Eco-Photo

These links have inspired me and I want to share them.  The Who Farm is an organization that is petitioning to get an organic farm planted on the grounds of The White House.  I think having an organic farm at the White House would walk many dogs with one leash.  It would raise the awareness of the health benefits of organic foods, create more respect for farmers, provide delicious food for White House guests, and encourage the people to have their own gardens.
The Who Farm site had a link to Sky Vegetables.  This group of geniuses are working to construct and operate gardens on the top of supermarkets. Let’s hear it for low carbon footprints!

While visiting my sister in Ft. Worth, Texas I decided to see if I could visit some local organic farms.  I was having trouble finding organic vegetables farms near Ft. Worth when my pal Kim Brown Schetter suggested I look into grass-fed cattle farms.  In my internet research Burgundy Pasture Beef stuck out from the crowd. I called them up and they gave a warm welcome for me to visit their farm.  With Sis in tow, we went down to Grandview, TX and met with Jon Taggart, Co-Owner of the ranch with his wife, Wendy.  Jon has 1400 acres of land for his 400 cattle, which can eat grass for most of the year because of the southern climate. During the coldest part of the year they eat organic alfalfa grass.  Jon’s 25 years of farming experience taught me a lot about the efficiencies and health benefits of grass-fed cattle. All his grass is organic; the cows eat the grass, fertilize it, stamp the seed into the ground for the next crop and then are moved to a new location. These were very happy and stress-free cows.

Here is a photo of Jon throwing some kind of wasp larva onto the cow patties, which is just one of Jon’s organic farm practicies. The wasp larva feed on the fly eggs that grow on the cow patties.  Apparently flies are a big hassle for cattle (see how little I know!).  Jon also recommended I read The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan. Coincidentally on the way down to Texas I read an article Mr. Pollan had recently written to the next President-Elect for the NYTimes. I highly recommend it.

Gathering Together Farm is an organic farm and restaurant. It’s located just under 2 hours south of Portland in Philomath (fe-low’-meth).  I’ve often purchased veggies from the GTF booth at the Portland Farmer’s Market and have always wanted to visit. So, friends Amanda and Jay joined Ken and me for a tour of the farm and breakfast at their restaurant on a beautiful Saturday in October. Most of the food at the restaurant is grown on the farm or bought from other farms in the area. I had the farmer’s breakfast which was very good but wished I had ordered like Ken and had the lentil soup (delicious) with a salad (duh, they grow A LOT of greens at GTF!).  Our server said the owners of the farm originally created the farm so they would have fresh, organic food for their restaurant. Now the farm is so large it can sell food to other restaurants as well as pariticipating in a number of farmers markets. After eating, we roamed the fields around the restaurant. Up to this point I had led a life detached from the origins of the food I ate - so it was inspiring to see the fields of lettuce, peppers, greens and herbs. My journey into sustainability had begun.

Also, 1 hour west of the farm is Mary’s Peak, the highest peak on the coastal range. I highly recommend making a day trip of visiting the farm and Mary’s Peak.  You can see the ocean from the top Mary’s Peak.