Is Healthy Fast Food Possible?

As a vegetarian, or simply a person who cares about where their food comes from, fast food is one area of the restaurant industry that generally off limits. Not only do fast food chains lack vegetarian options, the few items they do have are less than desirable in both taste and quality. In a New York Times article published last week, writer Mark Bittman explores the emerging area of food business’ focused on serving meat-free, healthy ‘fast-food.’ And while there is still a lot of work needed to perfect the art of cheap, fast food that is both delicious, nutritious, and most importantly REAL, it is exciting to see that there seems to be an ever-growing market for this type of food. Click here to read this intriguing article.

A Message of Hope: How Grazing Cows Can Reverse Global Warming

Could grazing large herds of cattle reverse global warming? According to ecologist Allan Savory, yes. And nothing offers more hope for a planet in distress. For years, environmentalists have believed that removing cattle from land protects the land from turning to desert. But we?ve had it wrong, says Savory and a growing movement of “carbon ranchers”, organic consumers, and climate activists. Turns out that when we remove the cattle, that’s when the land turns to desert. Deserts are not only bad for growing food, they give off carbon – a leading cause of global warming. We need green technologies to help us reduce our use of fossil fuels. But we?ll never reduce our use of fossil fuels enough in time to avert a climate crisis. There?s another way. By grazing large herds of livestock on half of the world?s barren or semi-barren lands, we could take enough carbon from the atmosphere to bring us back to pre-industrial levels. And just think of all the other problems we?d solve if we raised cattle outdoors, instead of in factory farms which pollute our water and air, and ruin our health with their antibiotics and growth hormones.

?The Monsanto Protection Act: What Does It Mean Exactly?

Last week, President Obama signed into law a spending bill with a controversial rider dubbed the “Monsanto Protection Act.” The rider says the government must allow the planting of genetically modified crops even if courts rule they pose health risks. The measure has galvanized the U.S. food justice movement, which is now preparing for its next fight when the provision expires in six months. For a better understanding of what the rider entails, click here to see a discussion between?Gregory Jaffe, director of the Biotechnology Project at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that addresses food and nutrition issues; and Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch and author of the book, “Foodopoly: The Battle Over the Future of Food and Farming in America.”

Seattle to Build Nation?s First Food Forest

Seattle?s vision of an urban food oasis is going forward. A seven-acre plot of land in the city?s Beacon Hill neighborhood will be planted with hundreds of different kinds of edibles: walnut and chestnut trees; blueberry and raspberry bushes; fruit trees, including apples and pears; exotics like pineapple, yuzu citrus, guava, persimmons, honeyberries, and lingonberries; herbs; and more. All will be available for public plucking to anyone who wanders into the city?s first food forest.