Letter

Hey mom! So I am pretty excited about my project for third year writing.  You know how passionate I am about Local Food and eating as much as possible from farm to table, well I am doing a project centered around local food.  I could go on and on for days about everything involved in local food and I am kind of having a hard time editing down what I need to do because I know that I am not going to be able to accomplish everything I would like to by the time the project is due.  My main focus is on why are people choosing to eat local food and invest money in CSA's and go each weekend to the farmer's market.  What kind of community does that entail?  So far I have interviewed N about working last summer and installing raised garden beds into people's homes.  I would really like to interview L about why she is involved with a CSA and what it means to her.  I want to talk to the owner of a local restaurant here that I am particularly infatuated with because he tries to source as many local products as possible. You know I am kind of obsessed with Alice Waters and this whole concept that she kind of founded and brought to the fore-front of having your own farm and producing everything you need for the restaurant on the farm.  This has become more prevalent across the country and I am just in love with this whole idea.  My next steps are to go to the Franklin Farmer's Market on a Saturday and possibly interview people but generally just write about my experience there. I would also love to get to go to Farmer Dave's farm and talk him but I know that he is probably going to be really busy since spring is starting and he will be delivering produce to all the local restaurants.  Another part of local food that I am really interested in are those people who are growing their own food, even if it is in their backyard of a neighborhood house.  Why have people made this change from accessing all of their food from grocery stores to planting, growing and harvesting their own food?  I am particularly fascinated by programs such as Edible Schoolyards where they are trying to install gardens into schools and have the kids grow food and learn how to cook and sit down and eat together.  This is so important, especially now when most kids are eating fast food or out of a box and eating it while watching tv or playing video games.  There is no longer that community of preparing the meal and sitting down together at the table and we are loosing so much by no longer participating in this. I love watching Anthony Bourdain's tv show No Reservations, where he visits other countries and learns about the traditional food they eat and prepare together.  What happened in our country where we are no longer interested in doing this? It is so sad. Ok hope you are having a good day and I will talk to you later! Love you. - Alex