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In the Garden monthly
column
Since 2003, FBG executive director Jim Flint
has written a monthly column for the North
Avenue News,
Colchester Sun, Essex
Reporter, and Shelburne News.
Special thanks to Gardener's
Supply for generously sponsoring Jim's
garden column for the past four years. To view previous year columns,
click on the links in the sidebar.
February
25,
2010
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the percentage of
household income that Americans spent on food decreased steadily from
24.2% in 1930 to 9.5% in 2004. On the surface this may sound positive,
but there is a paradox. As household incomes rise, less attention is
often focused on meeting basic dietary needs.
Here’s a brief history:
During the Great Depression, the federal government began paying
farmers subsidies to grow field crops such as corn and soybeans. The
subsidies made it cost effective to fatten livestock on feedlots, and
to manufacture corn syrup, margarine, and soybean oil. Because fresh
fruits and vegetable crops were not subsidized, their inflation
adjusted prices increased over time relative to mass commodities.
 In the
post World War II era, chemical fertilizers and pesticides reduced the
amount of people needed to grow food. Farms grew larger in size, and
cheap oil made it possible to ship food long distances. Producers of
convenience foods seized on new consumer markets and expanded their
advertising.
Recently I began a project to read and transcribe the letters my dad
wrote home during his college years at Cornell University. The letters
share the struggles of daily life in the Depression, as he worked his
way through school, having started with just the $60 his father gave
him to cover room, board, and books.
On his first day at Cornell, Dad ate the fruit and cakes he brought
from home. Through a friend, he found a job washing dishes and waiting
tables at a fraternity house. In lieu of wages, he labored up to six
hours a day for the meals needed to sustain himself as a student. He
was grateful for the food and work, studied diligently, and earned his
degree. Life lessons learned during the 1930s were never forgotten.
It’s timely in March to reflect on our household budgets. Can we invest
a higher percentage of time and energy in securing local fruits and
vegetables, or in growing our own? Can we free up money for healthy
food by reducing our use of electricity, eating less meat, and
decreasing miles driven in our vehicles?
Somewhere between having too little and having too much, there is a
balance point where better health and happiness lies. Perhaps we can
find that sweet spot in the garden in 2010.
p.s. To read my dad’s letters, visit http://ghflintletters.blogspot.com/
February
4,
2010
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, February is an ideal time
to look for ways to keep our hearts healthy and strong. In this spirit,
I’ve jotted down my top ten tips to eat well and be fit on a budget:
#10 Eggs: Whether from a backyard chicken coop or a neighborhood
grocery store, eggs are a low cost source of high quality protein.
Choose a local supplier, such as Shadow Cross Farms or Maple Meadow
Farm, whose cartons are stamped with the Vermont seal of quality.
#9 Spinach: Fresh spinach is versatile and packed with Vitamin A,
iron, and fiber. For a quick salad toss the leaves with a simple
dressing of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and maple syrup.
#8 Tea: Steer clear of soda and energy drinks, whether diet or
the sugary variety. As an alternative, enjoy hot or iced tea with lemon
and a teaspoon of honey.
#7 Movement: A regular regiment of stretching and exercise
strengthens joints, bones, and muscles. A daily walk is one of the most
affordable ways to keep fit.
#6 Fresh air: Exhaust fumes contain a dangerous mix of noxious
gases which damage lungs and can lead to cancer and heart disease. Keep
a safe distance from cars, trucks, and buses, and avoid idling for more
time than is necessary to defrost or defog your windows.
 #5
Homemade soup: To make soup stock, boil a chicken carcass or ham
bone, cook down peeled garden tomatoes, or whip up a rue with milk,
butter, and flour. Simmer vegetables and herbs in the broth and enjoy
the rich flavors.
#4 Carrots: Loaded with beta carotene and fiber, carrots are
great for your eyes and digestive tract. Eating a few raw carrots after
a meal will also massage gums, neutralize mouth acids, and help clean
your teeth.
#3 Oatmeal: Old fashioned rolled oats take about five minutes to
cook. Use a ratio of one cup water, one cup milk, and one cup oats to
make two large servings. Sprinkle in a handful of raisins and drizzle
maple syrup on top for a delicious start to your day.
#2 Apples: If you’re traveling south on Route 22A, Sentinel Pine
Orchard sells utility apples fresh from cold storage for $6 a half
bushel. Their packing plant is located west of Shoreham at 832
Witherell Road. For information and hours, call 802-897-7932.
#1 Gardening: According to author Michael Pollan, a $70
investment in a vegetable garden can yield $600 worth of fresh organic
produce. That’s food for thought and better health!
January 7,
2010
Some sixteen million American
men and women served their country during World War II. The Department
of Veterans Affairs estimates that two million are still living, while
900 veterans pass away each day.
My
father, Gilbert Hall Flint, belonged to “The Greatest Generation.” He
died at Pleasant Valley Infirmary in Argyle, New York on December 16
and was buried in the nearby town of Salem, where he served as an
agricultural teacher for 17 years and as school principal for 12
years.
 Dad was born August 14, 1918 in
Smithfield, New York. He grew up on the farm that his great-great
grandfather Jabez moved to in 1782 after serving with General
Washington in the Revolutionary War. He attended the same one room
school house where four generations of Flints learned to read and write.
As a
teenager, my father rose at 3:20 a.m. each morning to milk 17 cows by
hand. Fieldwork and haying were done with horse drawn equipment. Milk
was kept cool in a spring house and delivered daily to town.
Dad
graduated from Amenia High School in 1936 and from Cornell University
in 1940. He taught high school agriculture for four years before being
drafted into the army. His basic training took place at Camp Blanding,
Florida, along with several of his students.
Preparing for the Battle of the
Bulge, my father was one of two infantrymen pulled aside at the last
moment to instruct the next wave of recruits. When the war ended, he
spent a year overseas helping the Japanese people rebuild and modernize
their agricultural system.
He
married Florence Winfield, a home economics teacher, on November 25,
1949. Together they raised a family of six children on a farmstead in
Hebron, New York, nurturing the unique abilities of each offspring.
During my
boyhood, Dad taught me to hoe a straight row. He imparted his pride in
a well maintained garden, his love for sharing knowledge, and his
gratitude in being able to serve others.
When I
asked Dad how he would like to be remembered, he emphasized his family,
teaching, and military service. On a sunny December day at Evergreen
Cemetery, an honor guard played taps as he was laid to rest. His
grandson Jabez stood by in army uniform, gave a final salute, and
presented the flag to my mother.
Well
done, Dad; your legacy carries on.
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