Food intensive

The students, four interns, and two teachers just returned from a
fantastic week learning about the food system in California. From the
genetic engineering seed lab at UC Davis to a tiny fledgling
horse-powered farm, from a 300 acre "small" organic farm to an urban
garden planted in raised beds on asphalt, from the first organic and
only unionized strawberry farm in California to the research cattle
feedlot at UC Davis, we had a whirlwind week. We even managed to hit
up the Jelly Belly factory for brunch!
 

One theme that kept resurfacing concerned the treatment of
agricultural employees in an industry notorious for unjust labor
practices. Some of the organizations we visited highlighted fair
treatment of workers alongside ecological stewardship as fundamental
factors in the production of sustainable food.  Often our visits
challenged our notions of terms like "sustainable," "for profit," and
"organic;" leaving us with more questions than when we started. One
definite highlight of the week was hearing Vandana Shiva speak about
seed sovereignty at the first ever Heirloom Exposition. We will have
plenty of fodder for lively discussion now that we are home at
Woolman.