Welcome to the Weekend Dispatch. Here are our top finds for April 16.
A field of Texas Longhorns stare down the camera lens on a Mississippi ranch. Photo by Eric Phyfer | Instagram
01. Photographer pick: Eric Phyfer
Freelance photographer Eric Phyfer is a true outdoorsman and family man who spends much time exploring the west and hunting all types of game from the smallest duck to the biggest elk. His strong appreciation for wildlife and the outdoor life is evident in his photography.
Check him out on social media at @eric_phyfer.
Alexandra McNeal catches her first turkey. Provided photo
02. Article pick: On participation, by Guest Author: Alexandra McNeal
Have you ever sat down to eat a chicken, turkey or steak from a grocery store and felt a pang of guilt? Who raised it and how much did it suffer? How far did it travel to get there? We don’t appreciate all the effort that goes into producing our food because most of the time we simply don’t know. And sometimes it's easier to turn a blind eye to the "dirty work."
As someone who eats meat, Alexandra McNeal — a wildlife biologist turned wildlife artist — felt it was only right to experience a hunt herself to take back that appreciation, reconnect with the land and better understand the weight of the decisions we make at the grocery store. Like many, she was afraid of what it would feel like to kill an animal, but she overcame them and tells the magical tale of her first turkey hunt in this guest blog post (accompanied by amazing photos). In a world where we prioritize convenience, her story has a strong message we should all take time to think about.
You can also check out her artwork here!
"Food Routes" by Robyn Metcalfe. Provided photo
03. Book pick: Food Routes
There are countless books on food and how it transforms and transports in a metaphorical sense. This book takes a different approach by diving into the literal transformation and transportation of food and how it specifically affects our everyday lives. You’ll take a tour of the physical paths our food travels from producer to consumer through a skeptical lens, learn about the forces that shape the supply chain while also examining how these operations are being changed by technology and their impact on the food we consume now and in the future.
Author Robyn Metcalfe is food historian and futurist with extensive research on food systems design and the built-environment. Order the book here.
Strawberry farming. Photo by Mick Haupt | Unsplash
04. Audio pick: What's it Like to Run a Strawberry Farm?
If you've every tried a hand at vegetable/fruit gardening then you know that growing your own food comes with both joys and heartbreaks. The survival of your plants can be determined by factors out of your hands — like the weather, for example. Now imagine running a commercial business where those same rewards and risks are magnified by a few orders of magnitude.
This quick 12-minute clip from the Faces of Farming series features Greg France, a strawberry farmer in California, who gives a little taste of what it's like to run a farming operation and the giant tasks and responsibility our farmers take on.