Coming Back to Food

by Melissa Byrne · 2009-07-09 14:02:00 UTC
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A sampling; by j.e.n.n.y.[Hello, folks, Natasha here. I'm getting married in about a week and a half, then honeymooning, and Melissa has been kind enough to agree to guest host full-time for the last half of July, easing into things over the course of the following week. It's my pleasure to be leaving you in her capable hands. Welcome, Melissa!]

I am excited to join Natasha here at Change.org to explore sustainable food issues during July.

For me, I've come back to food as an important issue after spending several years living off junk food with farmers markets peppered here and there. I am lucky that within my close circle of friends, I have friends working on several avenues of food-- from having their own organic farm, to adding local foods to their bagel shop, and even working on food policy in New York City.

As a little kid, I was fascinated with plants and food. I remember growing pumpkins in kindergarten, starting lettuce seeds on a sponge for a science project in second grade, and the sheer amazement of seeing a watermelon plant growing out a sink in seventh grade a few months after some seeds ended up in the trap.

As a college student, I was angered to learn that not everyone has access to healthy foods. I did not understand why there were not any real grocery stores covering most of Newark, NJ, or why Philadelphians didn't have grocery stores evenly spaced out across the city. I did not understand why farmers are given subsidies to grow corn while small, local farms have a hard time making it work.

Now, I am figuring out how to incorporate food advocacy into my everyday life. I've started an organic garden at my mom's house. There is almost nothing better than walking around barefoot, pulling weeds, and then eating the veggies I grew! I've also started to read more about food writ large, and I've started to talk with the leaders in the local foods movements, here and elsewhere.
I hope to share with y'all what I am learning. I hope to ask phenomenal questions and get incredible answers.

And, I hope we get offline more, outside more, and enjoy the beauty of a summer squash.

(Photo credit: j.e.n.n.y. on Flickr.)

Melissa Byrne
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