I grew up in the Hudson Valley surrounded by small dairies, apple orchards and other farms. Cows sometimes ran their fences and peeked through the woods into our yard. We had an organic garden. I remember the Fitchett Brothers’ Dairy truck delivering our milk. Never consciously thinking about the farms that dotted the region, I went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts in economics at Cornell University and a Master’s Degree in International Affairs at Columbia. After becoming a financial news journalist, and working in Washington, DC, New York and Bonn, Germany, I ended up back in DC to start a family.
Only then did I rediscover the true significance of food. I wanted to feed my daughter – and later my other two kids – the healthiest fare possible. But I also realized we teach our children a lot about our values and culture through the food we feed them. At the same time, it struck me that so many of those little farms where I grew up were abandoned. One is now becoming condos. Another turned into a retirement village. Most are simply decaying. I buy a lot of local food now, as much organic as I can manage. I am happy to be a neighborhood coordinator for a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm. I do this not only so we can eat healthy food, and my kids can know a farmer, but also so our community can be healthy. I think it’s important to support the small, independently-run local businesses that enrich all our lives. And I’m proud to pay for food grown by folks who are trying to keep our soil, air and water clean for future generations.
Since I became a freelancer, my articles about food, sustainable and organic farming, and environmental health have appeared in Edible Chesapeake, NewFarm.org (the online farming magazine of the Rodale Institute), The Kansan, Ohio-based Farming Magazine, MotherEarthNews.com, AcresUSA, the Mennonite Weekly Review, US Airways’ Attaché, and more.
From January 2007 to November 2009, I was contributing editor and then managing editor of Edible Chesapeake. From March 2004 to December 2006, I wrote a column offering practical advice on caring for the earth for PeaceSigns online e-zine. Prior to that, my articles on business and finance appeared on AP-Dow Jones and Dow Jones Newswires, and in The Wall Street Journal, The Wall Street Journal Europe, and The Guide to Export & Project Finance newsletter.
Additionally, I handle some public relations and marketing for Janzen Family Farms, a venture being undertaken by my in-laws near Newton, Kansas. JFF sells mainly 100% grass-fed beef and freshly milled certified organic whole wheat flour. For more information on that enterprise, please see www.janzenfamilyfarms.com.
To read some of the articles I have written, click on the links below:
Kristi's 100% Whole Rye Bread Using Rye from Pennsylvania
Spelt Pancakes with Small Valley Milling grain, and local bacon and melons
Edible Soybeans (Edamame) from Kristi's Garden
All content of the Real People Eat Local website and the Local Mix email newsletter is original and the property of Renee Brooks Catacalos and Kristi Bahrenburg Janzen. We welcome your comments at feedback@realpeopleeatlocal.com.
