Food Anarchy II

More fun with food at the Barnhart house. Here is this week's CSA share. I don't know why Eve looks so bugged out.

Grilled Salmon with basil pesto, beans and rice and collard greens fried with garlic and onion. CSA/backyard content: collard greens, onion, garlic, basil

Stuffed Eggplant, pasta and broccoli with basil pesto.

CSA/backyard content: basil, eggplant, oregano, onion, garlic, tomato

Black eye peas with bacon over rice and fried zucchini.

CSA/backyard: zucchini, tomato, garlic

BTW, I am not taking any credit for this food. I am only the humble eater/photographer. Marilyn gets all the planning and execution credits.

Food Anarchy

There are many uses and abuses of the term "anarchy" floating around so I'm adding to the mix. In general an anarchist is one who wishes for the control of society to be placed as "low", or close to the people it governs, as possible. This stands in opposition to Tyranny where decisions are made at the top. I'm not inclined to firebomb any federal buildings but the Barnharts have begun re-taking control of our food supply. Messieurs Kraft, Kellog, General Mills, Monsanto, ADM, ect... may not be quaking in fear, but it's a start.

We joined a CSA. Community Supported Agriculture. It's buying directly from the farmer by paying in advance for a year's harvest. For $235 USD in the spring we get weekly shares of produce. Each CSA has many participating farmers so each week there are different items to choose from. The city is kind enough to block a street Saturday mornings for a green market.

Here is part of a one week share. I didn't get the picture taken until some was already eaten. That lonely, roasted in the husk, ear of corn on the right had seven companions, a tomato is missing and several bundles of garlic cloves.

Thursday's food: roast beef and rice with fried zucchini from the backyard. No CSA content.

Wednesday's food: soul soup, many leftovers and many CSA veggies: carrots, celery, onions, corn,and a green pepper. From last week's CSA and the back yard: potatoes, collard greens, thyme, oregano, and chinese herb.

Tuesday's food:Sausage Alfredo with peppers and basil with salad. CSA and backyard content: green pepper, basil, tomato, cucumber, mesclun salad greens, romaine lettuce, and mint.

Power and Privilege

At work, the radio is usually tuned to NPR. Actually always tuned to NPR. As the news broke concerning the leader of the International Monetary Fund, Mr. Strauss-Kahn, my employer turned to and said, "Can you believe that?"

Yes I can believe it. Powerful people have always felt entitled to the lives, labors, minds and bodies of the working classes. Nothing new here. It's possible the only new development is the victim felt empowered enough to speak out. How many undocumented housekeepers in Manhattan have suffered similar treatment but chose silence rather than attract the attention of the law and face possible deportment?

If I understand the mission of the IMF correctly, their goal is to go about saddling the poorest people of the world with debt by loaning them money raised from investors. Anyone who feels they deserve to benefit from the future earning of the poorest might possible feel entitled to take advantage of the poor in other ways as well.

Jon Ronson, journalist and author was a recent guest on WNYC's "Brian Lehrer show" to discuss his latest book, The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry." During parts of the interview I was operating a sander but several points stuck in my mind. First, nearly one percent of the US population qualifies as clinically psychopathic. Most of these people lead relatively normal lives free from violence and many anti-social behaviors but if they were involuntarily committed to a mental health institution, they would not merit release. Now the detail that caught my attention, the rate of clinical psychopathology among CEO's of large corporations is over four percent. I suppose the inability to empathize with others or to see from their point of view is a competitive advantage in the business world.

In the News...

I thought it a little ironic that these two news bulletins should be posted together. From www.democracynow.org.

• Wall Street Bankers Take in Record $135 Billion in Compensation
• 43 Million Americans Now Receiving Food Stamps, a 14% Increase