Slideshow Preview

My slideshow will focus on the owners of One Straw Farm, Joan and Drew Norman. One Straw Farm is the largest organic farm in Maryland. The Normans provide organic fruits and vegetables to local restaurants such as the Woodberry Kitchen and supermarkets such as Whole Foods. More importantly, they provide local produce to CSAs or Community Supported Agriculture. CSAs provide individual residents the opportunity to buy local produce all season long, but also provide advanced support to local farmers such as the Normans. It is a mutually beneficial relationship to both the local farmer and the community at large.

Wisconsin Fourth-Graders Boycott School Lunch

Read article here.
Begin Summary:
Fourth-grade students at Nuestro Mundo Elementary School in Madison, WI protested against the unhealthy food that is served in their school’s cafeteria. They boycotted by staying behind in class during recess and enjoying a home-cooked meal. Fourth-grader Sierra Mueller-Owens told The Capital Times that “We had planned really good meals [for the protest], and I was hoping a lot of people would enjoy it.”

Unfortunately, the school district’s assistant superintendent alerted parents and school administrators and asked them to discourage the event.

It has come to light that student protests against unhealthy school lunches have been cropping up all over the country.

The article also raises the fact that the the Child Nutrition Act, which is the bill that funds and sets standards for the National School Lunch Program, is up for reauthorization.
End Summary

The addition I would add to the article would be a bullet list of some or all of the other nationwide student protests. This would add legitimacy to the issue, especially if you found a protest in your local area.

I agree with the story and think it’s a shame that the students have to be the ones who fight for healthy food instead of their parents. Also, it’s disheartening, but not surprising, that the school bureaucracy would discourage the boycotting of unhealthy food for their students.

Nonlinear Story Conceptualization

My nonlinear story will contain an article on A Cook’s Café, the only Locavore restaurant I am able to find in Annapolis.

I will also add another article on something else. I will let you know as soon as I find out.

My FAQ page will include questions regarding Locavores and organics.

I will also map out the locations of many of the area farmers markets and Locavore restaurants.

Feature Story Summary

My feature story involved a visit to the FreshFarm Market at the city dock in downtown Annapolis. I interviewed a few of the farmers offering their products to enthusiastic customers.

I learned from one farmer why she chooses to sell at farmers markets as opposed to selling to restaurants where customer loyalty is mostly nonexistent.

A chicken farmer tells what it was like to raise chickens for a large chicken corporation and why he doesn’t do it anymore.

I encourage you to read my feature story here (check back after 6/17/09 for link).

Audio Story Summary

My audio story focuses on the true definition of organic fruits and vegetables. I interviewed Joan and Drew Norman, the owners of One Straw Farm, the largest organic farm in Maryland.

We learn from Joan what “organic” truly means, and from Drew, why he chooses to farm organically as opposed to conventional farming where pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers are used.

If you are confused as to what “organic” really means I encourage you to listen to my audio story here (check back after 6/17/09 for link) and then dazzle your friends with your new found knowledge.

Video Editing Techniques

I watched Frontline: Breaking the Bank on PBS. The video editing technique used that was most intriguing to me was the use of aerial views of downtown New York, headquarters of various banking institutions, and the shot of Manhattan’s Columbus Circle, which was used numerous times throughout the show.

The numerous aerial views were used, I believe, to symbolize the enormity of the banking crisis with the players, or culprits, shown through huge lavish skyscrapers. The shots of Columbus Circle are interesting as it is a major transportation hub in Manhattan, so it fits within the context of the story. It also fits metaphorically using the circle to convey the infinite nature of the crisis where everyone seems to be chasing their tail.

The broad overview shots were usually followed by black and white still shots of bank CEOs or Treasury Secretary Paulson. I believe these shots were used to depersonalize these people and keep the mood of the documentary as desensitized as possible. The black and white photos also lend credibility to the story as it plays out more as a news story with shots that could also appear in a hard print newspaper.

Beat Audio Story

I am considering interviewing one of the organizers of a local farmers market to find out the process and amount of effort that is put into organizing and sustaining a viable local farmers market.