Thoughts from the road by Diane

August 8, 2007

Seven days into the Eat Well Guided Tour of America, and I have to say, it’s already been an unbelievable, heartening and memorable experience. I thought I’d write a bit about our feelings and perceptions on the trip so far, but first want to apologize for not having posts up every day – we’ve had such an amazing reception everywhere we’ve gone that we’ve found we’re lingering behind at events to speak with all the people who come up to say hello, so we’ve had very little free time to put up posts.

But that will soon change! – we’re getting into a groove now so will be caught up on posts in the next couple of days and will be sending out reports almost as they happen.

One observation I’ve had is that every single person we’ve spoken with who are working on sustainable food – or even sustainability issues in general – are warm, generous good-hearted people who are doing it for more than just farming. This really is a way of life, where priorities are based around kindness, compassion and connecting with both the land and each other. Farmers markets aren’t just places to buy food – they’re community centers where people go to catch up on each others’ lives and spend some time together.

Please read on for a recap and highlights of our tour so far. And if you’d like more detail about our experiences, please visit our road trip site at www.sustainabletable.org/roadtrip .

Staying with the concept of farmers markets, I shop at several in New York City and chat briefly with the farmers there, but there are always so many people that I can’t say I’ve ever made a real connection with anyone. While planning our event in Chico, CA, we were introduced to two farmers, John and Kirsten, from Mt. Shasta, CA. They couldn’t come to our Chico event but mentioned that they started a small farmers market in the town of Mt. Shasta and invited us to stop by, seeing as we were literally going to be driving by on their market day.

At first we were hesitant – we were behind schedule and had to be in Ashland by a certain time for dinner, and we knew the market was small and were wondering what the point was in going. We ended up finding a map and did go, and had our question answered promptly.

As we were getting off the bus, we saw one of the happiest people on the planet (Kirsten) walking toward the bus – she was coming over to welcome us to town and to the market. (It’s pretty hard to miss the bus – I’ll try to post up a photo of it so you can see for yourself.)

The farmers market had 10 stalls, maybe less. A man was playing a harp at one end (that was a first for me…) and even though the market was closing in 15 minutes, all the stalls were packed. And as we walked toward Kirsten and John’s stall, we were approached by people right and left, asking us who we were and what we were doing. As we explained that we were traveling across the whole country to show people that sustainable food is here to stay, that this is now more than a movement, it’s a way of life for many people, they started thanking us. When we mentioned that we were on the road to promote sustainable, local food and to support small family farmers, more people thanked us. And I mean sincerely, from the bottom of their hearts thanked us.

That sense of gratitude and thanks has been everywhere we’ve gone. I sat on a goat farm last night in Oregon and the father of our host pulled me aside to thank me for spreading the word and getting out to show people what’s already here. In Chico at the Women’s Club, many people again thanked us for taking our message of sustainability out on the road and bringing all of you with us. In West Hollywood, I was hugged by quite a few who think that what we’re doing is so important not just to the food movement, but for everyone in this country. We all need to know that we can eat healthier, and that even though there might be problems with our food system, there are a lot of people out here under the radar who are doing amazing, dare I say revolutionary, things.

I remember the 80’s being a decade of greed and wanting only for oneself; the 90’s perhaps a decade of confusion and despair to some degree, but I’m here to tell you that the start of the 21st century is a decade of hope. I wish you all could be out here with me, literally sharing in this experience, but we can only hope that our short posts and random thought every now and then might be enough to give you a glimpse into what’s happening.

The second impression I have is that perhaps we won’t lose all our farmers. The average age of a farmer is now the late 50’s (someone on the bus was thinking it was more like in the 60’s), and there’s been huge concern that we’re soon not going to have any farmers left. But I’m here to tell you that things are changing. Kendra, who’s our host in Oregon and works on industrial agriculture and sustainable farm issues, recently purchased a farm and currently has goats and chickens, and she’s still in her 20’s. The dairy farm we visited in Chico is a pasture based, sustainable system, and it works with the University in the area to bring students out to learn how to raise dairy cows sustainably. Jered and Nancy Lawson of Pie Ranch in Pescadero are in their 30’s. Tobias and Abby from Full Circle Bison Ranch in Williams, OR, are young, and Michael (otherwise known at Mooki) can’t be far into his 30’s.

Mooki represents what I think is happening with some of the younger generation. He was disillusioned with university and dropped out because he felt he wasn’t learning anything or doing anything relevant (and he’s one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met). He bought a farm in Oregon and now raises goats and sells the cheese in the area. Anyone is welcome to visit his farm, where they lead educational programs and tours – he believes that people like him are necessary to help teach others how to live sustainably. And even though you might not want to become a farmer, visiting places like this makes you feel reconnected to your food, the land, and even life itself.

Jered Lawson and his wife Nancy are the same way. The grow all the ingredients for the pies that they sell in the Mission Pie Shop in San Francisco, including the wheat (though I do think they still get organic butter from other sources). But they open their farm to people who want to visit, bring younger people up – who also work in the pie shop – and help teach them about farming and give them work skills. They also have a farmers market in a barn on their property, where they also have events and community gatherings.

Perhaps this era will be one of reconnection and community. Maybe what we at Sustainable Table picked up on - our belief that local sustainable food is about community, that eating and sharing pie is simply a metaphor for that connection people are now seeking – perhaps people are feeling that everywhere. All I can say is that I’ve seen it everywhere I’ve gone so far.

So I invite you to join us on this journey as we discover a country full of life, vibrancy and connection. And I highly recommend that each of you get out into the country – even if only within your own area – to discover what’s happening at more than a grassroots level. Only seven days into this road trip and I already feel part of an extended family - and part of something much bigger than we all realize.

And thank you. Just by reading this, you’re part of this fast-growing, sustainable community. And I am confident things will change and only change for the better.

Til next time….

Want to read more about our events today?

Rogue Creamery
The Ditty Bops
SeQuential BioFuels

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