We on the Ethicurean team may not always keep all these purposes in mind when we garden. In fact, probably most of us approach the garden with a mixture of the dread facing work that must be done and the hope of enjoying the peace of a little plot of earth that will produce good food with a seasoning of joy. But as we continue to prepare the garden beds and start sowing seeds, we’re doing something more. In the words of Pattie over at FoodShed Planet (where this year’s Victory Garden Drive got started), we’re declaring victory over our food supply — at a time when that food supply is looking more and more shaky.

Dolcezza takes up a cute little corner spot at the intersection of Q Street and Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown, an area perhaps better known for its shopping than for the university just a little father west. The gelato here is made in the Argentine style, meaning it contains no eggs but more cream (more cream!) than Italian gelato. It is, quite simply, some of the finest I’ve ever tasted — among the ranks of Capogiro in Philadelphia or the Bent Spoon in Princeton.

Could native foods be the next big thing in eating? Some people, Gary Nabhan in particular, are working to push things in that direction.

To find the friendliest face of the Grand Rapids local food scene, you can’t go wrong by making Marie Catrib’s your first stop. The intentional care of customers and community is what has made this comfortable restaurant one of this city’s favorites and a chilly Midwestern foodie’s dream come true.

Finally, after 3 months of blizzards, winter seems to be showing signs of weakness in Montreal. I’m sure this doesn’t mean that winter is over, even though spring officially began over two weeks ago, but still, today the sun was shining and the snow was melting, and people were out on the […]

Today’s New York Times featured an op-ed by Bridget Stutchbury, a biology professor at the University of Toronto and author of Silence of the Songbirds. Her book follows in the footsteps of Silent Spring and documents the rapid disappearance of migratory songbirds — by her account, a 50% decline in the last four decades — […]

As March draws to a close, I start counting the weeks until the farmers market returns. (Ten, thanks.)
After a long winter rounded out by a handful of late snowstorms, I’m really looking forward to the first local salad of mixed greens, the first fresh asparagus, and the chance to restock my garlic stash. […]

Editorials and op-eds about sustainable agriculture (or its opposite) from newspapers and websites big and small.

Editorials and op-eds about sustainable agriculture (or its opposite) from newspapers and websites big and small.

A recurring theme of last fall’s Kaw Valley Farm Tour was the terrible, killing freeze of the preceding spring. Now, scientists are suggesting that climate change may mean more of the same, and that’s bad news for local food in places with four seasons, a.k.a. most of the country.
The March issue of BioScience magazine includes […]

What a rip off. The ennui I get at the grocery store only costs 25 cents a dozen.
—Jeff Donald, Exeter, NH
Congratulations to Jeff, whose entry in our first-ever caption contest was the clear winner amongst the Ethicurean judges. (We ranked our five favorites and then added up how many points each got.) Tying for […]

The February 25 issue of The New Yorker has an important article by staff writer Michael Specter about some of the economic, logistical, and moral issues related to our individual contributions to the climate crisis* (our "carbon footprints"). In his exploration of the topic, he covers product labeling for food miles, carbon emissions, offset programs, […]

Our “free market” is bullshit : An eye-opening op-ed by a Midwestern farmer about what happened when, unable to meet demand, he leased acreage on a corn farm to grow fruits and vegetables.

… It’s not for our own good : Kansas City Star columnist Mike Hendricks gets it (free registration required); Monsanto’s anti-milk-labeling law isn’t for consumers benefit.

Big-boxing match: Wal-Mart Senior Director of Sustainability Rand Waddroup just finished reading “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” and wants to know what kinds of sustainable food products people would like to see on their shelves.

… Whole Foods, whole compost : One of the coolest business relationships we’ve heard of in a while — a waste-recycling arrangement between a local farmer and Whole Foods.

Wooly bully : Mangalitsa hog farmer/funder Heath in Washington State has quite the rant — inspired by this innocuous, sweetly boosterish NY Times article on small dairies — about why “local” doesn’t always taste better, and how California chefs who buy in-state are almost certainly buying inferior pork than what he raises.

… Can’t buy you love: Monsanto grants a ton of money to ag-study programs (Iowa State even has a Monsanto Auditorium), but only those who research biotechnology are awarded cash — those who are working on organic methods are on their own.