Buh-buh-buh-rainstormmmm

Alriiiight... blogging. The media of the masses, making every person with access to a computer an influential author, newscaster, psychiatrist or artist (at least in their minds).
I suppose it is a very efficient way of sharing writing, though.

Since I've been home from Spain, I've been experiencing some major writer's block. No, speaker's block. Eloquence in English is coming back a little rusty. But I am going to embark on a writing project, with a topic, and a deadline, and I'm fairly sure I can accomplish that.

Backyard chickens is a familiar topic to me. Food's journey, from garden, field or animal to plate, is extremely tangible for me, as I live on a farm. Although the smell of cow dung or the incessant cockadoodle-doo-ing of overly confident roosters isn't always pleasant, the basic knowledge of my food's origin is incredibly comforting. Over the past years, "green" has made the gigantic leap from the trademark of the grungy hippie to that of the conscientious do-gooder. Now that Green is in, with it come consciousness of Global Warming, the desire to help, the approval of new technology, and most accessible to the average person: sustainability. With sustainability comes "localism," a term so creatively coined by Melissa. Sustainability and localism are ideas that can be understood by Joe Shmoe and be assisted by anybody willing to make a little effort.

As the localism wave is crashing over Sun Valley, certain trends are becoming increasingly obvious: personal gardens, support of local farmers and food (Idaho's Bounty), local food being used in local restaurants, and chickens! Supporting the local restaurants that serve local food is the easiest way to feel as though one is making a difference. Next comes buying food from Idaho's Bounty, a rewarding and tangible experience, where one can see, meet, touch and taste where and how one's food is grown. Making the personal investment in a garden or a chicken coop requires slightly more dedication, but both options are still incredibly easy.

One's food literally coming from one's backyard is localism at its simplest. No giant farms or factories, no pesticides, no teensy cages and clipped beaks, no preservatives, no trucks or planes, and importantly: no blissful ignorance! Getting out of the supermarket mindset (some children these days, when asked where eggs come from, honestly answer, "From Atkinsons..." with no concept of the circle of life) is one of the benefits, along with tasting the richer, yolkier, yummier, happier home-grown eggs.

The important people in this process to talk to would be:
The officials who organize and permit backyard chickens, the owners of chickens and those affected by the new trend (Atkinsons, local stores... lower egg sales?).
Questions to ask would be:
What motivated you to have chickens? What benefits have you experienced since having chickens? How does experiencing the circle of life and the process of food affect your understanding of "localism"?
How do you think the trend has affected the valley's economy? Have you witnessed a larger trend of consciousness of sustanability and "localism" as the smaller trends have been growing (gardens, chickens)? How would you say backyard chickens are advantageous to the valley?


Okay, that's my rant for now, kind of just getting my basic thoughts on "paper," or at least into the blogosphere.