HillHouse Farms

So what does farming have to do with the current health care crisis?

By Karen

I should probably tell you off the bat to just go watch the movie, King Corn. Even if you think you already know everything there is to know about the food system issue and are a huge Michael Pollan or Barbara Kingsolver fan. If you haven’t seen it already go watch it. It’s an easy watch, done by a couple of college graduates fresh from the books and it is what has inspired me to write this blog this morning. The movie says it all, and you can probably find it at your local video store, or better yet buy it on line. But I will go on because this is probably the most important key to our current insurance and health crisis that no one in our government seems to be looking at.  So even though I want you to go and watch the movie, (should I say it one more time? Go watch, KING CORN !) http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/kingcorn/film.html ) I also want you to take action in your own life.

This is the reason why we are having this festival in the first place. (see http://festivelylocal.com)  Not only do we want to support the development of our local food system by supporting the nonprofits we are supporting and buying ingredients from local farmers, the key to all of it is to engage young people. It is my hope that in the back drop of great music, food and the arts, we will all create a conversation between groups of people that might not otherwise speak to one another. Please if you are attending, talk to someone who looks different from you. Whether it is a farmer talking to a rave fan, or a musician talking with any of the nonprofits or crafts folks who have booths. We need to talk. We need a greater dialog between young people and the real issue because this generation is the first generation that can expect to live a shorter life than their parents.

While I served as an AmeriCorps Vista with United Way of Williamson County a few years ago, I worked on a Fresh Foods for Families initiative as an obesity prevention project. The theory was (and still is) that if young people could have a garden and grow their own food they would become more connected and engaged to the food they ate and therefore eat healthier food. It was during the writing of this grant that I first became acquainted with the Food Security Partners of middle TN and the work they are doing to provide a more just food system.  It was also while at United Way that I learned of the amazing work that Oasis Center is doing and the kind of support that Youth Speak Nashville is giving its members. We need all generations to speak out and be heard. We need to be talking about how our people are dying from over processed empty calories, and at the core of this process lies the governmental policies that enable the food system to exit as we know it  today. And it is crushing small farmers and increasing profits for the “ food” industry which is selling us all these empty calories. This “food” lacks the density of nourishment that our forefathers had taken for granted.

If we all ate what our great grandparents ate we would not see the kind of rise in healthcare costs that we are seeing today. And so in closing in the words of Curt Elis:

“For the first time in American history, our generation was at risk of having a shorter lifespan than our parents. And it was because of what we ate.”

—Curt Ellis, KING CORN filmmaker

This should be the first topic in the health care discussions:  Why is our society dying from diseases caused by malnutrition?

Check out the discussion guides on the PBS website. Yeah the movie viewed last year, but the situation hasn’t changed and we need to revisit this movie along with current foodie stars like Food, Inc, http://www.foodincmovie.com/  and The Future of Food. http://www.thefutureoffood.com/

Come to our festival. Meet folks involved in making a change in our local food system. Find a farmer who grows real food, and above all have fun…. The good old fashion way with good food, good company, and good music under the stars. Do it for a good cause, our very lives and health may depend on it. We want you to survive, and thrive. Food security? What does that mean? Come and find out. If you can’t afford the low ticket price, talk to us. We can always use a good volunteer.

Festively Local

Festively Local (October 16, 17 and 18 at HillHouse Farms) 2009 is a Regional Music, Art and Food festival that supports local sustainable living by donating to The Food Security Partners of Middle Tennessee, Youth Speaks Nashville, and Oasis Center.

Sustainability is a hot buzz word these days. But what does it exactly mean? At the root of our ability to sustain life lies our ability to grow and eat food. Without nourishment from food, life ceases to exist. It's a pretty basic concept. No farms, no food. No soil, no farms. No local farms and we irrevocably surrender the responsibility to feed ourselves to an oil guzzling industrialized food complex. We believe this system frequently makes choices based on profits rather than nourishment. We also believe there are other options.

By attending this festival you are nourishing our local food economy. By purchasing a meal ticket you will be helping local farmers. All food prepared in our main meal tent is prepared solely from local sources (save a few ingredients that have not been obtainable via local means.) Even the popcorn which will be available for popping at the late night bon fire event will come from a farmer who lives just a few miles from the festival site.

We believe that in order for human beings to sustain ourselves and thrive, we need to focus on local action. That is why 100% of our profits will be donated locally. (Profits from artisan, farmers, musician and other booth vendors will be exempt from this donation.) Here are a few reasons why we have chosen to sponsor the following organizations.

The Food Security Partners of middle TN is working heartily to help build a stronger more secure local food system. From helping farmers with mini-grants, to sponsoring school gardens they have a tall order and can use all the help we can give them. Please visit their website to learn more about what they do and how you may help. The Food Security Partners of Middle TN have been our inaugural charity for this event.

We also believe that sustainability is only possible within a holistic system and we need to "invite" all involved partners to play a role. In fact, the ability to sustain life becomes null and void if we do not invite young people into the dialogue. Each individual no matter what age can and should be integrated. Therefore, we have chosen to include Youth Speaks Nashville as one of our charities, because without realizing that their voices can and should be heard, young people will not be able to engage in the necessary tasks that face us. We also personally believe that every musician and artist that is donating his or her time to this festival understands the significance of having a voice.

We can not say enough about Oasis Center. If a wise organic farmer knows how to tend his soil and herds so that the freshest most nourishing food finds its way to our plate, then Oasis is the wise youth organization that knows how to support young people in a way that helps them thrive. You won't find a single youth worker on their staff that will talk down to a teenager, and yet they know how to work with youth to address real issues and get things done. Big surprise- When we look at the whole system as a whole we make big changes. Oasis addresses sustainability like no other organization can, with our youth.

For More Information or to purchase tickets please visit http://festivelylocal.com

Granola Got a Bad Rap

By Ron,

 NOTE: If you have kids this is a good (albeit rambling) post to read, a simple recipe follows.

OK, I am past the half decade age line. I am well aware of the way that foods like granola are perceived. Even though you have been able to by 100 varieties of the stuff in the bulk area of the Natural Foods section for 20 years (and I refer to natural foods section with clear memory of food cooperatives and real natural food stores predating the Whole Foods industrial organic phenomenon and the Kroger or Wal-Mart WF knock offs) the image is still airheaded, hippy, peace love and granola.

To quote Elvis Costello (sorta) "what's so funny 'bout peace, love and granola?"

For one, the name has been co-opted by the food industry. I have been reading "in Defense of Food," by Michael Pollan. It will open your eyes. His primary point, made in the first paragraph, is: "eat food." Further explanation makes it clear that most of what we eat is processed so much it hardly counts for food (oft times referred to in the book as "food-like" products (I just love Michael Pollan's humor!) What is Velveeta Cheese Food anyway?

Granola survives (barely) under the weight of all this attitude and theft of purpose. At its core it is a very simple wholesome REAL FOOD alternative to sugar cereals. And it is far cheaper than the industrial organic processed "story*" in a $3.80 box that passes for "natural cereal." And don't get me wrong, I fed my children Fruit-e-o's when they were young. It was partly to make them feel a little less strange that their parents would not let them drink Coke or eat McDonald's, and partly just being worn down by the Madison Avenue style assaults on my true beliefs. <sigh> That is another blog entirely.

I rediscovered granola the other day. Maybe it's because we have several gallons of fresh milk from our cow in the fridge at any given time. I stopped drinking milk. But the ½ gallon jars of whitish liquid topped by thick yellow cream (sometimes as much as 50%) got me started again. What an amazing whole, real food that is. And since I try to avoid cookies (I only eat them if I make them and if none of the kids are around I safely avoid having them in the house) my brain automatically honed in on an old childhood habit of craving cereal and milk (see how the food industry has trained us?) Well, the craving is not too bad, as long as you can substitute REAL FOOD for processed trash.

Here is what I made:

(A detail of the measurements follows, but this should give you an idea of the speed and simplicity with which you can whip this up.)

Take 2 handfuls of rolled oats. Put them in a large mixing bowl with a big splash of pure maple syrup. Shake a little salt on it. Throw in a half handful of raw pecans and raw almonds, a couple of pinches or raw, hulled sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds and a small splash of vegetable oil (if you like olive oil use that, it may be less processed – I try to use organic oils when possible and cold pressed as well, but the sad fact is that the amount of processing makes these foods subject and making your own is a real arduous process, though I want to try sometime soon.

Mix is together and spread it on a baking sheet. Roast at 300 for 10 minute intervals until it begins to brown, stirring before you reset the timer.

Let cool, because it will crisp up and become crunchy. Crunchy oats are more likely to be chewed well; there is some digestion that occurs with carbohydrates in the mouth. You defeat this process if foods like oats are not properly chewed. Eat immediately for the best cereal and milk experience of your life. It can be stored in an air tight container for a couple of days. Refrigeration may help retain freshness but eating it a lot does a better job. Always make small batches.

We used to give this to our kids. You can put it in a plastic bag for a car snack, mix it with dried fruit, eat it plain or bake it into cookies. You can also put anything else into it that strikes your fancy. Every type of nut and seed (sesame seeds are really good) small amounts of raw grains like Quinoa and amaranth, and spices like cinnamon are all valid safe additions. Get crazy and try wasabi dried peas and Chinese 5 spice powder.

Measurements for the apprehensive:

2 Cups whole rolled oats (get organic foods, at least then you know there is less crap in it)

¼ Cup pure maple syrup (get real Vermont in bulk, keep it in the fridge. #2 is better than #1 because it is less refined – READ: PROCESSED)

½ Cup each, Raw Pecans and Raw un-blanched almonds (the vitamins and micro nutrients are in the skins)

¼ Cup good quality oil. Plus a squirt in the backing sheet to reduce sticking

NOTE: Expect this to take a ½ hour to roast in a preheated oven. Shorten the time between checking to 5 minute sessions toward the end and do not try to feed your kids burned granola or then will never eat the stuff again. It should be lightly browned, not blackened. Don't laugh, it is easy to burn. My wife, Karen, has burned this stuff (so have I) and then said, "Oh, it tastes just fine!" No, it tastes bitter and burned and leaves a crap taste in your mouth. Don't do it. If you burn it start over.

It is only hard to feed kids REAL FOOD if they think it tastes like cardboard. Foods like this one are so delicious (especially with fresh, ripe fruit on top)that they will always enjoy it. Make a variety of changes. Involve young ones in the process, it is easy to make and safe (up to the oven part).

And for those of us that can't get good milk (or fresh raw milk) or who may be unable to drink milk, this cereal tastes pretty good with fruit juice on it as well. Even orange juice will not clash with its ingredients.

I make this food at HillHouse as part of our gourmet fare. Good food does not have to be complex or fancy. Good food just has to be REAL.

I have a fresh white peach sitting on the counter that has become so ripe it fills the room with its perfume. I think I'll slice it up on my bowl of warm granola and cold milk. Eating real food is a pleasure. This is one of the primary keys to real health (as opposed to the idea of, or the superficial appearance of health).

And you don't have to be a hippy to like it.

*If you read "the omnivore's dilemma," also by Mr. Pollan, he makes it clear that most of what we are buying in stores like Whole Foods is the "story" that is accompanying the food. The pictures on the wall, the descriptions of the pastoral scenes where animals amble and graze…

There is factual point made that this "story" does not always match up with the real origin of the foods it is designed to promote. The sad fact is that most food in the industrial food system does not come from the sort of farms that we picture. It is sad and frightening, but it is true and we should all come to grips with the fact that our food system is not benefitting the eater. Not recognizing this truth may lead to early death or disease. Contact me at ron@hillhousewriters.com for more information about this subject or read Michael Pollan's enormously entertaining and informative books. You can also Google "Food Inc." for more information.