The Dead End Diet - my other blog

Seeds of sustainability - traditional and new local maize varieties grown by 

the KwaNgwanase Farmers’ Association, and stored in their seed bank in 

northern KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.

Ecologically-sustainable food production takes many forms. It is by nature diverse - as diverse as the many different land forms, climates, crop varieties and cuisines that there are in the world.

Industrial food production is the opposite, restricted to a few species which can be made to grow anywhere with the application of large amounts of fossil fuel energy embedded in fertilisers, pesticides and machine fuels.

When I am not enjoying gardening and eating in eco-friendly ways I spend a lot of time studying the industrial food system, which has grown so big and powerful that it is now influencing the global climate as well as causing more localised ecological disasters. Its impact on local economies, social stability and human health are also nothing to celebrate. I am working on a book which critiques all elements of the industrial food system, to be called The Dead End Diet.

I have just started a blog of the same name, containing excerpts from my work in progress, and also articles I have written on industrial food and farming for magazines. Topics already on the blog include unsustainable dairy farming in New Zealand, unfair farm labour practices in California, and genetic engineering in Africa.

If this 'big bad picture' stuff interests you, please take a look - and share the link with anyone else who may be interested.

 

Alternatives to fossil fuel agriculture - members of the KwaNgwanase Farmers’ Association and the Biowatch NGO inspect an experiment in making raised vegetable beds using only local, sustainable materials.