(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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