healthy food

By Samantha Cronin A few weeks ago, as I was reflecting and brainstorming while munching on an apple in the sustainable living library at the Upper Valley Food Co-op in White River Junction, Vermont, I came across a children’s book called The Story of Johnny Appleseed, written and illustrated by Aliki. Since my five-month-old daughter was with me, I was delighted to find such a gem and decided to read it to her. As I recited the story aloud, the memories started to flow as I remembered when my Grandmother and Mother had read the story to me. I recalled how Jonathan “Johnny Appleseed” Chapman was a peacemaker. He lived a simple life, spreading seeds of love. He cherished food and...

NAME: Alex needham & Alison parker FARM: Radical root farm AGE: 31 and 33 Give a description of your farm and how you got into farming: We currently run a 100-member CSA and do two markets in Chicago. Our farm is certified organic, and we pay special attention to soil health, nutrient-dense plants and the natural environment around us. What did you do before you started farming? Have you found it be an easy transition from your previous job? Alison was/still is a writer, and Alex was a bike messenger, later a restaurant manager. What made you choose Illinois? Alison’s family is here, plus a lot of our friends are in Chicago. What do you produce? We grow certified organic vegetables....

Looking around an elementary school cafeteria, it is impossible to ignore the images of Spiderman, Justin Bieber, kittens and rainbows stamping each child’s lunchbox. Although in the past lunchboxes have been considered a grade-school commodity, they are bursting their way into the adult world as people realize that a waste-free lunch means more than eating everything on your plate. To truly reduce our meals’ carbon footprint, we need to consider not only how food is produced, but also how we’re packing it. According to the New York Times, sales of environmentally friendly back-to-school products are up just about everywhere. At the Container Store, the increase is 30 percent over last year...