Presenters were really stepping back from the microphone to take a look at the big picture this morning, as stakeholders in the culinary tourism and local food system movement charted the progress thus far and challenges ahead for the gastronomic phenomena that has seen the word LOCAL slapped up against just about everything in the consumer world.

I have been talking a lot this week with our new WWOOFer; My Old University Buddy ‘BC’ about this very subject. For the record BC is a man who had this down to a tee over the course of his professional life, living a very ‘routine’ existence in the very fast paced world of convertible bond trading in London, England. Smooth talking, well put-together and very likable, this guy had it made and was for the most part cruising along to a life filled with material luxury. So how did he end up here?

Have you ever been to a meeting of your local council lately?

If not, it's an eye opener let me tell you...but also a 'feel gooder' seeing democracy play out in front of you, as contorted as it might be.

Proposals coming forth to the Town of the Blue Mountains last night ranged from a townhouse development downtown to an eco-agricultural residential community on the periphery of Thornbury to a new dog kennel operation being proposed by our neighbours! Good thing we’re dog lovers…

Why Cheap Food is Costing Society

Have you, the organically enlightened, ever casually entered a conversation with someone on the subject of organics and been faced with the inevitable question, “Why should I pay double the price for food?” As you can imagine I get asked this a lot and it's a fair question. Some of my favourite answers include, “Because it’s not poisonous”, “You get what you pay for” or my personal favourite, “You call that stuff food?” That said, you might also want to point out the following details:

Anyone Else hear back from Helena Guergis, MP?!

Unfortunately we did, and the disturbing news was nothing short of cannon fodder around the lunch table today at Chescott Farm. Here are some of our favourite excerpts from the notice outlining why Bill C-517 was voted down:

Helena Guergis, MP: “Although my colleagues and I recognized that labeling genetically modified foods to support consumer choice is an important issue for consumers, we were hesitant to support some of the provisions outlined in the bill.”

I am one who does not feel we should be celebrating the 2008 Olympics in China because I do not like the way that the Chinese Government does business. This is an authoritarian regime that represses minorities, freedom of speech and individual expression in order to fulfill a warped manifesto that prioritizes material gain over life, liberty and environmental security.

The intersection of food, politics, agriculture, health and economy is a breading ground for controversy and worthy of a lifetime of newsletters. But to what end do I scribe? Debate for debates sake, much like talking about the weather to make conversation, seems pointless unless we’re asking the right questions, setting the right goals and have the willingness to bring about necessary change for the betterment of all.