The closest to Normal (Illinois) that I've ever been.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Bugs and Bots


OK, so I have been trying to partake of locally grown organic foods. Bloomington and Normal each have farmer's markets with a variety of excellent produce, and I try to go at least once a week. This week, I bought some delicious homegrown broccoli, arugula, green beans, blackberries, raspberries and blueberries. We have thoroughly enjoyed the veggies, and the kids laid into the berries like slavering beasts. However, I have had it with the downside of local organic produce: the wildlife.

I have soaked the greens, but they are still crawling with inchworms and loopers. Whenever I blanch the broccoli and beans I find a dozen or so little bloated corpses.
But just now, the final straw: I was enjoying a bowl of peach and raspberry sorbet with my delicious locally grown organic blackberries and raspberries, and I find a big old beetle on my spoon. I suppose that it was too large to be washed through the colander. It was somewhat stunned by the cold, but still alive.


On an unrelated note, today on Fresh Air, Pixar's Andrew Stanton was talking about writing and directing the movie Wall-E. Sam was so into the interview that I found him lying on the kitchen counter under the radio. All evening Sam has been peppering me with Wall-E trivia, and I have to keep reminding him that I heard the same interview.

Ever since we saw Wall-E, Joseph has been practicing his Wall-E voice. He is quite insistent that his version is more accurate than mine. Here it is:

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Wow. Nice impression of Wall-E.

As for the bugs, extra protein never hurt anyone! There is a whole culture dedicated to encouraging descendants of non-native Americans to get over their fear of eating bugs. This habit is not only healthy, fresh and novel, it is ecologically sustainable. Not to mention insects do indeed reproduce in a Malthusian fashion unlike cattle and chickens. Consider insects a special bonus with your organic veggies purchase! How NICE of the farmers to throw them in for you. Right?

http://www.manataka.org/page160.html