NNEMA

1/12/2007
Co-ops and chickencoops

Since the demise of the Washoe Zephyr Co-op years ago, it has been difficult to find those obscure foodstuffs we once accessed.
And while such wonderful stores as the Truckee Meadows Herbs have been the place to find some of those weird botanicals, we still do not have in our community a good co-op.
The good news is that there is one here, the bad news is that it is very small and struggling.
The Great Basin Community Food Cooperative can be found at 271 Wonder Street here in Reno. It is, conveniently, just across the street from Truckee Meadows Herbs, just up on Wonder Street off of Wells Ave. Their web address is www.greatbasin.coop, and this might be a worthwhile project for you to get involved in. Membership fees are $15 a year, and you can become a member, volunteer, or committee participant.
While they don't have a lot of space, and seem to be struggling right now, please be aware that you can help them grow.
Local Co-ops are advantageous in many ways. Besides providing access to locally grown foods, organics and other healthy consumables, co-ops do in fact lower our oil use. It was calculated that the average meal travels about 1500 miles to get onto your plate.
Also, co-ops do provide a sense of community. As you may know, in 1985, it was reported that the average American had 3 close intimate friends. Last year it was reported that that number is now down to two. Hmmm.
There is some controversy as to whether or not organic foods are more healthy than 'store' food. And, like such topics as Global Warming, there are two camps. The (usually) corporate voice is that there is absolutely no difference. The Green thought is that organics and natural foods are healthier for us all. It is possible that natural foods contain more essential trace elements than corporate foods. Certainly organics contain less preservatives and stabilizers -- elements of questionable value in some quarters -- and organics have a rigorous certification process.
Another great virtue of organics is 'what you see is what you get'. There are no hidden additives, genetically altered organisms, or other nasties in organic foods. And, while you pay a bit more for them, at least you can sleep soundly knowing that you ate the very best available.
Honesty in food labeling is lacking in America. We eat crap that has been irradiated, modified, additive-ised, and processed so severely, that surely lab rats would die being fed that diet.
Last year the US Congress considered passing the pure food act. This legislation negates sound food labeling, and requires the states to comply with federal standards for labeling the ingredients in our foods. Sadly, such good food standards as those reputedly enacted in California will no longer apply, and, the Federal standards are far inferior to real standards. Basically, we will no longer be allowed to know what is put into our foods.
(We don't now, anway...)
In a real world, human safety would supercede corporate profits, and shelf life.
However, since we are living on an experimental planet, anything goes, and thus the gold standard applies -- those with the gold make the standards. It is our choice as free humans to not buy dubious foodstuffs. And if enough of us refuse, then the corporate powers may suddenly find their bottom line is shrinking.
There is some conjecture that the health of our citizens may be linked to the purity of our foods. Tainted and polluted foods may not lead to healthy and strong bodies. Incomplete nutrition may lead to increased medical care and costs. It is possible that our food supply may be partially responsible for our outrageously expensive health care, health care which we as the only industrialized nation, do not have universal health coverage for.
Hmmmm.
So, there's some tidbits to ponder.
Change your diet, eat healthy, lower your health care costs.
In our highly advanced and tastefully hip society, we do not rely on locally produced foods.We demand overpackaged, sanitized comestibles, devoid of any freshness, and full of so many additives that our twinkies last for hundreds of years. Is this good food? Does it have the Chi that is able to sustain a helathy growing body?
Don't think so.
Case in point is our poultry industry. Chickens and eggs are mega-mass produced in prison-like factories, where steroids, antibiotics, and other unknown quantities are routinely fed to our fowl. They spend their whole lives in tiny dirty enclosures, with no exercise, fresh air or outdoors available to them. All so that Megabusiness can eke out that extra egg, or extra ounce of chicken breast.
Incidentally, a recent study showed that well over half of the chickens tested for consumption are contaminated with listeria.
But don't worry, listeria is killed with proper cooking, and now manufacturers are allowed to spray our foods with anti-listeria organisms, developed to give our foods a longer (and safer...?) shelflife.
And then, consider the esoteric possibility of Karma. Are we responsible for the suffering that we cause during our short lifespan here?
If you hurt someone do you owe a Karmic debt? If you unnecessarily hurt an animal, does that also apply?
When we buy an egg, or a chicken breast with questionable fatty tissue attached, and if these creatures were raised in suffering, do we have to repay that debt? Is that food less healthy than humanely raised foods?
Let's hope not.
Surely the rantings of this author may seem a bit over the top, but we must all fight against things which are not right in this world, and certainly unnecessary suffering of our foodstocks for the sake of profit rates pretty highly. Read "The Asphalt Jungle."
Where is PETA when we need them?

In the city of Reno, and many others, it is illegal for you to raise your own chickens and eggs. Fresh and healthy foods.
Why is that?
Of course, a rooster waking up the neighborhood at sunrise isn't going to make many points with the neighbors, but chickens can be raised without noisy roosters. Chickens will help keep the bugs out of your garden, provide wonderful fertilizer for your crops, and give you healthy foods, and even provide entertainment. A square yard of alfalfa can provide a pound of rabbit meat a year.

Perhaps this is something we can all work on. Why don't we hit up our city councils and county commissioners to allow the raising of chickens on our own properties?
This is something that we can do politically to improve our lives.
Just like the lack of personal political involvement to allow us to hang out our clothes on clotheslines in 'gated communities' and housing associations, the lack of outrage for sane solutions allows insanity to pervade our culture. Start a movement in your housing association. Get the neighbors to help change the by-laws to allow clotheslines. Tell the NIMBY's to go stuff it, clotheslines are certainly less obscene than clothes driers run from nasty coal power plants.

NNEMA is devoted to providing a public vehicle for those creative among us to express themselves. Do you know anything about raising poultry, animal husbandry, or forgotten technology?
Can and will you contribute your good inputs to this site so that we can all get a start on raising our own foods, healthy foods which will ensure our self reliance, sustainability and sanity? Our resources are not infinite, we live on a finite planet, and entropy is a harsh mistress.

Craig@nnema.org
or
renofreepress@charter.net