I awoke this morning to the sound of rain splattering the metal roof. Given how awfully dry last season was, it’s a great start to springtime.
Out at the farm, the garlic has sprouted from underneath its matting of mulch and the sorrel emerged lime green from the cold earth. Rhubarb stalks pushed up their coat of leaves, presenting pinkish red stalks to honor the return of spring.
Last month we pruned the apple and pear trees, and this week we’re transplanting raspberries and mulching currants. The fullness of farm work has begun.
I attended the Free the Seeds event at Flathead Valley Community College. Remarkably, some 1,600 people turned out to listen to farmers, gardeners, and other locals talk about things like seed, grafting and soil.
Organizers used a hand-clicker to count attendees swarming through the doors. Aside from the trading of seeds, magazines, and information, a favorite booth was presented by Nikki Reed, a teacher at Whitefish High School.
Reed presented conceptual drawings of the new greenhouse to be built on public school grounds. The idea sprouted from students and teachers, and over years adapted into a much bigger vision of education and sustainability.
Reed and colleague Eric Sawtelle have done a terrific job building enthusiasm with students and community members. It will be good to see the school farm project grow over the seasons.
The Free the Seeds event was full of gardeners and farmers. The cross section of youth to elderly was amazing. It’s hard to fathom that 1,600 people can come together for a three-hour farm and food event on a sunny Saturday morning.
I shouldn’t be surprised; thousands of people weekly swarm the multiple farmers’ markets in the Flathead Valley. People are hungry for fresh local foods and equally eager to get their own hands into their own garden soil.
Three years ago when young moms organized a March Against Monsanto event in Kalispell, some 500 people turned out to listen to talk about food and agrochemicals.
Compare the number of local people attending these kinds of events to my political campaign rallies eight years ago, when 400 hungry voters turned out to eat a 250-pound freshly roasted pig.
The food movement is on. Politicians who ignore the common bond of sustenance will be shocked when consumers fight for food rights.
Montana eaters and farmers have a friend in Sen. Jon Tester. He’s leading on national food policy like the Farm Bill, and routinely stands up for consumers’ right to know what’s in our food and where on this planet the beef we eat was raised.
I’m bewildered that politicians at all levels of governance can ignore the visible food movement throughout the nation. Food policy affects all levels of governance from local councilors to state legislators to congresspersons.
The Food Policy Action put forward a newer scorecard to hold Congress accountable for votes that keep food safe, healthy and affordable. In Montana, it’s no surprise Tester scored a 100 percent. Most voters would agree that over his time of service, Tester has been squarely on the side of eater, farmers, and home gardeners.
Sen. Steve Daines garnered a 40 percent, while Rep. Ryan Zinke got a 20 percent on the national scorecard from the food policy organization.
I’ve spent 25 years growing food, multiple seasons picking apples, and chaired numerous statewide legislative committees on agricultural. It’s time that the politics of food take center stage, nationally and locally.
When politicians knock doors this year harvesting votes, they should look to people’s yards to see gardens, fruit trees, raised beds, potted vegetables and flowers spouting up all over town. Local farmers and gardeners aren’t necessarily big political donors like big food, but adults cook kids’ meals and eaters surely vote.