Though they weren't conceived in tandem, I had two stories on related topics in the Boston Globe today.

The business section's centerpiece is about farmer Joe Czajkowski of Hadley, Mass. A fascinating, very literate guy, he does a lot of business with schools and other institutions through the Mass. Farm To School Project.

Another excerpt from "Animal Vegetable Miracle," Barbara Kingsolver's 2007 book. In this one, she talks about those who choose to be vegetarian.

So there I was, gabbing happily with Pat Hayes of Hayes Family Farm (listed under the Hs) on Saturday at the Boston Local Food Festival when he said proudly that Organic Valley, the largest organic dairy cooperative in the country, supplies all the milk to Stonyfield Farm for its organic yogurt.

Another excerpt from "Animal Vegetable Miracle," Barbara Kingsolver's 2007 book. This one comes from the same paragraph we visited last time, but I wanted to make a separate point:

Crop failure is a possibility all farmers understand, and one reason why the traditional farmstead raised many products, both animal and vegetable, unlike the monocultures now blanketing our continent's midsection. [p. 54]

The notion of crop failure — hell, the notions of crops at all, as opposed to consumer goods sold under plastic wrap in supermarkets, has longer standing in most Americans' thinking — came to me in a new way during the hurricane last month.

Another bite from "Animal Vegetable Miracle," Barbara Kingsolver's 2007 book:

Usually, I try to have a larger point when I post, but I haven't found it yet for this one: Still, I'm pretty sure it fits in here somewhere.

Saturday was my wife's birthday. I went about my early day, including two-plus hours in the cooperative community garden whose second season is (sadly) drawing to a close.

At least a few words are due AmpleHarvest.org, which allows food pantries and food growers — including backyard growers who can't eat everything when the harvest comes in — to connect with each other. The site lists 4,100 pantries in all 50 states that accept gresh produce and is still growing.

If you have more than you can use, what better solution than to look up where you can share with families in need?

The city Monday officially asked for proposals from non- and for-profit entities that would farm three city-owned parcels in the Dorchester section to produce "fresh, healthy food for sale in the community."

The land will be leased at $500 an acre — roughly $125 to $200 per year for a term of five years," according to the press release.

Thanks to Andrea Atkinson for pointing it out to me.

Welcome to the latest round of “10 words or less,” in which I ask brief questions and ask for brief answers. This installment is part of a group of interviews in advance of the Boston Museum of Science’s “Let’s Talk About Food” festival this weekend. Today’s subject is one of New England’s foremost farmers, who’ll join chefs Frank McClelland of L’Espalier, Franco Carubia of Sel de la Terre, and others in a discussion and demonstration about farm-fresh ingredients. Remember, please: No counting. 10 words is a goal, not a rule, and it’s not that easy!

Name Jim Wilson
Age 56
Residence Lexington
Business Wilson Farm, which grows and sells produce — and lots of other goods — in Lexington, Mass., and Litchfield, N.H.

Welcome to the latest round of “10 Words or Less,” in which I ask brief questions and ask my respondents for brief answers. This installment is part of a group of interviews in advance of the Boston Museum of Science’s “Let’s Talk About Food” festival this weekend. Today’s subject is an oyster farmer who will collaborate with Legal Sea Foods executive chef Richard Vellante in a cooking demonstration and discussion. Remember, please: No counting. 10 words is a goal, not a rule, and it’s not that easy!

Name John Lowell (pictured with his wife and business partner, Stephanie)
Age 52
Residence Dennis, Mass.
Business East Dennis Oyster Farm
Motto “More is not better, better is better.”
A guilty pleasure “I like a glass of wine out on the oyster farm with my wife, and there’s no alcohol allowed out there.”
What did you want to be when you grew up? “I still don’t know the answer.”
The best job you ever had “This is it.”
Something you learned from oysters “People love oysters, and people like oyster farmers.”
Your favorite farm implement “I like the hook. They’re stainless steel, about 3 feet long. They’re used to move the gear around.”