This piece from the Boston Globe looks at the tensions between an increasing sense of idealism among zoo officials–they want to treat their animals better and raise awareness of wildlife conservation–and the undeniable need to entertain zoos’ human visitors.

James McWilliams writes on the recent report out of the UK which found that organic foods are not necessarily more nutritious than their conventionally grown counterparts. McWilliams says that this debate misses the point: organic consumers make up a tiny percentage of the population, and the categories of conventional and organic are themselves too heterogeneous for comparisons to be useful. We should focus instead, he says, on things that we know will improve our health and benefit the environment. Like eating less meat.

Derek wrote a good piece for Episcopal Cafe on what beets (and seasonal food generally) can teach us about God’s gifts.