese 2005 in Bra, Italy.
rs
Monday, March 24, 2008
Set a Course for Texas Wines Tasting - March 31
Eat and drink locally. Sample some of the best wines and cheeses, fresh produce and Texas-raised meats at the "Set a Course for Texas Wines" event presented by The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas and GoTexan. Find out why Texas wines and GoTexan cheesemakers are winning awards in the Lone Star State and beyond!
Event details:
Monday, March 31, 2008, 6-9pm, $40
Tasting: Set a Course for Texas Wines
Location: Dallas Contemporary, 2801 Swiss Avenue, Dallas
Cost: $40
Reservations (non-refundable): online or phone 512.327.7555
(http://winefoodfoundation.org/index.html)
Event details:
Monday, March 31, 2008, 6-9pm, $40
Tasting: Set a Course for Texas Wines
Location: Dallas Contemporary, 2801 Swiss Avenue, Dallas
Cost: $40
Reservations (non-refundable): online or phone 512.327.7555
(http://winefoodfoundation.org/index.html)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)