Farming and Food Sunday, November 13, 2022

"My grandfather used to say that once in your life you need a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman, and a preacher. But every day, three times a day, you need a farmer." - Brenda Schoepp As humans we need to eat. What we eat can sustain us and provide ultimate enjoyment. Keerthi and Rose host this delicious program showcasing produce, farming, and food. Two foodie friends, Rose and Alix describe their tasting menu experience at Eleven Madison Park, a three Michelin star restaurant in Manhattan, that transformed its concept to a totally plant-based menu in 2021. They describe each item of the fifteen-course meal and the fascinating tour of the kitchen. The second guest is Cynthia Brian who grew up on a farm and still grows most of her own food. She talks about her newest book, No Barnyard Bullies, that chronicles true stories of her menagerie of adopted critters on her farm. (Available at www.CynthiaBrian.com) Cynthia responds to Keerthi’s questions about growing mushrooms and Rose’s questions about what vegetables can be planted now and what fruits are ripe. Our A.I. Reporter, Kevin Choo joins the team to offer his information on how A.I. both directly and indirectly benefits farmers. Modern drones and sensors can efficiently and quickly gather data about all the different factors that go into crop yield, ranging from simple things like the weather to more complicated and in-depth things like nutrient distribution in the soil, how much fertilizer has been given, and the moisture in the air and soil to give a probably precise measurement of how much you’ll get out of one harvest. If you love to eat, consider growing some of your food. It’s easy, healthy, and fun! Bon appetite!