Carl Flatow’s Posts

• Trick or tort

  Does this Halloween skepticism make me a curmudgeon? 7

  Posted 2 years ago

  In a few days doorbells will ring and door-knockers will clack all over America. Our neighbor's children will appear in and out of costume with a bag pulled open or an upturned hand outstretched. Our reputations will be on the line, but what's the right thing to do?

  Shopping for treats to give the future of America has turned into a lose-lose proposition, in my humble opinion. Most of the stores are promoting bite-sized candy. These so-called treats come in tamper-evident packages -- from the point of view of the health and welfare of those little tykes, that's the only… Read More

• Time to find that special turkey

  Thanksgiving isn't just about the food; it is about relationships 17

  Posted 2 years, 1 month ago

  The Thanksgiving holiday serves to focus our attention on man's relationship with nature. In a celebration of the fall harvest, we express our appreciation for the bounty we have received.

  In American tradition, the Pilgrims' survival in the New World was enabled by the Native Americans, with whom they joined in a great feast of thanks. Every year Americans set aside a day to hold their own feast of Thanksgiving which features traditional foods that are native to the Americas, such as, turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, corn, turnips, and pumpkin pie.

  Our celebration of Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity… Read More

• Care and feeding at 35,000 feet

  When is pizza not a turkey sandwich? 13

  Posted 2 years, 5 months ago

  What we have available to eat is controlled by different businesses in different ways. Whether they are responsive to our needs and desires is something about which Americans can and should be at lot more vocal.

  We arrived at the boarding gate at George Bush Intercontinental Airport about an hour before the scheduled departure time, stripped of any liquids over 3.4 ounces not stored in a clear, quart-size, zip-top plastic bag. I went to the service desk to ask the airline rep what food would be provided on our flight. (This is the airline which runs TV ads boasting that… Read More

• Urban agriculture (peri-, sub-, or otherwise)

  Not your father's backyard garden 5

  Posted 2 years, 7 months ago

  Is there an urban, suburban, or peri-urban garden in your community, where you can sustainably produce or buy fresh local produce? Well, I think there should be, and I'm not alone.

  As part of my interest in "eating local," I have embarked on a mission to try to increase the amount of sustainable agriculture in my own neighborhood. Since I live on an island (admittedly a rather large one called Long Island), I would include the whole thing as my neighborhood, but the west end has already got a big head-start and the east end hasn't yet become as "well… Read More

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Carl Flatow’s Recent Comments

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  My Question Stands

  Some of you say we need the corn to feed people, which is done by feeding it to cattle, and others say that to use that corn to feed cattle is a really bad idea. You guys battle it out and let me know when you're done. I, myself, have not eaten meat from an animal that was fed corn in over 10 years. That's my answer to that part.

  In essence, Blume is saying that ethanol, when done right, is sustainable, environmentally friendly and worthwhile. That still sounds reasonable to me.

  Sure, lot's of businesses will do it wrong.There's nothing that can't be done wrong - even on a grand scale.

  Why don't we talk about doing it right?On What it means to put 4.1 billion bushels of corn into our gas tanks posted 1 year, 2 months ago 46 Responses

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  Ethanol Myths

  There are a lot of "facts" being repeated which I fear have not been validated, the most significant of which is that when we make ethanol from corn we are making a choice between food and fuel.
  Has anyone established that David Blume's theses are incorrect?

  see: http://www.alcoholcanbeagas.com/

  Blume, an organic farmer and ecologist has published a tome entitled, Alcohol Can Be A Gas. In it he lays out in great detail that it is not necessary to choose between ethanol and food.

  I can find no error in his contention that since over 90% of the corn we grow goes to feed animals, and the production of ethanol from corn (feed corn is used)  only removes the carbs (which cattle don't digest very well), and all the protein and fat in what is left over leaves you with a better feed.

  Blume is the first to tell you that corn is not the ideal crop to make ethanol. The question remains, Is the demonization of ethanol production a legitimate concern or a ploy of the oil companies to which all too many have become a party?On What it means to put 4.1 billion bushels of corn into our gas tanks posted 1 year, 2 months ago 46 Responses

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  NY State grants for community gardens

  A few weeks ago the governor of NY implemented a program of grants to community gardens.
  See:
  http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/AD/release.asp?ReleaseID=173 ...
  On Amid climate crisis and rising costs, big media discovers city-grown food posted 1 year, 2 months ago 2 Responses

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  A Healthy Halloween

  Besides agreeing with me about giving fresh fruit, Dr. Andrew Weil's web site posts some suggestions for a healthy Halloween.
  "Consider giving out small squares of dark chocolate with at least 70 percent cocoa, little boxes of organic raisins, organic granola bars, organic fruit wraps, or snack-size bags of air-popped popcorn."
  See here for more:
  http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/TIP02599

  Visit http://sus10nc.com More blogs at http://sciencefriday.com These comments represent the opinions of Carl Flatow.

  On Does this Halloween skepticism make me a curmudgeon? posted 2 years ago 7 Responses

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  Eating meat

  Although I admit that the Buffy quote made me chuckle a bit, I actually think that associating the consumption of turkey on Thanksgiving with ritual sacrifice distracts from the important topic of being seriously mindful of the impact of our actions on other living beings.

  The point of the blog was to encourage folks who now eat industrial food, including meat, to switch to meat from animals raised locally, the old-fashioned way -- humanely, on a diet that is historically natural for that animal. I would think that others who reject the eating of meat might consider that at least a step in the right direction.

  On the other hand, I would be interested to know if there are many folks moving from meatless diets toward diets with some meat from animals raised the old-fashioned way, as I am.

  Visit http://sus10nc.com More blogs at http://sciencefriday.com These comments represent the opinions of Carl Flatow.

  On Thanksgiving isn't just about the food; it is about relationships posted 2 years, 1 month ago 17 Responses