Episode 71: Soil Envy

It seems that most farmers these days are philosophers too. David Cleverdon of Kinnikinnick farm is no exception.  Add Chef Paul Kahan, a birthday, a Chicago Harvest dinner and Monsanto tomatoes into the mix and you’ve got yourself a good episode.

  • http://www.facebook.com/dane.schmitt Dane Alan Schmitt

    “you didn’t look like you when you were that age either…”  GREAT LINE!

  • Brother Peter

    Unsettling of America is a great read!

  • Urbanfoodguy

    Ok so I’m one of those “politically correct types” who would avoid a Monsanto Tomato at all costs, its an issue that is mentioned in this episode, indeed the email this week is called: Monsanto Tomatoes and Perennial Plate…..so what do we think and why?  
    Some of my issues:  I don’t believe a corporation should be able to “own” nature.  eliminating seed sharing by making seeds proprietary is just plain wrong and destroys an age old farming tradition.  Monsanto’s is no farmers friend, look at their history of litigation of farmers that have ruin lives and put them out of business.  Monsanto is a pesticide corporation who makes seeds that are “round up ready” so that when you buy the seed you have to buy the pesticide that goes with it, so there is no such thing as an heirloom or organic Monsanto product, it’s farming in a chemistry lab. 

    Thoughts? 

    • Anonymous

      I am completely against Monsanto in almost every way, so was the farmer in the video. But he still used their tomatoes because they were better – i thought it was interesting. And of course I would try them, but probably not buy them.

  • Aynz

    best title for an episode award.  i have soil envy from your garden in minneapolis, that soil is beautiful! 

    • Anonymous

      some of it is – like where the chickens used to be

  • Robsprenger

    Luther Burbank, the great plant breeder….”Burbank Potato” etc. adamantly said that patents must be allowed to encourage new work and provide a just reward. The big Corps are just doing the greed thing.

  • Foody2 and Oliver

    It was unsettling seeing Monsanto listed here, and at the same time we appreciate your response to that issue-very honest. Loved the folks on the farm and will be looking up those books David mentioned.

  • brtsflk

    please come up with some (lots) more of the same thought provoking dialog. the kind that makes you feel the characters are real and alive.

    • Anonymous

      we shall try.

  • brtsflk

    really liked this episode 71. the characters all came to life as they should. no sham here. true to life realism right down to a discussion of how good Monsanto tomatoes are.

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  • http://twitter.com/ptptweets PTP

    Liked this interview with David Cleverdon. And Danny, let me know if you want to learn to pronounce Chioggia correctly so you can start a new trend among foodies in the US ;)

  • http://twitter.com/ptptweets PTP

    Liked this interview with David Cleverdon. And Danny, let me know if you want to learn to pronounce Chioggia correctly so you can start a new trend among foodies in the US ;)

  • http://twitter.com/kevinkossowan Kevin Kossowan

    Surprised to see him planning ahead based on climate change making it harder to grow veg. Interesting.

  • John345

    gross
    I’m sorry to be the buzzkill here, but I like to tell it like it is and supporting a huge multinational corporation that puts farms out of business, patents life, and funds oil wars in foreign nation has nothing to do with political correctness, it has to do with evil and being against God and nature

    • Anonymous

      THe patent for Sun Gold tomato is owned by Monsanto. It is not genetically modified. Many small farmers use it, perhaps they don’t realize. this guy did and chose to use it.