Mark Bittman’s latest column tried to reclaim the word “foodie” for something more than high-end eaters. Here’s my response, only 1500 characters of which could actually fit into the NYTimes Comment box. Mark uses a great term right in the article: food activist. Perhaps “foodie” …

I put “Lab” in quotes because I just learned that the term Local Food Lab is Trademarked. I’ve used it for a year and a half so I’m perplexed about how to migrate to a new name when the old term is dispersed through the …

How can communities take hold of their food destiny? How can people-in-community even understand themselves as part of a food system (a permanent culture) they might care about – and reclaim? Given my background in personal finance, dialogue and now local food, I’m developing one …

I posted the Permaculture of Community essay on Facebook and drew some interesting comments. I’d like to explore – not contradict – them here. First: Isn’t it all social permaculture? Isn’t this Transition Towns emerging with a new name tag? Well, of course. That’s why …

Take dandelions. You can plant a perfect lawn but if your neighbors don’t eradicate their dandelions, you’ve got them again. Or take the common cold. You can take vitamins, eat great food, work out, but if your co-workers have the flu or if your kid’s …

My 2010 10-mile diet turned into a blog, then a book, Blessing the Hands that Feed Us, and now a passion not just for promoting “local” as a way to belong and to be well-fed, but “local food systems” as an important focus for communities …

While I have nothing but my gut to go on – yet – I wonder if the trend of state by state legalization first of medical marijuana and now pot sales in general will lead smaller-scale farmers to shift out of specialty crops (fruits and …