Wednesday's two (very micro-macro, practical, feed-ourselves-and-each-other) things
Item 1: Handy little resource for stress-bakers like me
King Arthur Flour has a few different blog posts about egg replacements. I like this one because they show a side-by-side comparison photo of the same cookie recipe having been made with four different alternatives:
Rossi Anastopoulo
Item 2: Food stuff
Did you know that in many school districts, folks have worked hard for years to build partnerships where they source produce from local farms to help feed public school kids? A certain someone just threw those programs in the trash – and broader school meal cuts are under consideration. (EdWeek)
Quick history lesson! From How the Black Panthers Brought School Breakfast to America (2022, Global Center for Climate Justice):
In 1969, the head of the US National Lunch Program admitted that the Black Panthers were feeding a greater number of low-income children than the State of California. By 1975, the School Breakfast Program was officially authorized by the US government and now feeds over 14.6 million children. Without the Panthers, seen as radicals by the public and as a threat by the FBI, this national program with universal benefits for low-income youth might not exist today.
Read that again. Seen as radicals by the public and a threat by the FBI.
In light of all that, here are just a few ideas related to feeding ourselves and one another.*
Support a farm.
➡️ Can you invest in a CSA through a farm near you, or split one with another household? Unclear how long the USDA directory will be reliable, but here's one from Local Harvest.
➡️ Or see if your city/town has posted its calendar for 2025 spring/summer farmer's markets, and put some dates on your calendar. Here's a seasonal produce guide in case it helps with any buying/meal planning decisions. (Again, that's a federal website, so you might search for a local indie one near you.)
Adopt a "free fridge" or a food pantry.
What exists in your area? Here's a directory for Philly, for example. If you haven't ever relied on one yourself or you're not sure, search online or start asking around.
➡️ Can you and some friends adopt one together and aim to fill it once a week or once a month?
➡️ If you recently invested in a Costco membership because of their DEI stance, can you start adding a couple of extra items to your cart and being in the habit of dropping them off right after?
➡️ If you know someone with a community garden plot, ask if you can help deliver anything extra that they grow this summer.
Hold a one-off potluck/plotting session.
Consider reading Feeding the Resistance by Julia Turshen (proceeds to the ACLU, or at least they did in 2020), or Cooking Up Trouble by Leela Cyd and Anne Parker (proceeds go to Planned Parenthood, ditto), or one of these 7 Cookbooks that Put Politics in the Kitchen.
➡️ Request that your library stock whatever book you choose, or check Better World Books or an indie for a used copy to pass around and share.
➡️ Get a date on the calendar for a potluck; see what grows.
🌱
*Real talk: This is one of those days where what I'm sharing feels so painfully obvious, earnest, drop-in-the-bucket, and potentially insensitive to my perceived "average reader's" circumstances. If you have anything to share about addressing hunger hyperlocally – more creative ideas, smarter existing practices, recipe substitutions – please click through to leave a comment!
