Michael Pollan at UBC - June 6th!!!

So here is a bit of a plug for a writer I've found extremely insightful and provocative as I've explored issues related to food - Michael Pollan.

His books, notably The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food have born a very fruitful response (no pun intended) from a wide range of readers. (If you read one book as an introduction to food issues, read In Defense of Food.)

He has written widely - both publicly and politically - urging leaders to think critically about the state of the current food economy and the necessary changes to steer things in a more ecologically healthy direction. His "Open letter to the Farmer-in-Chief" was a beautiful call for the incoming president to engage issues of food security, safety, as well as general nutrition. (For those new to the discussion of food as an ethical issue, this 10 page letter is essential reading.)

The current issue of Mother Jones magazine also includes a fairly in-depth interview of Pollan. I especially commend this interview as a basic primer on many of the interesting issues of the emerging field of 'food ethics'.

If you are interested in Pollan, listen to him here and here. Videos are available here and here. The first of these is a 45 minute with Bill Moyers.

He is now coming to speak at the UBC Farm on June 6. More info is available at the farm website. I have become increasingly aware of the need for these sorts of locally supported small-scale farms as a witness to that which truly sustains us and have found Pollan an important ally in this move. I encourage those within and near Vancouver to consider signing up for the event!

Also, if you are living in Vancouver and haven't gotten to know our local Farmer's Markets, it is about time! Most of these open in May, but there is a winter's farmers market happening here on April 11 and 25.