From the Pollyanna Professor
The patience of bulbs under the surface in the winter that reminds us to be optimistic. Back with some perspective as we enter a new year, this article comes from Hannah’s dad, a history professor, garden extraordinaire and 70s hippie kid. He writes about how easy it is to be pessimistic, but how optimism is not ignorance, but rather something we all need. He criticizes his own generation’s lack of tangible action on many issues, and looks to the next generation for true change.
Second-Hand Cookery
Most of the kitchenware I own is second-hand. Whether it was the fortune of stumbling upon a good deal, or the luxury of having it passed down from a member of my family, I haven’t had the need to buy most of my kitchen tools brand-new. This doesn’t make me a second-hand-goods martyr of any kind -- it’s just what’s always felt natural, convenient, and affordable to me -- but it’s also helped foster an appreciation for my rag-tag team of tools and appliances that facilitate my daily life in the kitchen.
An Ode to Microsymbionts
Contributing writer, Harry Tibbetts, shares with us an ode to Microsymbionts, the fermenting magic behind so many of our favorite foods.
Musings on Mushrooms
Beyond the science of how mushrooms grow and their fantastic nutrition benefits, mushrooms can be a lens through which to view the world. We love to talk about food and culture, and how much our food system has changed along with our societal norms over time. You’ll find ways to learn more about mushroom production as well as a personal essay from Hannah and her history-nerd father who has always had a deep fascination with mushrooms and the magic they hold.
“Are You Allowed to Eat That?”- Sustainable Eating as a Personalized Experience
Contributing writer, Colleen Alexander, shares with us a personal essay on the entirely personalized journey of sustainable eating. With so much emphasis on the environmental aspect of sustainable eating, it can be easy to forget that these new eating patterns must be sustainable for us as people too.
The Real Buzz About Coffee
Contributing writer, Caroline Motzer, writes about her personal relationship with coffee, the way it intertwines through out daily lives, and an experience that opened her eyes to the complex relationship between the farmers who produce the beans and us.
Edible Landscaping, Foodscaping, and Food for Thought
I Dream of Beans
Contributor, Joshua Sadinsky, shares a short memoir of his relationship and eventual love for coffee. From an introductory Starbucks frappucino to his own small-scale coffee roasting business, Josh show us the deep beauty he sees in these beans.
Thriving ‘in a Pickle’
Contributing author, Max Aronson, shares his pickle-filled up brining, an experience that opened the world of pickling up for him, and his own master-pickle guide.
Growing Sprouts? Yes!
The Moral Bean
Contributing author, Nic Pavao, shares his knowledge on how to be a sustainable consumer while sourcing your beans, making your coffee, and handling your waste, but not without sprinkling in little nuggets of history, social commentary, and plant science.
Making the Most of Your Food: Lessons on food waste from Karamoja, Uganda
Contributor Tara Hammonds shares lessons learned about our relationship with meat, food waste, and making the most of resources during her time living and working in Uganda.
The Missing Link in Healthcare
Contributor Jenna Bensko writes about the missing link between food and health and our treatment of chronic disease. She shares her intimate background with food and nutrition and what she sees as the future of the Food is Medicine movement.
How I Quit Paper Towels and You Can Too
Not using disposable single-use products in the kitchen can be hard and seem daunting. Check out our easy tips-and-tricks for how to make getting rid of paper towels easy!
Flexitarianism & Food Identity
What does flexitarian even mean? We take apart this loosely defined word, and also reflect on questions of food-as-identity. How did we find ourselves identifying so strongly with the food we put in our body? How can we continue to dialogue across differences?
On Carrot-Eggs: Food as a Connection with Cultural and Ethnic Identity
Contributor Josh Sadinsky reflects on growing up cooking with his mom in a mixed Taiwanese and Jewish household and the important place that food holds in his life as a connection to family and culture.