Sustainable Omelets at Local Grub
On a quick weekend trip to Boise, Amy and I arrived early Sat. morning and tossed our sleeping bags out in the backyard of our farmer friend, Marty Camberlango. Along with Casey O’Leary, he is co-founder of Local Grub, an urban farm that provides fresh vegetables and promotes sustainable living in the Boise community. Imagine waking up to the sounds of clucking chickens, Marty’s radical work ethic, and no blinds to block the sun’s welcomed intrusion. As your senses become attuned to the environment, a realization occurs—you are cradled in an omelet womb. The eggs still have not left the warm undersides of chickens. Squash plants greet you with bright yellow edible blossoms, and tomatoes are so red it would make a model’s lips quiver with envy.
For those of you who cannot envision the garden experience, think about Wal-Mart. It is the end of the month. You just got your paycheck. Being responsible, you paid the minimum on your credit cards, and with the money left over, you head to Wal-Mart. Recall the feeling of excitement when you walk through the sliding doors, with all the elements needed for consumer happiness at your fingertips. Now you understand the garden. At Local Grub, with the exception of cheese, all the elements for the perfect omelet are at your fingertips.
Besides vegetables fresh with morning dew, there is another side to the sustainable omelet—the war effort. Bush has pointed out that evil-doers are interested in destroying our food supply through bio terrorism. This type of warfare can come in many forms. The terrorists might increase the chemicals, hormones, and antibiotics that already poison our conventional food supply. Girls are already maturing at earlier ages. Imagine babies being born with beards and pubic hair—these ugly adult babies would certainly demoralize our country. Another form of bio terrorism might be to totally wipe out the food supply. If there is a mad rush on TV dinners, does the government have enough frozen TV dinners to feed the nation?
Should people do more to support the war on terror than buying recyclable magnetic ribbons to slap on hybrid SUVs? There is a way to secure our food supply from the terrorists who want to destroy happy chickens and nonviolent tomatoes. During World War II, Franklin D. Roosevelt promoted Victory Gardens, sustainable living on the home front to help the war effort.
According to Wikipedia…Victory gardens, also called war gardens or food gardens for defense, were vegetable, fruit and herb gardens planted at private residences in Canada, the United States and United Kingdom during World War I and World War II to reduce the pressure on the public food supply brought on by the war effort. In addition to indirectly aiding the war effort these gardens were also considered a civil “morale booster” — in that gardeners could feel empowered by their contribution of labor and rewarded by the produce grown.
Victory gardens were planted in backyards and on apartment-building rooftops, with the occasional vacant lot “commandeered for the war effort!” and put to use as a cornfield or a squash patch. During World War II, sections of lawn were publicly plowed for plots in Hyde Park, London to publicize the movement. In New York City, the lawns around vacant “Riverside” were devoted to victory gardens, as were portions of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.
Marty and Casey are true American heroes!!!!!!!
Local Grub market garden
Wednesdays 4-7pm
19th & Idaho
Boise, ID
localgrub@gmail.com
Earthworm Envy 