Comments renegade botanist has made

  • 55

    In regards to 55, been there done that.  It was a waste of my time.  If I want to save fuel, I drive 55.  If I want to get there I drive faster.  Most people who favor a 55 mph speed limit don't drive long distances.On Advocates push for return to 55-mph speed limit posted 1 year, 3 months ago 20 Responses

  • farm labor

    During the 1970s many high school students worked as farm laborers during the summer.  The Mexican moved in took over the jobs the high school students were working.  The farmers liked the Mexicans because they worked cheaper and were available to work during the fall after school started.

    Now days high school students are not interested in physical labor.  Their parents won't let them work for anything less than $10/hour.  They are not available to work because of all the sports camps, summer practises etc.On To create a truly sustainable food system, we'll have to confront the farm-labor crisis posted 1 year, 6 months ago 14 Responses

  • Farm Bill

    One of the things I would like to see passed in the current farm bill is the provision allowing for state inspected meat to be sold across state lines.  Passage would help restore local food processing infrastructure and allow family farmers to market their livestock as meat.  Of course the big packers are opposed.  But state requirements are the same or more stringent than the federal requirements.  On Why gutting subsidies shouldn't be the focus of Farm Bill reform efforts posted 2 years ago 17 Responses

  • more lunch

    I don't disagree Skagit.  When children are involved with preparing food they tend to eat it.  My comments are based on conversations I've had with the people who plan the menus at school.  I also agree that if you don't like what is served in the lunch room take your own lunch.On Time to reinvest in the school-lunch program posted 2 years, 2 months ago 9 Responses

  • school lunch

    I read lunch menus.  real food can be hard to come by.  But we must realize that most of these children have never been exposed to real food at home and won't eat it if it is presented to them at school.  Most children avoid novel foods unless they are loaded with junk (high frutose corn syrup etc.).On Time to reinvest in the school-lunch program posted 2 years, 2 months ago 9 Responses

  • trains

    If enough of us wanted it so we could make it happen.  I was very disappointed when Amtrac cut the Salt Lake to Los Angeles route.  To be profitible a passenger service needs to run on time.  More people would use train travel if they could predict when they would get there.  That was the biggest problem I encountered using Amtrac.  

    One of the big challenges is that Union Pacific thinks they are GOD.  Actually there is a shortage of infrastructure for moving freight by rail.  If it is time sensitve freight you ship by truck.  If it doen't matter as long as it gets there someday then you ship by rail.On Trains are the forgotten mode of transport, at least in the U.S. posted 2 years, 8 months ago 52 Responses