Under the shade of sassafras and cherry trees in Natrona Heights, PA, we watched the pigs enjoy their lunch. Some huddled around a large tree trunk, gnawing at the bark and loudly crunching mouthfuls of it like potato chips. Other pigs happily buried their snouts in the dirt, lifting the soil like a trowel, and ripping the fine roots with the sound of tearing cloth. The whole area occupied by the group had been razed to bare earth within the past week. Shrubs and saplings, up

With the success of the local food movement, we’re seeing a lot of something called “greenwashing.” This is the attempt, usually by food companies, to convince you that their product is healthier, more sustainable, or more humanely produced than it is. But don't be intimidated. To help you navigate the supermarket, we’ve outlined the marketing terms and greenwashing techniques you’ll want to be wary of when looking for the product that meets your standards. "Natural" or "All

In the ever-growing alternative food movement, the disagreement on the value of animals in agriculture is still able to divide people that are otherwise on the same team when it comes to improving the food system for everyone. Some say that there is no room for livestock in a sustainable food system. Other people (including myself) believe that livestock have an important, beneficial role to play in our ecosystem, and that animal products confer unique health benefits. In th

The federal government recently decided that it would not include environmental impact when updating the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), which they do every five years. Sylvia Burwell, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Tom Vilsack, the Secretary of Agriculture, co-authored the guidelines and announced the decision on October 6. Their reasoning: while the sustainability of our food choices is important, “we do not believe that the 2015 [Dietary Guidelines