Isn't Organic Farming the Same as Sustainable Farming?

Not exactly. I always knew in the back of my mind they weren't the same, but if you wanted me to actually explain to you why they're not the same, I'm not sure I could've. Honestly, I'm still not sure I can, but I'm gonna give it a shot anyways.

Organic farming is a method of sustainable farming, but sustainable farming isn't necessarily required to be organic. As many people know, organic farming does not allow the use of pesticides and chemical agents. It also believes in retaining the ecological health of the land as well as creating as little pollution as possible often using such methods as crop rotation and manure for fertilization. In the US, you must be legally certified to be able to declare your product as organic. However, if you are a farmer that produces less than $5,000 worth of organic products you are not required to certified, but you cannot claim to be certified organic, or us the USDA certified label, or any other such claim.

Sustainable farming seems a much more all encompassing way of life. Sustainable farms are also concerned with the environment but also with how the farms may socially impact the local communities and economically sustaining themselves. Similar to organic farming, sustainable farms will also use such methods as crop rotation and composting, however, if needed they can also use minimal amounts of pesticides. For those raising animals, sustainable farms can adminster anti-biotics to animals if they so choose, whereas organic farmers can not.

In terms of economics, sustainable farmers make an effort to purchase materials and equipment from the small local businesses as well as employing those in the community. Sustainable farms also tend to only sell their product locally, thereby reducing the pollution created by transportation and providing people with a fresher product. Organic produce can be shipped from anywhere.

So, although they are not quite the same thing there are still numerous reasons to support both locally sustainable farms and organic producers. In the end, I personally still believe that the benefits of both of these farming methods, out-weigh the economic benefit in purchasing industrial farmed products. If you're interested in finding out more:

http://www.sustainabletable.org/

http://www.attra.ncat.org/

I found both of these websites to be quite helpful and full of information. Of course, as always, I encourage you to do your own research and come up with your own conclusions...

Coconut Oil: New Miracle Oil or Just Another Fat?

Honestly, I couldn't tell you. I was recently introduced to the idea of coconut oil being a 'healthy fat' by my sister-in-law. Now, I can believe the benefits of using it as a skin moisturizer, and even the benefits of it as a hair moisturizer. But the thing she seemed really excited about is that it supposedly promotes weight loss. Hmmm...coconut oil? Very skeptical, so I did some research.

There is actually a lot of information touting the benefits of consuming coconut oil, and one of them, is in fact weight loss. How is coconut oil supposed to help weight loss? Well, research says that the oil is made up of a lot of medium chain fatty acids, which instead of circulating in our bloodstreams (like most fats), they go directly to the liver and are then converted straight into energy. Essentially, the function like a carbohydrate (so they say), but don't carbs turn into fat if not used as energy, hence all the low-carb diets...? Supposedly, these fatty acid chains also speed up the bodies metabolism (this miracle was not explained.)

Other sites also claim that coconut oil can help with hypothyroidism, diabetes II and possibly HIV. There was also 'population studies' done on groups which naturally consume consistent amounts of coconut foods. Studies showed that the health of these populations generally were better than those compared to Western countries. Wow, all this because they consume coconut foods? It couldn't possibly be because they live in a totally different climate and have very different lifestyles and diets than ours? Riiiiight.

I have to admit though that I am a bit biased. When I started researching this, I already had strong belief against the possible benefits of coconut oil. There's very little chance that anything I read is really going to get me to jump on the coconut oil train. Plus, most of the sites promoting the benefits of coconut oil are websites trying to sell the oil. However, I am now a bit curious. For now, I think I will wait to see how the switch to coconut oil affects my sister-in-law before I start to use it. But regardless, even if the benefits of this oil are real, this doesn't mean you can just start consuming it for the sake of consuming it, it's still all about moderation...that's one thing the coconut oil websites and I do agree on.

This ain't no playground

Kids can be great. Adorable, fun to play with, and so innocent. I love children, but I can't stand parents who don't teach them to behave properly. Kids are always pushing boundaries and it's up to parents to show them where the boundaries lie: to say 'please' and 'thank you,' how to play nice, and how to behave in public. Now, this last one I've seen first hand, is often not so well enforced.

It was so frustrating when we'd have a table with children and for some reason, the moment they sit, the parents totally ignore what their children are doing. It's bad enough when the kids are just running around the vicinity of the tables...are parents totally unaware of the restaurant staff rushing around with hot food and piles of dirty dishes? Do they really think it's okay for their children to ride their razors, use their rollerblades or those shoes with wheels in a restaurant? Okay, so often those were done on our patio, but still, it's a restaurant, same tables, chairs, people moving all about with piles of plates. But the shoes with wheels? Still not okay inside, especially when the kids take a running start and wheel through the bar...

But the worst I think I've seen is when I was expediting (coordinating food coming out of the kitchen to go to the right tables) out of an open kitchen, and all of a sudden, I see food flying from behind me into the prep area. I turn around and what am I confronted with? Two kids sitting at the booth behind me, one throwing food over the glass partition to where I'm at; the other, using crayons (which we provided), to color on the glass. Okay, so, kids will be kids, what were the parents doing about it? Nothing. They were just conversing with each other as if it was just the two of them, no kids with them, and certainly no kids misbehaving. As I stood there, trying to mime at the kids to get them to stop, hoping they'll listen to me and hoping that the parents will maybe catch on (neither children nor parents opted to change their actions) I finally had to walk over to their table and ask the parents to have their children sit down and behave.

So please, if you are a parent, or thinking of becoming a parent, congratulations. But remember to teach your children manners and how to properly behave: inside/outside voices, how to share, and when and where it is appropriate to play. Remember, restaurants are not playgrounds and servers are not babysitters.

Not trying to be another wannabe foodie...

Nosh: to have a light meal or snack.

That's sorta what this blog is about, little bites of information I find interesting about food or wine. Will I have restaurant reviews? maybe, but i'll try to limit those (there's a reason I joined yelp.com). And yes, sometimes I will talk (ok....rant) about, my experiences as a restaurant manager and what really annoyed me.

Why did I decide to do this? Why not? I don't like to call myself a foodie, but I do really enjoy eating, cooking and reading all about food, as well as all things drink related. And as my friends know, I also like to talk about it, so they suggested I start a blog, so here we are.

There will be times where I write about things that I've just read in magazines or on the internet and condensed into my own brief interpretation (basically cliff notes on food), other times, I really will try to research and do my own taste tests (so friends...be ready, I'm counting on you!), and other times, they'll just be my own opinions. Do you have to agree? Of course not, but just so you know, I'm usually right, or at least I seldom admit I'm wrong. Either way, would love to hear from you, and if you have a topic you'd like me to research, let me know and I'll do my best to give you an answer.

So, grab your glass of wine, or whatever you're drinking (hopefully something with a little alcohol, reading this may not totally be pain-free), and I hope you enjoy!