This week's compost

      1. Turkish protesters break Ramadan fast of Gezi Park

“Riot police watched as Istanbul protesters broke their fast together in a massive banquet that stretched far along Istiklal Avenue in a splendid show of unity, Reuters reports. Though the police used teargas and water cannons to clear them out of Gezi Park a mere two nights ago, on Tuesday they allowed the protesters to break their fast together before resuming efforts to force them to leave.”

What can I say? A stunning example of how food can be used to make a strong political statement. I am thinking through and hence looking for examples of where food is used in particular for peace activism and if anyone of you has examples I would love to hear about them.  I am looking forward to the Peace Meal Wollemi Common is hosting this weekend at which I will be cooking from The Gaza Kitchen cookbook and where will be talking about peace activism in the Middle East. I’ll report on the event next week.

http://huff.to/159MhHO

2. The good earth: Buderim Red Ferrosol and ginger 

“Rhizome shape, size, degree of branching and extent of rooting are directly affected by soil type and soil acidity. Whilst ginger is very susceptible to waterlogging, periods of low water availability decrease yield and size of rhizomes and makes them more fibrous. So, to get fully flavoured, nicely shaped and big rhizomes you need beaut soil.As for potatoes grown on the Thorpdale Red Ferrosol, the Buderim Red Ferrosol provides an ideal framework for growing ginger.”

Now it can be told...Ginger Meggs was a Buderim Red Ferrosol geophagist. 

http://bit.ly/12BRhC7

3  3. Organic water claims misleading says watchdog

"In the context of food and drink, the word "organic" refers to agricultural products that have been farmed according to certain practices and standards. 

Because water is not an agricultural product it can not benefit from such practices and so it was inappropriate to label it "organic", the ACCC said."

Now, about selling bottled water per se...

http://bit.ly/13oyjik

44. Fried chicken and waffle sandwich

And why not say I. It’s about as crazy and idea as some molecular chefs get up to and you can make this one at home without expensive technically challenging equipment, though I have had some unfortunate run-ins with jaffle irons over the years.

http://bit.ly/15NG3j9

55. 22 children die after eating free school lunch

“Mr Sahi said a preliminary investigation suggested the food contained an organophosphate used as an insecticide on rice and wheat crops. It's believed the grain was not washed before it was served at the school, he said.”

A tragedy waiting to happen. India has the biggest free school lunch program in the world but the news-reporter says that it is riddled with poor hygiene and corruption. 

 http://bit.ly/16K8I5K

66. Warning: chefs behaving properly.

“The gist of the book is that, other than improved working hours, little has changed since the Kitchen Confidential days. Bad-boy chefs: tick. Bullying: tick. Sex in cupboards: tick. Drink and drugs: tick and tick. Our narrator awakes, still dressed after passing out the night before, with a strange blonde in his bed. The coke-head chef of his one-Michelin-starred restaurant is grotesque in every way, from his appalling personal hygiene to his penchant for brief, hassle-free extramarital flings with drunken women. A young commis chef arrives at work off his face. In the telling, Edwards-Jones reveals such unsavoury kitchen practices such as "lick and stick", where chefs use saliva to adhere delicate ingredients to the plate.”

Ho-hum, another book about bad chef behaviour from Imogen Edwards-Jones, called Restaurant Babylon. Babble on, I would have thought more like.

http://bit.ly/1aVX5QS

77. Affordable fresh food for every Australian child – regardless of postcode

"Now I am an academic and not a politician – and for the purposes of this article, my political bias is not totally relevant. But I want to make a call – draw a line in the sand and urge both sides of politics to consider adopting a new and bold promise for this coming election.

That by the end of the coming term, every child in our country will have equal access to affordable fresh fruits and vegetables.

That no matter where that child lives – the centre of Sydney or the red centre – fresh produce will cost the same.

And this cost will be affordable."

I applaud the sentiment, but it's a little like the old no-child-will-live-in-poverty mantra of Bob Hawke. It takes more than a political promise to combat entrenched economic practices that lead to these situations.

http://bit.ly/16MG83B