Author event at New York City’s Book Culture—and it’s virtual!

See: Gigi’s virtual “author event” What a great idea, right? We are connecting a great read (To Kill A Mockingbird), with (IMHO) another great contemporary read, my FoodWISE. My review follows. Continuing our #StayHomeStaySafeReads series, author Gigi Berardi recommends To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. You can also learn more about her recent book, FoodWISE: A Whole Systems Guide to Sustainable…

FoodWISE, labor, coronavirus, and will colleges open in the fall?

Gigi Berardi reads FoodWISE: the last section on labor, and mentions her close colleague, MB Ryan of Breezy Hill and Stone Ridge Orchards. They were to have an author-grower event in NYC at Book Culture, on March 18. But the safest thing to do then was to cancel. It’s the only thing to do now….

FoodWISE—which colleges will be open in the fall?

Gigi  reads FoodWISE and begins the discussion of farm labor in the agricultural web. She looks at a newspaper story on what is going to happen to colleges in the fall? Open or not? Her own university is open—but with many caveats. To her mind, online for the fall looks like the best bet. It’s…

FoodWISE—should we eat meat in the era of coronavirus?

Gigi Berardi reads FoodWISE—her introductory section on meat. Seems like during this time of coronavirus isolation precautions and difficulties in supply chain, eating much less of the tasty stuff might be a good option—especially given other environmental concerns regarding mega-scale production and transport.

FoodWISE—meat or no meat? Feast or famine?

Gigi Berardi reads FoodWISE and introduces the controversial topic of eating meat. And offers this New York Times article by Winnie Hu: Feast or famine? Its endless isn’t it? News stories on toilet paper and toilet brushes—gone. Frustrated shoppers and empty shelves. Flour—gone. Yeast‚ limited to one package per customer. Is it a Martha Stewart…

Freedom to choose in the age of coronavirus—wither lockdown

Gigi Berardi reads FoodWISE and the kinds of convenience that she prefers with her foods—readily accessible ricotta from the leftover whey in cheesemaking from the sheep, in her front yard. Packaged food is also part of her menu, especially in the age of coronavirus—but it doesn’t need to be all of it: Are convenience foods the…

FoodWISE—Chicken McNuggets vs Sheep Cheese

Today, I read about efficiencies in processing and creating novel foods like Chicken McNuggets—but that’s not the food for me. Some of my supply chains are shorter, local, regional—even micro (when I am milking my own sheep, and making my own cheese, as in this image of fresh Manchego). But some of my supply chains…