The Farmplate Blog

Farm to Plate: Wal-Mart to Sell Unlabeled Monsanto GMO Corn Direct to Consumers
Jeff Gangemi Aug 15, 2012 News 0 comments
First things first. We are not here to pass judgment on Wal-Mart, which we can only assume has done its own research on whether GMO products are safe for consumers (their conclusion is obvious).  Instead, what’s interesting about Wal-Mart’s decision to sell Monsanto’s GE sweetcorn is that it’s the first time a consumer product developed by Monsanto will go straight from the farm to plate, instead of being processed first. Other retailers (Whole Foods and Trader Joes among them) have either decided not to sell the product, or have yet to weigh in. The other interesting element to this story, which we learned from EcoWatch, is that the product also won’t be labeled as genetically...
The Industrialization of Hydridization - Book Excerpt from The Seed Underground by Janisse Ray
Jeff Gangemi Aug 13, 2012 Real Food 0 comments
Below is the second of two excerpts from The Seed Underground by Janisse Ray (click here to read the first one), which offers a fascinating look at the critical role that seed saving plays in our food sovereignty. As part of a new partnership with Chelsea Green Publishing, FarmPlate will be promoting some of Chelsea Green's great food and farming books, offering discounts and other promotions. Hybrids Industrial ag went after seeds themselves and with appalling swiftness took over the seed supply. They began to hybridize, a hybrid being the offspring of a genetic cross. Hybridization is simply plant breeding sped up. The pollen from one plant with desirable characteristics...
Summer Stone Fruit Tart from HFR Living
Lucy Caldwell Aug 10, 2012 Recipes 0 comments
At FarmPlate, we are lucky to work in a place where going to farmers' markets, checking out pick-your-own berry patches and researching up and coming actors on the local food scene is just part of the job. One of our favorite local foods advocates is Hanna Robinson of HFR Living in New York City. Ms. Robinson is a natural foods chef and nutritional consulting who, along with numerous other ventures, keeps a wonderful blog full of seasonal recipes and interesting tips for anyone interested in eating and preparing healthy local food. This beautiful summer stone fruit tart recipe caught our eye, and Ms. Robinson has kindly allowed us to share it here with the rest of the FarmPlate community....
The FarmPlate Young Farmers Series: A.M. Thomas From East Hill Farm
Jeff Gangemi Aug 09, 2012 Young Farmers 0 comments
  NAME: A.M. Thomas FARM: East Hill Farm AGE: 25 Can you provide some brief background information about your farm? In your opinion, what makes it special or unique? East Hill CSA is a project of the Rochester Folk Art Guild, a nonprofit organization and community of craftspeople and farmers. We use old fashioned, chemical-free, hands-on organic methods to grow fruit, vegetables, herbs, eggs, pigs, and chickens for the community and for sale through our CSA in Rochester, NY. Our farm also produces ceramics, wood turnings, wooden toys, furniture and boats, hand-woven items, and clothing made from natural fibers. Why do you believe farming is important, particularly for the younger...
Thirty Varieties of Garlic!
Remy Franklin Aug 08, 2012 Farmer Beat 0 comments
The Big Green Bus spent the past three nights at Gales Meadow Farm in Forest Grove, Oregon, while doing day events 45 minutes away in Portland. Gales Meadow is on a small plot of agricultural land tucked up against a wooded hillside, and has that calm, practical air that seems to accompany hard work and stewardship for the land. Chickens wander through the yard and you can't always tell where wildflower meadows end and planted rows begin - but there are barns full of drying garlic and produce orders being filled every day. We spent our last day in the area working at the farm, preparing beds and planting kale and collard green starters. The rows we prepared had just produced a crop of...