Rounding out the programs by Paul Stamets and Jack Gilbert, it is my pleasure to repeat a talk by Sandor Katz and his eloquent redemption of the much maligned bacteria and microorganisms without which life would not be possible. The original broadcast was in February 2013.
When he left New York City and joined a rural off the electric grid community in Tennessee over two decades ago he knew very little about growing vegetables and even less about fermenting them. His amazing development as teacher and author of two books: Wild Fermentation and The Art of Fermentation, was fueled by fond memories of pickles he relished as a kid in NYC, love for the nourishing power of good foods, and his deep interest in the culture, art and history of fermentation. His great appeal as a teacher and speaker also lies in his direct and honest approach to life. He is openly gay and living with AIDS and is convinced of the healing power of food.
The 2012 Heirloom Seed Expo, an annual event at the height of the harvest season in Santa Rosa, CA, brought together the dedicated food activists with their organized resistance to genetically modified foods and the steadfast farmers who have been protecting our common inheritance in seeds and plants.