While the prices of many foods are rising, you can’t say that about some edibles. This graphic shows some traditional barbecue items have decreased in the last ten years (after adjusting for inflation).
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Here’s a neat web segment (and accompanying blog post) in which a restaurant owner explains why she composts. Oh Portland, you’re so damn progressive!
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Anaerobic digestion continues to be the best way to process food that’s already wasted. Of course, we should still try to reduce the amount of food that is wasted.
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Yesterday, the California Senate passed the bill guaranteeing catering customers the right to take home or donate excess food. This bill, which would be a real boon for food recovery, now goes to the California Assembly (the House) for a vote. Here’s one man’s view on why it’s a good idea.
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They’re growing vegetables again in London’s St. James Park to commemorate WWII Victory Gardens. Could be a small sign that the mainstream valuing of food–in the UK, US and everywhere–is near.
Comments
2 responses to “Friday Buffet”
I think that bill in California should be passed nation wide. I’ve always felt like restaurants, at the end of the day, should take their leftovers, or other food they might waste to food pantries, soup kitches, or home to make sure it doesn’t go bad.
I’ve noticed an increase in urban agriculture where I live as well. More people, besides myself, are growing food in containers on their porches in my apartment complex. A Community Garden Coalition formed a few years ago and the gardens are sprouting up (no pun intended) all over the place. My partner, Brett, and I have a plot at a community garden that is only a five minute walk from our apartment.
Seems like it could be a step in the direction of reconnected with the land and the food we eat.
Great links! The video is nice – it left me thinking, “of course!” Why wouldn’t a restaurant want to sort waste to be composted? Is a composting pickup program like that run by the municipal system or is it a private company? Seems like the existence of that pick up service is the real hurdle, and not the willingness of the restaurant. But maybe I’m wrong.
The story of veges in St. James Park is also great. I see more and more backyard gardens these days, and like Jennifer points out, people are doing a lot with community gardens. But wouldn’t it be fun to see suburban lawns replaced with vegetable gardens??? Some would say it wouldn’t be “pretty” but maybe we need to adjust our taste.
Thanks for digging up the good stories, Jon.