La Vie en Rose
We lucked into this high-rise apartment when we moved to Chicago, and ever since we have been privileged to see some of the most amazing sights right outside our window. This was last night’s post-sunset. Breathtaking.
It’s Election Day. Most of you probably know that I spent 30 years in Washington, D.C. as a political journalist before we moved to Chicago 11 years ago, and I set about trying to do some good for the world in a more hands-on way. My specialty was elections analysis and I was politics editor for Congressional Quarterly from 1998 to 2009. For seven election cycles, my team and I were up all night, sometimes past dawn, crunching numbers and giving our first take on whatever history had been made that day.
I put politics behind me to become a Good Food advocate — I like to say that dealing with politicians for 30 years was enough of a sentence. And I try to keep politics out of Local Food Forum because I believe building a better food system is a good thing that should be beyond party and politics (while realizing there are some in one political party who try to politicize every damn thing).
I do sense, though, that I am pretty like-minded with the subscribers and readers of this newsletter. Being committed to a localized food culture that is healthier, more sustainable, more fair and just, more humane and more resilient in times of crisis kind of suggests that our broader worldviews are aligned.
So I’ll just be one more person imploring you to go vote if you haven’t already. Please.
Reminder: Local Food Forum Now Has a Chat
Yesterday I sent out a note to subscribers announcing Local Food Forum’s new subscriber chat function. I’m repeating it here ICYMI and because the newsletter usually gets more than a handful of current non-subscribers through social media or shares.
This is a conversation space in the Substack app that I set up exclusively for my subscribers — kind of like a group chat or live hangout. I’ll post short prompts, thoughts, and updates that come my way, and you can jump into the discussion.
Many of us long for a social media platform where we can have friendly, civil conversations about the food systems issues that matter to us. I hope many of you will use the opportunity to share your thoughts and get to know each other better.
To join our chat, you’ll need to download the Substack app (messages are sent via the app, not email). Turn on push notifications so you don’t miss a chance to join conversation as it happens.
And don’t hesitate to suggest topics that I can share on the chat.
How to get started
Download the app by clicking this link or the button below. Chat is only on iOS for now, but chat is coming to the Android app soon.
Open the app and tap the Chat icon. It looks like two bubbles in the bottom bar, and you’ll see a row for my chat inside.
That’s it! Jump into my thread to say hi, and if you have any issues, check out Substack’s FAQ.
I’ve already started my first chat thread so come on over and say hello!
And feel free to share this note with others you think might be interested, and urge them to subscribe (free or paid) in order to participate.
Saturday: Talking Land Access in Woodstock
If you want to learn more about the crucial need to increase land access for young farmers, and also spent a lovely day in rural northern Illinois, then you should attend the Common Ground gathering Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. in Woodstock.
The event takes place at Soulful Prairies Farm and is only $10 per person.
Register now for the 4th annual Common Ground Gathering - a uniquely fun opportunity to network around land access, learn, and celebrate the season together at the beautiful Soulful Prairies farm. The price includes local snacks and beer.
Click the button below to register, and read on for more details shared by McHenry County College’s Center for Agrarian Learning.
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The focus of this year’s event is creative solutions to land access.
This event will be a roll in the hayloft of a renovated barn, where land access stories will be told. Additionally, support network resources and representatives will be in house, and local beer and snacks will be imbibed.
You, whether farmer or landowner, will have the chance to meet new people, learn from farmers and landowners who have navigated these waters, share your personal land journey or experience, join in on community out-of-the-box thinking, envision new connections for land access, and fortify the fabric of the good food movement.
We hope you will join us!