Today we heard from Jim Cochran of Swanton Berry and Larry Yee on their unbelievably intriguing and new approach to food sovereignty and local food. Yesterday, ROC took the approach of improving the system, while the Food Commons takes the approach that we need to create an entirely new system. As Jim described it, we need to identify the parts of our current system (including systems throughout the entire world) that work and incorporate them, but also make sure to leave out the parts of our system that haven't worked, paying special attention to make sure that the system is just and equitable for all. In short, what they want to do is create space (held in a land trust) that could be run as a commons and used for food production.
They have recaptured the term "commons" from the Tragedy of the Commons concept by saying (reasonably and rationally) that the commons cannot be over exploited because people will set up rules. The classic example would be turned on it's head because the community governing the commons would not allow each person to have more that, say, five cows grazing in the commons. By holding people accountable, the Tragedy would be avoided. It was an incredibly compelling concept that should be, and is being, given some serious thought.
On a side note I would just like to say that I am craving some good ol' meat!! The food we are being given is undeniably delicious, but there is a significant and noticeable lack of protein in our diet. Veggies are wonderful...as an accompaniment to protein - be that beans, tofu, or meat. I find myself starving between meals in spite of the fact that I eat a good amount at meals. The single slice of chicken sausage as the meat option for last night's pizza doesn't exactly make up for the almost total lack of protein earlier in the day.
I will be absolutely ecstatic to come home to a nice, big, juicy (grass-fed, sustainably grown) burger.
Wouldn't it be awesome if every school could have an educational garden and an outdoor kitchen?
The entrance to one of the classrooms at Life Lab. The Apple Room is a space enclosed by apple trees. How wonderful to be able to learn in an environment like that.
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