Growing up in the suburbs, I never knew what food really was or where it came from. To me, food came from the supermarket, and it recently occurred to me that if I found myself in the city without a grocery store, I would likely starve! That seemed like a pretty sad fate for a girl whose ancestors grew most of what they consumed. For example, my great-grandmother's family had a small farm where they grew fruits and vegetables, raised animals and even smoked their own meat. She'd probably be a bit disappointed to learn that her great-granddaughter can barely keep a potted flower alive...

I figured there must be other Americans like me who yearn to reconnect with the land and understand more about where their food comes from and how it's made. So I started OrganicNation.tv which aims to be a one-stop resource to help consumers navigate the American sustainable food landscape. Mark Andrew Boyer and I are traveling across the country to talk with farmers, urban gardeners, teachers and restaurant owners and sharing blog posts, photos and videos along the way.

-Dorothee Royal-Hedinger

We're exploring such fundamental questions as: What does “organic” mean and how are products certified? What do scientists say about the risks of chemical pesticides and fertilizers on human health? What are the costs of switching to organic production and is it affordable for farmers and consumers? Is organic better than local or vice-versa? Can organic food production feed the nation and is it truly sustainable?

We're also building an interactive map of America's sustainable food landscape and we need your help! Feel free to submit your own suggestions for organic farms, community gardens, restuarants, cafes or other sustainable locations here: http://www.organicnation.tv/map/

Join us! We look forward to your comments, questions and ideas along the way!