Foods to get COOL Labeling

COuntry of Origin Labeling:

http://http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/09/29/food.origin.labels.ap/index.html

Until now, shoppers have had little clue where many everyday
foods --
meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, certain nuts -- originate.
That's what the
so-called COOL law, for country-of-origin labeling,
changes.
Those who want
to buy local -- or who prefer, say, Chilean
grapes and New Zealand lamb -- can
more easily exercise their purchasing
power. Those worried about lax safety
regulations in certain countries can
avoid those imports. And the next time
tomatoes are suspected of food
poisoning, consumers may be able to tell investigators they bought only ones
grown in a certain region, speeding the probe.

Great news, yeah? Sort of. There are a lot of exemptions, so please still ask. Supermarkets will do this, but the butcher and the fishmonger will not. Foods mixed together are not factored in; still it's a big step towards helping people eat more locally and to avoid contaminated foods.

Organic Gardening Co-Op

A couple of weekends ago, I signed up for a plot at our local organic gardening co-op. The principle is simple; you pay a deposit, work the land, learn the principles of organic gardening then reap your harvest! Any unneeded food is donate to the local food bank.

Organic Co-Op on 35th Year

The Co-Op's Website.

Anyway, I got 1/2 a plot, and it's fairly large. Certainly large enough to grow the veggies for 2-3 people, which is the size of my family.

We weeded it, and tilled it. Per the Farmer's Almanac, this weekend is best for planting root veggies like potatoes and carrots, so I'll be doing that early on Saturday morning, now that we're prepped.

I'm hoping to spend a semester or two learning about the principles of organic gardening, then applying those to my own plot at home. Having had some success with growing veggies in pots, like squash, peppers, tomatoes and okra this Summer, I am really really stoked about enjoying food I've prepared and cooked that came from the work of my hand, and the sweat of my brow.

I'm thinking carrots, winter squash, potatoes, and I'm still looking for other ideas. Possibly collards, cabbage or kale? Feel free to give me ideas. I've got to get it sorted before Saturday morn! lol Maybe a pumpkin?