Bon Appetit and Sustainable Farming

"Imagine a place where foodies not only have a favorite chef, but also a favorite farmer; a place where the distance between the organic farm and the award-winning restaurant is mere miles; a place where a sustainable future is foreseeable. It's all a reality in Durham-Chapel Hill."
America's Foodiest Small Town by Andrew Knowlton; Bon Appetit Magazine October 2008 issue

Maybe few of you will get as excited as I did when you read this article, but I found it pretty amazing... Yesterday I was relaxing on the couch, casually flipping through a food magazine when I ran across this wonderful piece merging many of my interests: gourmet food, sustainable agriculture, community, and buying local. More than likely, my long-term career (OR volunteer path) will closely tie in with the concept of using food to bring people together and build communities. Right now, it just takes on the form of a distant love: a weekly visit to the farmer's market, excitement when driving by a community garden, or a long jaunt through Whole Foods. This article is really amazing and it just so happens to feature a community where I lived for 4 years. There is a very rich, very affordable food culture in Chapel Hill that I loved partaking in as a college student, and often miss. Living in the "big city," I often find the food is overpriced and overhyped; not the case in North Carolina (atleast not in Chapel Hill or some of my family's favorite dives in Wilmington). This piece captures some of the essence of what made that area a place that I loved dearly. Furthermore, it portrays a cool movement in our culture that I hope to see more of in the coming years. I'm so glad that this article is online so that I can share it with others who may have similar interests. So, have a read, and let me know your thoughts... :)