Daily Archives: 08/10/2009

(Community Matters) I can’t believe I’m receiving a notice in today’s mail that my AAS subscription rate is going up again. Seriously, just this morning when I picked up my Statesman from the sidewalk, I thought, good gosh, there’s hardly anything here – they should offer to lower the subscription cost.

Now . . . to receive a notice that the cost is going up – while the quantity of news continues to decline, substantially. I’ve forever been a fan of the Statesman, but I am feeling taken advantage of.

(Community Matters) I shouldn’t post because . . . . well, what’s funny is that some will believe it

here

(Community Matters)

I’m not usually susceptible, but how could I say no? here

(Community Matters)

What a delightful article and an issue I’ve given lots of thought to – article here

for the record, I will always ask hosts if I may blog about their event, and if I can take pictures. And, I never ever mind when someone proactively asks me not to blog about or otherwise mention something – a la Kirk Rudy who routinely prohibits most mentions, ie., there would be tons more if not.

(Community Matters) I can hardly stand it. The call to Marfa is strong and getting stronger. MM wrote on my wall

Ran into Jill at El Chilito… we wanted to be sitting on the rooftop patio of Rock Hudson suite, watching the moon come up, sipping wine with you, clearing our heads. Seems like we’re on the same page.

Margaret Keys @ Chinati Aug ’07

(Community Matters) what a treat – from Sunday’s AAS

(Community Matters) It is wonderful to receive compliments for a dinner made with love (not to mention lots of time and attention). It is beyond wonderful for someone to notice a nuance which quietly delights you as you’re preparing the meal for friends.

Dearest friend Bill Adams on the way into church yesterday mentioned how he’d thought about all those little potatoes I’d peeled. Funny, while I was doing it, I was thinking – ha, no one will notice but I love doing this for my friends.

Reminds me what I’ve learned from artists – either Stephen Mills or Miguel Rivera told me this. Artists appreciate compliments after a performance. They are especially delighted by a compliment citing something specific, especially when it’s something specifically programmed as special.

(Community Matters) I never did complete my pricing comparison launched two weeks ago. The Sustainable Food Center wrote to tell me they’d launch a study in the fall. And, their executive director, Ronda Rutledge sent me a link to this Seattle price comparison analysis. I responded that the author used strange, averaging methodology to arrive at the conclusion and failed to note that in 6 of 10 instances the same products at the local coop were less expensive.

Katie Pitre (owner of Tecolote Farms) and I have been in conversation about the pricing issues. I first met Katie when I subscribed to her weekly basket delivery 7 or 8 years ago. Now, we also attend the same church. Katie points out that local, organic farms have higher costs than large national growers – especially because of the Texas weather and paying a living wage rather than migrant farm wages.

Nevertheless, I will note that I paid $4.00 per pound for local green beans at the market yesterday and found organic green beans at Wheatsville for $1.99 per pound. Katie, David & their family are on vacation and didn’t have a booth at yesterday’s farmer’s market. Only one other vendor had tomatoes for sale and I didn’t like the offering. So, I purchased another local farmer’s product at Wheatsville for $1.99 per pound. Tecolote’s were also offered at $3.50ish per pound.

I want to clarify – I shop at the farmers’ markets to support local growers and don’t mind paying often significantly marked up prices (though I’d like transparency about this). If we (the SFC) are providing local farmers two profitable forums (downtown on Saturday & the triangle on Wed), we shouldn’t be subsidizing their markets. Perhaps they should be generating enough income so that the SFC can offer produce and/or programs to those who can’t otherwise afford the healthiest food. Just a thought . . . .

(Community Matters) Occurs to me that protests against President Obama’s pressure on both sides in Middle East negotiations have failed to acknowledge 1) that the PLO does recognize the right of Israel’s existence and 2) substantial progress is being made by the Palestinians in demands they police themselves – see Thomas Friedman’s column today about progress with Palestinian National Security Forces trained in Jordan and financed by the US. The progress is real and confirmed by Israeli generals’ dismantling of check points.

(Community Matters) Kirk & I stopped by Luke Hayes’ all day session for his team, bringing lunch (did yesterday too, with Bev Reeves). What an outstanding bunch, 12 or 14 field organizers spread across the state helping mobilize supporters of the President’s agenda.