(January 06, 2010 Journal entry written prior to setting up my website)
Today I launched my 499 ‘Directed Research Course’ at UH Hilo. I registered today, but in actuality my interest in this subject matter has been simmering for years.
The core subject of my research is one that I think we can all relate to….food! More precisely, I am on a quest to find out what the motivating factors are that influence people when they choose the food they buy for themselves and their families in open markets. What is their interest in where the food is grown, how it is grown, who grows it and what does it cost? I decided to focus my research areas to open market locations on Hawaii Island, where I live, and other areas that I will be traveling to within this semester: Spring 2010.
My work is in agriculture, and I am connected to the agricultural community here in Hawaii. There is a growing concern amongst our agricultural leaders today that there is a trend toward fewer people in the next generation, choosing farming and/or ranching as their careers. So if this trend prevails, in the future where will our food come from ? What kind of food will be available? Who will grow it? How much will it cost? I began to realize I needed to go out into the public and hear what people are thinking about the food they buy, what they value in their choices, and do their choices have any relationship to encouraging and supporting the next generation to become future farmers?
The web-blog style of my research project was conceived a few months ago when I saw the movie ‘Julia and Julie’. I was inspired by this movie depicting Julia Child’s passionate relationship with food, cooking and the people surrounding her. I found Julie’s character soulful as she creatively communicated her culinary experiences, relating to her personal revelations in the form of a blog, as she cooked her way through Julia Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” cook book.
Julie’s blogging drew my attention even more so, as I conjured up thoughts of incorporating this blog format into my independent study that I was just beginning to formulate then. Inspiration comes from interesting sources doesn’t it?
For me, to research in text and conversation and record the process as it is happening feels much more natural and meaningful. I am fortunate and thankful that my directing instructor, Dr. Catherine Becker is willing to monitor my directed study as my research and experiences emerges on my website created for my blog.
I registered the name: whosyourfarmer.info as my blog site and am excited as I embark on this journey to dialog with people at open markets about “ Who is your farmer? “
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Please write your comments in the reply section at the end of this post.
When one views the issue at hand, i have to agree with your finishes. You clearly show cognition about this theme and i have much to discover after reading your post.Many salutations and i will come back for any further updates.
Aloha Jan,
Too late right now to read it all but wanted you to know I found your blog site. Looking forward to reading your posts and hearing your thoughts on food issues.
Janus
I saw a “whosyourfarmer.com” bumper sticker on a car at Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo, and it hooked me into checking your site. Decisions about what my family eats are mine mostly, and I am concerned about quality and who my farmer is. I am concerned that farmers grow food with sustainable practices. Nutrients are higher in organic produce, that’s a proven scientific fact. Soil is depleted by industrial farming practices. And I loved that movie too! As I little girl I remember watching Mrs. Child’s cooking show. I had no idea she was such a passionate and fascinating maverick. Be inspired! Aloha.
Thanks Cheryl ! Cool… I love it that you noticed one of my bumper stickers whosyourfarmer.info and for taking the time to follow up by looking at the web site and for your comment. Time I am realizing more and more is a very valuable element in our lives and dictates/prioritizes where we focus our attention and for how long. Just thinking about where food comes from takes time. So thank you again for giving your valuable time to food source.
As I am a university student in the Communication Department, I am trying different outreach approaches to raise awareness of where the food we eat comes from. The bumper sticker approach was to catch people’s attention on the street. Even if they just thought about the concept for a moment, it might make a shift, however slight, to think a little more about the source of the food they purchase and eat. Ideally, it would also be helpful if they started to talk to their friends and family about their interest in where their food comes from. The social network relationship is so very important in influencing thought and action.
I agree with you that the very foundation of where a lot of food comes from, is from depleted soils stemming from current corporate farming practices ( see Food Inc.) I believe that sustainable farming practices offer the land, the plants and the people who eat the food produced, a harmonious relationship to the life giving force of nature that we are all connected to.
When you wrote that you are the one that mostly makes decisions about what your family eats, got me to thinking about the impact in decision making that many women in a family have regarding food choices for the family. What are the influences that play into their food buying decisions? Women are natural nurturers, and therefore influence others greatly in their nurturing. You just gave me another avenue to research….women in the family and their influence on family eating practices. Mahalo Cheryl, hope to hear more of your thoughts. Communication is inspirational to me. Aloha
I’m planning a whosyourfarmer.info Pahoa Christmas parade float that will highlight local farmers and their produce. We will hand out ‘nature’s candy’.
Hi Jan,
Check this out!
http://globaljusticeecology.org/stopgetrees.php?ID=448&tabs=2
All about genetically engineered plants releasing the insecticides they were modified with into our water systems.
Hey Mary Ann, I’m glad you sent me this link…..more and more we find out how interrelated the system of growing plants is with our ecology. I copied the following quote from one of the authors of the study reported on in the article within this link.
Dr. Rosi-Marshall comments, “Our research adds to the growing body of evidence that corn crop byproducts can be dispersed throughout a stream network, and that the compounds associated with genetically-modified crops, such as insecticidal proteins, can enter nearby water bodies.”
It seems so overwhelming to me, with all the research moving forward in the name of progress, producing pest resistant crops, that we could be again, compromising the one natural resource that is so essential to all life…clean water! Food consumers…please start to recognize that the food you buy, has a relationship to your natural resources, in how it is grown. Know that your purchasing dollar is supporting the source of where that food comes from (how it has affected the air, the soil, the water) before it comes to our plate to eat!
Why not contact Michelle Obama. She’s interested in the same things you are. How about her children’s garden?
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