EconTalk Tamar Haspel on First-Hand Food
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Feb 28, 2022 Tamar Haspel, author of "To Boldly Grow" and a Washington Post columnist, reflects on her adventurous journey into firsthand food. She shares insights on the unbeatable flavor of just-caught fish and the joys of home gardening, emphasizing the transformative power of sourcing your own meals. Haspel discusses the trials of self-sufficiency, the ethics of food production, and critiques of Thoreau's romantic views on nature. With personal anecdotes, she illustrates the emotional connections and community ties forged through food, revealing that tangible experiences are more satisfying than any dish.
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Firsthand Food Challenge
- Consider incorporating "firsthand food" into your diet.
- This involves growing, catching, or hunting at least one food item daily.
Taste and Seasonality of Firsthand Food
- Freshly caught fish offers superior taste compared to store-bought, with some exceptions (like false albacore).
- Homegrown food, however, presents the challenge of seasonality, leading to periods of feast or famine.
The Economics of Firsthand Food
- E.B. White humorously documented the financial impracticality of raising turkeys, spending $420 in 1938 dollars.
- Haspel's calculations show that while some firsthand food ventures like chickens and foraging can be cost-effective, fishing, especially with a boat, rarely is.
