Traditional Food

Watch the Exclusive Worldwide Premiere of Origins

/ Ren

Find out who’s hijacking your health…
and how to reclaim it!

Origins (movie)

About the Filmmakers

Pedram Shojai, OMD, is the founder of Well.Org, the editor of BeMore! Magazine, the author of Rise and Shine, and the producer and director of the documentary films “Vitality” and “Origins.” It was when he ran a large medical practice treating patients with the same lifestyle-induced ailments again and again, that Dr. Shojai began his mission — to help people understand the intrinsic connection between their lifestyle, their health and the vitality of our planet. He works to preserve our natural world and wake us all up to our fullest potential.

Mark van Wijk is a filmmaker based in Cape Town, South Africa. He studied Photography at Port Elizabeth Technikon, specialising in travel. After 4 years of travel he then made a natural progression onto film and television.

“The great outdoors gives me energy – the earth and nature inspires me in my work and in my life! Respect for all is my only rule! People need to understand that they are actually a part of nature and my dream is for my work to bridge the divide that civilization and technology have created”

The message in the film – Origins – kept me inspired throughout the entire project. I am so happy and privileged to have been able to make this film with Pedram and I believe it carries a message that all of us need to understand and live towards!

Help Save Austin’s Sprindale Farm

/ Ren

via Edible Austin

Dear Friends,

I’m here with an update on Springdale Farm. We have spent almost two years working with the City of Austin staff, Planning Commission, and City Council to:

1) re-define the Urban Farm Ordinance, and
2) make sure we are compliant with all new codes and ordinances.

Unfortunately, we also continue to face opposition and your help could mean the difference between Springdale Farm continuing or being closed down.

Our goal here is simple. We want to be able to keep farming on our land.

Diversifying our income base is what all farmers have to do. Urban Farms don’t receive government subsidies, nor have we asked for any. We just want the city to grant us the proper permits to continue to host occasional events on the farm. Some places call it agri-tourism. We call it making a living, and as a commercially zoned property, we are simply asking for permission to do what other commercially zoned properties are allowed to do.

And here’s what we need from you.

Please email our city council or our zoning case manager and let them know that you support Springdale Farm. Let these public officials know that hosting weddings and supper clubs are a part of the culture of Austin that makes our city great. If you’ve had the opportunity to eat at Eden East at Springdale Farm, please let city council members and the case manager know that you appreciate Eden East as well.

Your action of expressing gratitude for Springdale Farm and the activities that happen here could make the difference in whether Springdale Farm stays in existence or not.

Please also check out www.springdalefarmaid.org to join us on the farm on September 28 for a lovely Sip and Stroll with 17 of Austin’s top local chefs, local libations, farm games, and silent auction.

Thank you, and let’s keep growing together,

Glenn and Paula

Tamatem Ma’Amrine

/ Ren

Tamatem Ma’Amrine is a Moroccan dish of roasted tomatoes stuffed with albacore, capers, olives and preserved lemon..

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Tamatem Ma’Amrine (click to enlarge)

Adapted from a recipe by Claudia Roden

Carve a lid out of the tomatoes and scoop out the insides as you would a jack-o’-lantern.  Don’t let the walls get too thin, or the tomatoes will split while roasting. Turn the tomatoes upside down and let the water drain.

Meanwhile, flake apart US Pacific troll or line-caught albacore and toss gently in extra virgin olive oil with bits of roasted red pepper, coarsely chopped capers and black olives, thinly slivered preserved lemon and chopped flat-leaf parsley.

Season tuna mixture with cracked coriander, fennel and white sesame seeds and stuff into the tomatoes.

Drizzle with a little more olive oil and season with sea salt and cracked pepper.  Roast in a 375 degree oven until slightly blackened, perhaps 30 minutes.

Serve warm or refrigerate and serve cold; a crisp salad goes well in either case.

This post is part of Food Renegade’s Fight Back Fridays

© Monterey Bay Aquarium

© Monterey Bay Aquarium

Seafood Watch: Tuna, Albacore

Vandana Shiva on the Problem with Genetically-Modified Seeds

/ Ren

 
Bill Moyers talks to scientist and philosopher Vandana Shiva, who’s become a rock star in the global battle over genetically modified seeds. These seeds — considered “intellectual property” by the big companies who own the patents — are globally marketed to monopolize food production and profits. Opponents challenge the safety of genetically modified seeds, claiming they also harm the environment, are more costly, and leave local farmers deep in debt as well as dependent on suppliers. Shiva, who founded a movement in India to promote native seeds, links genetic tinkering to problems in our ecology, economy, and humanity, and sees this as the latest battleground in the war on Planet Earth.

Farm-City, State

/ Ren

Farm-City, StateFarm-City, State asks the question, ‘What if an entire city could feed itself?’

Come join us as we explore Austin’s local food scene and see how it will grow into the future. How do you feed an entire city? These people have an answer and the feature film will explore scalability, distribution, consumer education and the future of food in Austin, Texas.

Learn about the characters in the local food scene that have changed the face of food in Austin over the past 6 years. Watch the journey of one local urban farmer that starts in a backyard and grows to a larger piece of land in East Austin. Enjoy the adventures of a family of 5 that sources local food for 30 days – and how they like or dislike it?

This dynamic adventure will help you understand where Austin fits into the local food scene that is sweeping the nation.

farmcitystate.com