True confession: I have no idea what these are. They were at the Live Earth Farm booth at the Saturday market. Any clue? [EDIT: they're Jerusalem artichokes, and I have been advised to try them. See comments below.]
Angie over at Crazy Salad left what might be my favorite ever comment, and I'm spotlighting it in today's post. About the poppycock yesterday, where an ad agency wanted me to pimp HEALTHY Mister Potato Head for the National Potato Board (not to be confused with the National Potato Council, though they are both full of bull excrement)? Here's what Angie has to say:
Gee, Tana, thanks for sharing that information about “American’s favorite vegetable.” Loved their website. I wanted to mail in for the “Healthy MR. POTATO HEAD promotional premium” but I couldn’t find any UPC codes on the potatoes in my vegetable bin at home. Do you think it would be ok if I send them the peel?
How much do you think they paid someone to come up with that Potato Power Dance and song? Scary. Does any real, i.e., self-respecting, kid you know actually go to one of these lame websites? Most kids I know (including my own) are deeply and rightly suspicious of any adult with good intentions who tries to push something healthy and educational on them.
It’s sad when a vegetable (or fruit a la the California raisins) needs a marketing campaign to remind people to eat it. What’s next, a Healthy Ms. Breast cartoon character targeted at one-month old babies? Oh right, you can’t make any money off breast milk—never mind. I do have a great idea for Hasbro’s next partnership campaign: My Little Pony encouraging Americans to eat more horse meat.
Hee hee!
Changing channels to something poignant:
The more I learn and read and think about humane and compassionate animal husbandry, the more deeply committed I am to writing about it. A post at Apifera Farm moved me to tears early this morning, and I think you should read it, too. Katharine Dunn writes eloquently about having some of her lambs slaughtered.
A snippet:
Martyn drove up at this point, went out to meet [the butcher], and when he returned to the house, he had a baggie with livers in it. It was sort of surreal, but it was a turning point for me - And that was when I realized how special this all was. As I held that liver, I realized I knew exactly where it came from, and what foods did and didn't go into it. I felt very respectful of what I was holding - it is just so different than anything I have ever experienced.
Thank you, Katharine. (And thanks, Cathy, for the heads up.)
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LINKS
Organic Authority: portal site for organic lifestyle
Honest Farm in Kentucky—thanks for the link!
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A REQUEST IF YOU LINK TO ME
If my blog is listed on your site as "Small Farms," please change it to "I Heart Farms." Thanks!
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That's all for today: the sun came out and I might just get to a farm if I can get my car out of the shop.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: “Pork without fat is sex without orgasm.” —Michael Ruhlman
Thanks for visiting.
They're Jerusalem artichokes (aka topinambours), a lovely veg - good boiled and mashed, delicious cut in chunks and roasted. The flesh is less starchy than, say, a potato, with a nice sweet nutty flavor. Try some!
Posted by: Cathy | 14 November 2006 at 01:04 PM
I do believe they are sunchokes otherwise known as Jerusalem artichokes. If you didn't buy some when you took the photo, don't pass them by next time. They are delicious cut in half and roasted cut side down on a greased baking sheet with just some salt.
Posted by: lee | 14 November 2006 at 01:20 PM
Just watch out for the "after effects" of eating Jerusalem artichokes! :)
Posted by: Liz | 14 November 2006 at 03:21 PM
Tana: My wife and I are members of the LEF CSA and Tom put Jerusalem artichokes in the shares last week. We used them in a broccoli soup made with Debbie's "no cream" recipe -- http://www.writerguy.com/deb/recipes/1999/w7-98.html -- (Debbie is Farmer Tom's CSA coordinator) and they were excellent -- they are much better in a soup than mere potatoes!
Posted by: Jerry Chacon | 14 November 2006 at 04:14 PM
Angie's letter: hilarious.
"After effects" of Jerusalem artichokes? I'm worried.
Hope you retrieved your car and got some sunshine... the rain will be back soon!
Posted by: Jennifer Jeffrey | 14 November 2006 at 05:17 PM