To me, it seems absurd that a group of our neighbors should so greatly fear a small, organic farm in a suburban backyard. They would sooner seek its demise than walk through its open gates to see it firsthand.
Amidst the worst economic times in recent memory, people fear for their jobs, for their homes, for their marriages, for their very way of living. So we should not be surprised when a long-time neighbor tells us that she fears she may have to move back into her second home if she cannot sell it due to our organic efforts.
Afraid of declining property values and an invasion from poorer black neighborhoods to the east, our politically powerful neighbors fingered us for troublemakers and demanded the city do something. The officials in the city issued us with numerous violations, despite our compliance with city codes, because they fear for their jobs.
How many of us stay in jobs we dislike for fear of losing health or retirement benefits?
To be free is to live without fear. I have lived in America for 27 years. I have visited Cuba, China, Europe, and Peru, and I find this definition of freedom to be the truest. And yet, I believe that Americans are less free than ever before. And we are more fearful than ever before.
We are fearful not because of the economy, not because of the value of our homes, not because of our jobs. We are fearful because we have lost the ability to control our own destinies. We have lost the ability to do for ourselves. For if we have the ability to feed ourselves, to build our own homes, to sew our own clothes and to mend our own wounds, what have we left to fear?
Answer: Natural disasters, and the government. These are my greatest fears.
So, on a brighter note, eat urban grown food while you still can! Come see the BADSEED Bandits this Friday from 4:30 - 9 PM and get some “illegally” grown goodies that won’t just fill your belly, they might even become addictive.
This Week, we’ve been caught RED-HANDED with the following items:
*Heirloom Tomatoes!!!! They won’t be here much longer. Get them before they’re gone for the season!
*Early Fall Arugula from the Herb’n Gardener!
*Late Summer Saute Mix with lemon sorrel, lime basil blossoms, & delicious sweet potato greens!
*Gourmet Potatoes, including French Fingerling and Purple Peruvian.
*Multicolored Sweet Peppers - Green, Red, Purple Bells, chocolate peppers, and stuffing peppers!!
*Heirloom Summer Squash & Zucchini – Costata Romanesca, French Scallop, Patty Pan, and other fantastic varieties.
*Russian Kale & Rainbow Chard– Brooke and I have been stuffing our mouths with tomatoes and forgot all about glorious greens; don’t miss these!
*Red Velvet Okra!!! – Never a more tender okra. Many of our customers eat this stuff raw!
*Orgasmic Eggplant – Long Japanese Eggplant, as well as beautiful Italian varieties that melt in the pan.
*Yard-Long Chinese Red Noodle Beans – You’ll regret buying any less than a pound.
*Sweet Savoy Cabbage & Red Cabbage – Fresh, tender and delicious!
*Hot Peppers from the fiery pits of hell, including the little devils themselves, Chinese Five Spice
*Onions, garlic, and other flavor bursting must-haves!!!
Also, heavenly GOAT CHEESE from Goatsbeard Farm including Greek Feta that will blow your mind, not to mention free-range eggs, bread, and baked goods from Bread of Life Bakery and organic, fair-trade coffee from Puddin' Head.
So cast your fears aside, leave your inhibitions in the minivan, and come on down to the Crossroads for a Funky Friday Night of Food and Fun with all the BADSEED Farmers.
Thanks for listening! We’ll see you soon.
Farmer Dan
BADSEED Farm –
“Vegetables so good they’ll soon be outlawed in Kansas City, Missouri”
P.S. To learn more about our troubles check out the cover story in this week's INK Magazine. They really got our goat.....(haha)
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... businesses. Salvaggio said she and Heryer, who own the Badseed Farmers Market in the Crossroads Arts District, weren’t aware of the ...
Article - Sarah Benson - Aug 26 2009 - 1:04pm - 0 comments
