January 28, 2010

Vegetarians can be a snobby bunch and I say that as someone who has been a vegetarian for most of my adult life, the odd slip up not withstanding. But the more researchers look into the biology and behavior of plants, the more they discover how intelligent and resourceful they are. This article in the New York Times explores why vegetarians and vegans aren't really justified in making morally superior lifestyle claims. Let's face it, carrot or cow, some human is going to pounce on you eventually unless human biology somehow evolves so that we get our sustenance directly from the sun.

January 22, 2010

As someone of a decidedly rural inclination, it always amazes me to discover that many urban children have no idea where their food comes from. The most common answer? The supermarket. It seems this also extends to executive chefs and at least one of them is trying to change that. The Food Network has debuted a new show called Pitchin' In, in which the former executive chef at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York City travels across North America learning what it takes to produce the food she uses in her kitchens. I'm not sure that helps school kids much, but at least food lovers will get an eye full and possibly once the episodes on lobster fishing and pig farming air there will be a few more vegetarians in the world.

January 15, 2010

The idea that produce can be grown indoors in urban environments as a commercial venture is certainly a popular one these days and The Globe and Mail has a profile of a new company called Urban Barns, which is setting up shop in the Vancouver area. I'm skeptical that such a venture can actually make money and much of the claims the company representative makes in this story seem rather utopian. They are also largely backed up by data the representative steadfastly refuses to make public, which is never a good sign. But who knows? The company may be on to something and I'm just being short-sighted. That wouldn't be the first time.

January 8, 2010

January is a great time of year for gardeners and not just because it's when our seed catalogues start to arrive. It's also when our local gardening gurus give us a glimpse at what the hot trends are likely to be for coming gardening season. And when you consider that many of these gurus own the garden centres and nurseries that will be stocking the plants we will be able to buy, they ought to know what the trends will be in a way your average psychic wouldn't. Spoiler alert: hellebores, dwarf conifers, echinaceas and heucheras all get the nod.