It's not just commercial birds that are affected - I've been told that some muppet has decided that all birds will have to be registered: the neighbour's two rescue ex-batts, Auntie's budgie and the tenants of the ornamental duck pond (and saints forfend any of them being fattened up for foie gras!). I just hope my informant was wrong ...
Washington, the Sahara of the Bozart! I like reading about the city now that I no longer live there. In truth, I hardly recognize it — I miss some of the old hard scrabble neighborhoods. Anyway, I wouldn’t mind having duck tomorrow. I hope you sit down to a royal bird, wherever you are.
Happy Thanksgiving to one and all and to you!! I so much prefer it to Christmas which can somehow generate so much tension. I hope your bird will have had many merry scampering under its wings.
Right on, Julia! Having lived most of my adult life in the DC suburbs, your description of Washington and its surroundings had me laughing: you are completely accurate. I adored 'eatWashington' and through that website, I discovered so many wonderful places. Thank you!!
I'm more pleased than I can say that you liked eatWashington! I had such fun doing it and discovered so many unexpected corners of DC that hugely enhanced my time there.
Amen to the statement that industrial food production methods need to be addressed, not artisanal ones. Of course, that goal is complicated by the benefits of mass production of food, feeding billions who in previous eras would have been chronically malnourished. The same applies to the benefits and risks of the plant-based version of industrial food production, large-scale monoculture, with its dependence on fertilizers and pesticides. Ironically, the numbers of humans on the planet would likely be much smaller were it not for these developments, as can be seen starting with the close ties between the “agricultural revolution” and “demographic revolution” of early modern Europe. The other irony is the degree to which mass production of food leads to mass waste of food while many people still go hungry. Ah, capitalism. Speaking of which, I’m convinced that it’s the lobbyist salaries in multiple six figures which keep the former politicians returning to DC, not the food. Speculation, I know. Another great essay and appealing recipe (this one is reminiscent of Marcella Hazan’s).
I don't think there anything you say I would disagree with. We may be feeding many more millions than in previous generations. But so much of what is being pushed at them lacks proper nourishment and leads to ill health and obesity. Ironically, much of the food waste going into landfills is fresh produce originating on the land, not processed foods from factories.
It won't let me read it. Quite rightly - I'm a cheapskate who doesn't subscribe. What’s clear from the charity I volunteer with which redistributes food whose sell-by dates are too close to charities and increasing numbers of sources we should be ashamed should need us, is that there's massive confusion about the difference between Use By labels and Best Before which is perfectly edible but not party perfect.
It's not just commercial birds that are affected - I've been told that some muppet has decided that all birds will have to be registered: the neighbour's two rescue ex-batts, Auntie's budgie and the tenants of the ornamental duck pond (and saints forfend any of them being fattened up for foie gras!). I just hope my informant was wrong ...
Washington, the Sahara of the Bozart! I like reading about the city now that I no longer live there. In truth, I hardly recognize it — I miss some of the old hard scrabble neighborhoods. Anyway, I wouldn’t mind having duck tomorrow. I hope you sit down to a royal bird, wherever you are.
Happy Thanksgiving to one and all and to you!! I so much prefer it to Christmas which can somehow generate so much tension. I hope your bird will have had many merry scampering under its wings.
Right on, Julia! Having lived most of my adult life in the DC suburbs, your description of Washington and its surroundings had me laughing: you are completely accurate. I adored 'eatWashington' and through that website, I discovered so many wonderful places. Thank you!!
I'm more pleased than I can say that you liked eatWashington! I had such fun doing it and discovered so many unexpected corners of DC that hugely enhanced my time there.
Amen to the statement that industrial food production methods need to be addressed, not artisanal ones. Of course, that goal is complicated by the benefits of mass production of food, feeding billions who in previous eras would have been chronically malnourished. The same applies to the benefits and risks of the plant-based version of industrial food production, large-scale monoculture, with its dependence on fertilizers and pesticides. Ironically, the numbers of humans on the planet would likely be much smaller were it not for these developments, as can be seen starting with the close ties between the “agricultural revolution” and “demographic revolution” of early modern Europe. The other irony is the degree to which mass production of food leads to mass waste of food while many people still go hungry. Ah, capitalism. Speaking of which, I’m convinced that it’s the lobbyist salaries in multiple six figures which keep the former politicians returning to DC, not the food. Speculation, I know. Another great essay and appealing recipe (this one is reminiscent of Marcella Hazan’s).
I don't think there anything you say I would disagree with. We may be feeding many more millions than in previous generations. But so much of what is being pushed at them lacks proper nourishment and leads to ill health and obesity. Ironically, much of the food waste going into landfills is fresh produce originating on the land, not processed foods from factories.
I didn’t know that about the origin of food waste.
Regarding food and obesity, you may find this article interesting if you haven’t already seen it. (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/21/opinion/obesity-cause.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare)
It won't let me read it. Quite rightly - I'm a cheapskate who doesn't subscribe. What’s clear from the charity I volunteer with which redistributes food whose sell-by dates are too close to charities and increasing numbers of sources we should be ashamed should need us, is that there's massive confusion about the difference between Use By labels and Best Before which is perfectly edible but not party perfect.