<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Toward a less efficient and more robust food system]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by Laurie from Ecoki.com http://www.grist.org/article/2009-toward-a-less-efficient-and-more-robust/ Fri, 03 Apr 2009 09:48:45 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-toward-a-less-efficient-and-more-robust/1 Great post! It would have been nice to hear it presented, too.

Some food for thought.

 

Laurie

http://ecoki.com

]]> Great post! It would have been nice to hear it presented, too.

Some food for thought.

 

Laurie

http://ecoki.com

]]> Comment #2 by splashy http://www.grist.org/article/2009-toward-a-less-efficient-and-more-robust/ Sat, 04 Apr 2009 11:47:14 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-toward-a-less-efficient-and-more-robust/2 Sounds very good.

Another thing about it - if for some reason the outside supply lines were cut then the areas that go this way will be able to sustain their people without too much trouble since they were already pretty much doing it. It could mean survival for everyone.

Not that I think that's likely, but you never know! Things happen sometimes. It doesn't hurt to have backup plans.



]]> Sounds very good.

Another thing about it - if for some reason the outside supply lines were cut then the areas that go this way will be able to sustain their people without too much trouble since they were already pretty much doing it. It could mean survival for everyone.

Not that I think that's likely, but you never know! Things happen sometimes. It doesn't hurt to have backup plans.



]]> Comment #3 by Green Granny http://www.grist.org/article/2009-toward-a-less-efficient-and-more-robust/ Sun, 05 Apr 2009 04:31:49 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-toward-a-less-efficient-and-more-robust/3 Thanks Tom.  Intriguing food for thought.  Manchester and Birmingham are another example of why "diversity" is a long-term survival strategy.  Mother Nature teaches well and she doesn't do monocrops no matter how "efficient" and "profitable."  My grandmother also taught well -- "don't put all of your eggs in one basket."  Diversification may not always yeild the highest possible returns, but when things go wrong you rarely loose it all. Now we see Madoff investors and Detroit wishing they'd been a bit more "fragmented and inefficient".

 

BTW, I ordered The Economy of Cities.  I look forward to reading it.

  

]]> Thanks Tom.  Intriguing food for thought.  Manchester and Birmingham are another example of why "diversity" is a long-term survival strategy.  Mother Nature teaches well and she doesn't do monocrops no matter how "efficient" and "profitable."  My grandmother also taught well -- "don't put all of your eggs in one basket."  Diversification may not always yeild the highest possible returns, but when things go wrong you rarely loose it all. Now we see Madoff investors and Detroit wishing they'd been a bit more "fragmented and inefficient".

 

BTW, I ordered The Economy of Cities.  I look forward to reading it.

  

]]> Comment #4 by Kurt Michael Friese http://www.grist.org/article/2009-toward-a-less-efficient-and-more-robust/ Sun, 05 Apr 2009 09:23:00 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-toward-a-less-efficient-and-more-robust/4 Right you are Tom.  This is why the very internet where this is posted is a good model for for a food system.  It was designed originally as a communication tool that could survive a nuclear attack because it had a weblike structure instead of a linear one.  If Chicago were taken out, the communications between New York and LA could still get thru via anouther route.

Localizing the food system would have a similar effect, adding food security and nutritional value in the process.  Sure some foods must be obtained from elsewhere (here in Iowa we have no source of salt, for example) but that which can be produced locally should be, for reasons of freshness, nutrition, flavor, security and economy, to name just a few.

]]> Right you are Tom.  This is why the very internet where this is posted is a good model for for a food system.  It was designed originally as a communication tool that could survive a nuclear attack because it had a weblike structure instead of a linear one.  If Chicago were taken out, the communications between New York and LA could still get thru via anouther route.

Localizing the food system would have a similar effect, adding food security and nutritional value in the process.  Sure some foods must be obtained from elsewhere (here in Iowa we have no source of salt, for example) but that which can be produced locally should be, for reasons of freshness, nutrition, flavor, security and economy, to name just a few.

]]> Comment #5 by one million gardens http://www.grist.org/article/2009-toward-a-less-efficient-and-more-robust/ Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:18:26 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-toward-a-less-efficient-and-more-robust/5 This is an awesome article. There is a great video from Vandana Shiva that speaks to this at

onemilliongardens


Come join the revolution in your own backyard and start to create an alternative food economy. http://www.onemilliongardens.com

see you in the garden!


]]> This is an awesome article. There is a great video from Vandana Shiva that speaks to this at

onemilliongardens


Come join the revolution in your own backyard and start to create an alternative food economy. http://www.onemilliongardens.com

see you in the garden!


]]> Comment #6 by Pangolin http://www.grist.org/article/2009-toward-a-less-efficient-and-more-robust/ Fri, 10 Apr 2009 04:37:39 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-toward-a-less-efficient-and-more-robust/6 I feel that eating alone and preparing meals alone is as much of a food security problem as food localization. When I am home alone a much higher percentage of the food I buy ends up as waste than when I am cooking for extended family.

From experiences cooking in restaurant kitchens and cohousing kitchens I can tell you that feeding fourty people is mysteriously only four times the work of feeding four people and not ten times. Food waste goes way down and salad and greens intake goes up also. Clean-up with modern restaurant dishwashing systems takes far less water per dish than a home sink and dishwasher and the comparable trip to the compost bin is managed easier also.

Finally, humans just were not evolved to eat alone and they get sick if they do. People need the company of other people wether in a family or in a local pub to feel integrated in a community. Getting the food is important but sharing it is just as important.





]]> I feel that eating alone and preparing meals alone is as much of a food security problem as food localization. When I am home alone a much higher percentage of the food I buy ends up as waste than when I am cooking for extended family.

From experiences cooking in restaurant kitchens and cohousing kitchens I can tell you that feeding fourty people is mysteriously only four times the work of feeding four people and not ten times. Food waste goes way down and salad and greens intake goes up also. Clean-up with modern restaurant dishwashing systems takes far less water per dish than a home sink and dishwasher and the comparable trip to the compost bin is managed easier also.

Finally, humans just were not evolved to eat alone and they get sick if they do. People need the company of other people wether in a family or in a local pub to feel integrated in a community. Getting the food is important but sharing it is just as important.





]]> Comment #7 by amazingdrx http://www.grist.org/article/2009-toward-a-less-efficient-and-more-robust/ Sun, 12 Apr 2009 09:44:25 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-toward-a-less-efficient-and-more-robust/7