It seems we have moved beyond mere concern about our food to judging the soul of food—and those who consume it. What is the soul of food? For me, the soul of food has everything to do with beautiful black and white Holsteins gracing my front yard and neighborhood. The soul of food is about…
Read More
Have you ever felt judged for what’s in your grocery cart? Do you wonder whether GMO-free, gluten-free, antibiotic-free, fat-free milk is better than regular milk? Are “natural” Fritos better for you? Does anyone really need organic, natural, hormone-free cat litter? Grocery store marketing is full of food claims that are B.S. (below standard). Five ways to avoid buying B.S. food.
Read More
Just as “This Is Us” has created hysteria around slow cookers, “documentaries” have created hysteria around meat and milk. Are we really so unaware the difference between fiction and good television that we can’t recognize reality?
Read More
Seeds planted by teachers last a lifetime, whether good or bad. Marketing and bias should not trump science and well-rounded debate in the classroom. Teacher bias deserves the same concern as journalistic bias – a student will never be able to turn off their education the way so many of us have silenced the news. A look at the aftermath of a Chipotle video showed by a 7th grade social studies teacher.
Read More
If you’ve never experienced a fair from the inside, it’s like final exams and Christmas all wrapped into an intense one or two weeks filled with more sweat and dirt than you can imagine. It’s both exhausting and exhilarating. I have been involved in fairs my entire life, but am always amazed watching 4-H and FFA members learn life lessons through the trials of diligently preparing a project, talking with a judge and then nervously anticipating the outcome. Sometimes, the ribbon is blue. Other times it’s red. And if they’re lucky, the coveted purple or pink ribbons may be put on a project.
The reality is that ribbons fade and are eventually stashed away in boxes, forgotten about. It’s the stories behind the ribbons that are remembered for a lifetime. A look at the care and respect young people give their animals behind the scenes at the fairgrounds.
Read More
As summer’s heat turns up, any drive across the Midwest will feature corn outside the window. Why do farmers grow corn? Justin and Jennifer Dammann sat down at their kitchen table with Michele to talk about how they make choices in growing corn, soybeans, and beef as family farmers.
Read More
[…] head over to http://causematters.com. My “Gate to Plage” blog was incorporated into my new website in July 2010. It has all the resources you see here, plus a whole lot of connections for farm, […]
[…] looking forward to blogging at http://causematters.com/blog and invite you to come over and check out my posts there. The first one is already up!! This […]
[…] Blue Rides in the Combine Posted on September 27, 2010 by Michelle I recently posted the story of Blue’s first combine ride at Gate to Plate blog. Click here to check it out. […]
[…] was invited by Michele Payn-Knoper, Cause Matters, to write a guest post on her Gate to Plate Blog, titled, “WKRP, Silver Sows & Communications Changes,” about my observations of […]
[…] you haven’t checked out Michele Payn-Knoper’s Gate to Plate Blog , I encourage you to do so. Those of you who are in agriculture- continue to share your story. For […]
[…] recently read a great blog post on Gate to Plate Blog that talks about this whole topic. I think Michele says it better than I do, so check out her […]
[…] Michele has great strategies for using the 15 minute rule for social media and I want to build on that concept. Here are some additional ideas of things that can be achieved when you begin to think in 15 minute increments! […]
[…] long after I started using twitter I saw a tweet from Michele Payne-Knoper (@maynknoper) announcing a weekly chat about agriculture called #agchat. Of course I embraced […]
[…] Gate to Plate Blog […]
[…] and Neen have been known to enjoy cute shoes and all things fuscia together. Check out MPK’s Gate to Plate blog, connect with her on Facebook or get your food questions answered at an international list of farm […]
[…] I’ve learned immensely from friends like Mike Haley, Janice Person, Jeff Fowle, Darin Grimm, Michele Payne Knoper and dozens of more who came on board later. I’ve learned, I hope, to be a little less […]
[…] #2 – Gate to Plate – Is authored by Michele Payn-Knoper who is a public speaker for agriculture. She posts herself […]
[…] 7. http://causematters.com/blog/ – Michele Payn-Knoper has a wonderful blog to follow. She not not only includes posts by her, but also has many others guest post to encourage a diversity of agriculture topics and perspectives. […]
[…] started the Gate to Plate blog to help connect farm gate to the food plate and give a voice to people who feed the world. She […]
[…] Blog: Let’s talk about food on Blog Action Day (www.causematters.com/blog) Food is fundamental. It should not elicit feelings of guilt or elitism. Food is sustenance. So […]
[…] “The conversation is happening about food and farm – even if farmers and ranchers aren’t at the table talking.” – Michele Payn-Knoper […]