The Slow Food Russian River Book Group will be discussing a book about failing food regulations, Biting the Hands that Feed Us: How Fewer, Smarter Laws Would Make Our Food System More Sustainable (Island Press, 2016) by Baylen J. Linnekin, with a foreword by Emily Broad Leib.
To RSVP email the Book Group at sfrrbookgroup@gmail.com. The Book Group is open to anyone who can read, loves cooking a dish, and likes a good conversation.
The Book Group meets the first Thursday of the month, 7 – 9pm in Sebastopol. It’s a convivial dinner. Please bring a dish for four and a beverage.
To be a member of the Book Group you don’t need to be a member of Slow Food, although – of course – we hope that with time you will become one.
Food waste, hunger, inhumane livestock conditions, disappearing fish stocks—these are exactly the kind of issues we expect food regulations to combat. Yet, today in the United States, laws exist at all levels of government that actually make these problems worse. Baylen Linnekin argues that, too often, government rules handcuff America’s most sustainable farmers, producers, sellers, and consumers, while rewarding those whose practices are anything but sustainable.
Biting the Hands that Feed Us introduces readers to the perverse consequences of many food rules. Some of these rules constrain the sale of “ugly” fruits and vegetables, relegating bushels of tasty but misshapen carrots and strawberries to food waste. Other rules have threatened to treat manure—the lifeblood of organic fertilization—as a toxin. Still other rules prevent sharing food with the homeless and others in need. There are even rules that prohibit people from growing fruits and vegetables in their own yards.
From the Hit and Run blog on Reason.com
Baylen Linnekin writes about “food freedom” at Reason every Saturday (check out his archive here). His new book, Biting the Hands that Feed Us: How Fewer, Smarter Laws, is drawing strong notices for its mix of libertarian brio and familiarity with the artisanal food scene. Biting the Hands that Feed Us exposes many absurdities in current food law, while celebrating ethical entrepreneurs,” says Whole Foods’ John Mackey. “This witty, incisive book will outrage and ultimately inspire you.” And here’s Booklist, “His book cleverly and precisely decries how the federal government’s rules and restrictions regarding food are a serious disservice to producers and consumers alike.”
Author Linnekin, Baylen. author.
Title Biting the hands that feed us : how fewer, smarter laws would make our food system more sustainable / Baylen J. Linnekin.
Imprint Washington D.C. : Island Press, [2016]
Descript xxi, 257 pages ; 24 cm
Contents Unsafe at any feed — “Big food” bigger thanks to “big government” — Wasting your money wasting food — I say “tomato,” you say “no” — There are good food rules.
Note Includes bibliographical references (pages 201-247) and index
Summary “Food waste, hunger, inhumane livestock conditions, disappearing fish stocks–these are exactly the kind of issues we expect food regulations to combat. Yet, today in the United States, laws exist at all levels of government that actually make these problems worse. Baylen Linnekin argues that, too often, government rules handcuff America’s most sustainable farmers, producers, sellers, and consumers, while rewarding those whose practices are anything but sustainable.Bitting the Hands that Feed Us introduces readers to the perverse consequences of many food rules. Some of these rules constrain the sale of ‘ugly’ fruits and vegetables, relegating bushels of tasty but misshapen carrots and strawberries to food waste. Other rules have threatened to treat manure–the lifeblood of organic fertilization–as a toxin. Still other rules prevent sharing food with the homeless and others in need. There are even rules that prohibit people from growing fruits and vegetables in their own yards. Linnekin also explores what makes for a good food law–often, he explains, these emphasize good outcomes rather than rigid processes. But he urges readers to be wary of efforts to regulate our way to a greener food system, calling instead for empowerment of those working to feed us (and themselves) sustainably”–Amazon.com
Subject Food supply — Government policy — United States.
Food supply — Environmental aspects — United States.
Food supply — Law and legislation — United States.
Food industry and trade — Government policy — United States.
Food industry and trade — Environmental aspects — United States.
Food law and legislation — United States.
Sustainable agriculture — Government policy — United States.
Livestock — Moral and ethical aspects — United States.
Nutrition policy — United States.
Food consumption — United States.
ISBN 9781610916752 (hardcover)
1610916751 (hardcover)
LC CARD # 2016938036
Standard # Island Pr, C/O Chicago Distribution Center 11030 S Langley Ave, Chicago, IL, USA, 60628 SAN 202-5280