Cathy
Who are the people behind the urban farming projects cropping up all over the Puget Sound Region? What inspires them? What foods nurture them?
Urban Farm Hub is launching a weekly spotlight series to celebrate the amazing people who spend their days creating a healthier, more sustainable local food system. Last week we highlighted the work of Gail Savina, organizer of City Fruit. This week we’d like to celebrate the transformational work of Cathy Tuttle. In addition to sharing her garden bounty with friends, Cathy is a master community organizer–jumping back and forth between the very small and the very large scale projects such as Sustainable Wallingford and her work as a board member for Seattle Tilth.
So how did you get involved in the local food movement?
I looked ahead to the days when we’ll need to feed ourselves rather than “be fed”.
What seeds would you slip into your pocket if you were moving to a new land?
Seeds: kale, chard, parsley. I’d also cheat and try to take grape and apple cuttings too!
If you could change one thing about the food system…
We would put food into our mouths consciously and value food because it gives us life.
What are you eating from your garden today?
Parsley, chard, kale, potatoes and applesauce.
What do you think about the adage “It’s not the food we eat; it’s our eating habits”?
We have to take responsibility for what we eat but we also need to demand (as people who buy food) access to good food that does not exploit our earth and the people who produce food.
Speaking of eating habits, what’s your vision of the perfect meal?
Cooking and eating with friends, starting on this warm February day by pulling potatoes, kale, herbs and wormy old carrots out of the yard and making soup.
Choose what you would eat if you had only $7 a day for breakfast, lunch and dinner (the equivalent of the food stamp allowance).
I think I’d be a lot thinner.
If you were a goat, what phrase would be on the tip of your tongue?
A male goat: “ feed me, love me, bless me, kill me, eat me.”
I'd love to hear from you!