Crop Fail

Sadly, my spontaneous backyard corn never rose above three feet or so. As my friend Andrea first pointed out, does this mean I get to cash in my federal crop insurance?

I Reckon The Corn's Comin' In Mighty Fine This Year

Last month, I posted on some mysterious stalks that showed up next to my patio in East Falls Church. I pulled out a couple of the smaller ones to give the big ones room and have watered them here and there. The stalks seem small, only shoulder-high. But sure enough, it looks like ears of corn are sprouting on the sides:

I Think I May Be A Corn Farmer

These started growing on the edge of my patio a couple of weeks ago and are now waist high. Are they corn?

Agribusiness Attacks Obama Organic Garden

Busy day here at Miles Grant for Delegate Campaign HQ -- just taught The Green Mom to play Wii Tennis, now we're hoping the rain ends in time for this afternoon's canvass.

But I had to take a minute to pass along this article (via TPM):

Michelle Obama planted an organic garden to promote fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet, but some chemical companies are worried it may plant a seed of doubt in consumers’ minds about conventionally grown crops. [...]

MACA, which represents agribusinesses like Monsanto, Dow AgroSciences and DuPont Crop Protection, is rather less thrilled about the fact that no chemicals will be used to grow the crops. The group is worried that the decision may give consumers the wrong impression about conventionally grown food.

“We live in a very different world than that of our grandparents. Americans are juggling jobs with the needs of children and aging parents,” the letter states. “The time needed to tend a garden is not there for the majority of our citizens, certainly not a garden of sufficient productivity to supply much of a family’s year-round food needs.”

Talk about setting up a straw-man argument. Who says a garden is supposed to be your family's only source of food? Don't have time to garden? Who says you have to -- shop at a farmers market or buy organic at the grocery store.

Once victory gardens were a sign of patriotism. Now agribusiness wants you to think they're a sign of weakness. Really makes you wonder whose best interests they're looking out for.