Cooperative Transformation

By Leslie A. Cook, www.vegetatingwithleslie.org

I admit I am something of a skeptic about the possibility of experiencing sudden (and lasting) transformation. That's not to say I don't believe in the possibility that we can be transformed. 

Food with Meaning 

By Leslie A. Cook, vegetatingwithleslie.org

When I first started in the food business with the intention of making all my food "from scratch," from whole produce (which I was told couldn't be done), someone told me about the Slow Food movement. The phrase sounded about right, and I wanted to learn more. In reading about the movement, which has a Chicago chapter, I read the subtitle, "Food with Meaning." Yes, that's what I wanted to do, offer food with meaning. 

As an evolutionary human ecologist, I am painfully aware how far human society falls short of achieving its evolutionary potential.  Much of this failure results from a broad misunderstanding of evolution as “survival of the fittest,” connoting lethal conflict or competition, strength versus weakness.

As a person who writes and journals about plants and gardening, inspiration is, as always, just around the corner. This New Year was no exception. During the holidays I was gifted with a family member who gifted me with a book called Seven Flowers by Jennifer Potter. The book is a very literary approach to how her seven named species changed the world. The plant genus that really caught my eye and captivated me with the beauty, lore and usefulness was the sunflower family.