Week 15 Newsletter

Letter from Two Members

Author Michael Pollan summarizes his most recent book ‘In Defense of Food’ in seven words: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”

Here’s our attempt to describe Roxbury Farm in seven words: “Roxbury grows food, promotes wellness, teaches connections.”

Let’s take a look at the three key words: food, wellness and connections.
Food. When Pollan and we refer to food, we are talking about real food that comes from fertile farms, not so-called food from industrial agriculture or from processing plants.

Wellness. Everyone has an individual approach to wellness, but paying attention to the source and quality of one’s food can pay important dividends to one’s wellness.

Connections. Our food is connected to many other facets of human activity and the natural world, namely, energy, water, chemicals, location, labor, farming methods, and weather. You can read about these connections to food, but you can appreciate them and understand them better as Jean-Paul and Jody teach us weekly about them in terms of the bounty or scarcity of the harvest at Roxbury.

As you have been reading in the Farm Letters this season, you know that the connections between food and energy; between food and labor; and between food and weather are threatening the solvency of Roxbury. We are members of Roxbury for seventeen seasons, and we have followed closely the feasibility of the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) concept of growing food. We are convinced that CSA at Roxbury is not only practical but also so appreciated by members that they will respond to support Roxbury’s survival.

Therefore, we hope that each member will join us in sending a $25 surcharge to Roxbury to cover the deficits caused by unforeseen increases in energy and labor costs.

As we were preparing this letter to you, we recalled an anecdote from Michael Pollan’s book ‘Omnivore’s Dilemma.’ The driver of a BMW stopped at the farm stand of an organic farmer who also raises free-range chickens and wholesome eggs. The driver asked impertinently why the eggs cost more than those in his supermarket. The farmer pointed to driver’s expensive car and said to him, “You clearly appreciate quality in automobiles and are willing to pay for it. Well, eggs are no different; you can have my high quality eggs, but only if you are willing to pay for them.”
As consumers we have been conditioned by advertising to pay for quality products that confer status on us, but when it comes to food we have been conditioned to look for the lowest price. As long-time members of Roxbury, we have noticed that we have the best of both worlds. We have quality and nutritious produce, and often we pay no more than we would in a supermarket. We want this beneficial enterprise to continue.

Thus, we are more than willing to send a voluntary surcharge to Jean-Paul, Jody and all the workers at Roxbury in appreciation for their efforts in these difficult times. Please unite with us in compensating Roxbury for their unforeseen costs growing the nourishing food we so appreciate.

~Dick Shirey and Frank Scheib
Founding members of Roxbury CSA in the Capital District