Meat, meat, and more meat

Ideas on CBC 1 did a fantastic three-part series on our meat-eating habits back in May. It was tremendously interesting and important stuff. Have a little listen:

http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/features/meat/index.html

More fuel for the (raw milk) fire

A wee opinion piece from the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/opinion/07feldman.html?ref=opinion

International Peasants Day

April 17. The day commemorates 19 peasant farmers who, in 1996 were killed for their struggle for land reform in Brazil. All over the world there will be events happening to acknowledge their important efforts, and to raise awareness about food sovereignty and to speak against corporate control over the world's food supply.

Please do take the time to read about the truly admirable and difficult work done by La Via Campesina, the international organization dedicated to improving the lives and livelihoods of peasants, farmers, the landless, women, indigenous peoples, and agricultural workers throughout the world: viacampesina.org.

In Halifax, where I currently live, there will be a public march in solidarity with La Via Campesina, and a big food-celebration-corporation-protest-shindig on the North Commons. Information is here: http://halifax.mediacoop.ca/story/3242.

Gracious Greens

These are the delicious greens I planted on my windowsill last month. This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago - now they're even bigger and more lush, and looking delicious! Will keep you posted.

Eating Animals

Deer. I ate little steakettes, which may or may not be a made-up word. Marinated in beer, barbequed to the definitely done stage, but still delicious. Not too gamey, but just enough. In my freezer I have the gift of ground deer (good for burgers), home-grown spare ribs (tonight's supper), and some pork chops and bacon. A visit to a long-lost friend and her life in the country yielded these gems. And I will eat them. Guilt-free.

I pose as a pseudo vegetarian from time to time, it's true. Rarely do I buy meat (fish is the most common, though still rare, and never beef, pork, or poultry) as my compromise to eating meat when it's served to me. My wish to reduce my meat intake for primarily sustainability reasons has worked out quite well so far. Although sometimes I get concerned looks when I say, "I eat meat - I just don't cook it," it's an easy compromise, and I remain a low maintenance dinner guest. I also simply like meat from time to time, and am glad that I've found this balance.

Now, I love lamb. It's definitely my favorite meat, but I know it gives some people the willies. "How can you eat those cute little creatures?!" I'm told, however, that they are one of those fail-safe sustainably raised animals and that I shouldn't worry. For myself I haven't looked into this, but it comes from a source I trust. So I bought some stew meat a couple of weeks ago, and for the first time in five years, actually cooked meat for myself! Wow - melt in your mouth! I've been itching to take another go at it, but I had forgotten how much cheaper it is not to buy meat. I think I'll slowly work some of it back into my diet. Until then, I've got a few days worth of yummy animal delight waiting for me in the ice-box...