Linda Watson (Cook for Good)

Name: Linda Watson (Cook for Good) Location: Raleigh, NC Activist helping people eat like it matters: sustainable, healthy food for $5/day. Author of Wildly Affordable Organic, teacher, organizer.

A little about me

As the “Cook for Good Lady,” I put on my apron and teach people to cook delicious, seasonal food from scratch for less than the food-stamp allowance. This leds to happy, healthy people and slows global warming, supports local food economies, and reduces suffering. I sharing ideas for new ways to reach new people: YouTube, tastings at farmers’ markets, and classes at food banks, clinics, and Slow Foods gatherings. I’ve taken standup comedy and improv classes to try to make my message interesting. My book, Wildly Affordable Organic, will come out in June 2011. I also write for The Sweet Potato blog and do a free weekly newsletter with food news & recipes.
But I didn’t always wear an apron. I’d just finished running a dot com when we invade Iraq. I became a Deaniac and soon the Executive Director of the Wake County Democratic Party. I’ve run a local campaign, volunteered for many more, and thrown many fundraisers and events, including film fundraisers wrapped around local premiers of Fahrenheit 911 and Food Inc. I may be the only person who is a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals and the Project Management Institute.

I would describe myself as a

blogger

Why I deserve a Netroots Nation Scholarship

I'd have two missions. One, to help other activists find the satisfaction of voting with their forks every day. You do have the time and money to eat like it matters! Two, to build momentum for my Good Start proposal, which would give people who begin nutritional-supplement programs like SNAP and WIC a small, one-time payment to help them extract the most value out of the funds they receive and make the best use of their own resources. This early investment can pay off in a lifetime of healthy, thrifty meals cooked at home. As little as $20 can mean the difference between making balanced meals or eating fast food. For only $85, someone who lacks access to a stove can still cook, even if “home” is a boarding house or a residence hotel. These figures are for a family of four, but except for $4 per person for dishes and cutlery, the amount remains the same for one person as for a family of up to six. A single person could spend slightly less by getting smaller pans and a large family would spend slightly more.

This program would help people improve their health, fight obesity, support local food systems, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. What's not to like?

I've gotten a good early response from my congressman (Brad Miller, D-NC) and a top staffer from Senator Kay Hagan's office, but need momentum from other organizations and elected officials. See more at http://www.cookforgood.com/good_start.html

I’m outgoing and eager to share ideas. My oddly varied background might bring a new perspective to some conversations. I’ve been supporting myself on an activist / blogger income for ten years, first for regime change and now as an anti-hunger, pro-environment evangelist. Help me share the Cook for Good message with more people so we can slow global warming, reduce animal cruelty, and make people happier and healthier. And I’ll bring homemade cookies to share.

I manage these blogs

Cook for Good blog

The blogs I use most are

Sustainable Triangle
Daily Kos

What first inspired me to get involved

Bush's speech giving Saddam Hussein 48 hours to leave Iraq. I decided to do everything in my power to get Bush out of office. I spent that night researching the candidates and the next morning joined the Howard Dean campaign.

How I've gotten others involved

As the ED for the local Dems for example, I was in charge of early voting for the county. I designed templates for "Can't Wait to Vote" house parties, spoke everywhere I could, had websites, newsletters, and events, and set up an intranet so volunteers could be effective board in 10 minutes. The pros laughed when I set my goal at 25%, but we got close to 35%.

The blog post I am most proud of

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/07/22/756307/-Food,-Inc-Foodraiserlessons-learned

Why I think participation in the blogosphere is important

As corporations increasing control all forms of media, bloggers can help report real news and organize for a better world.

More about my involvement with DFA and local work

not an active DFA member now

More about my volunteer work

I'm an active member of the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, for which I speak at events, write for newsletters, and often donate 10% of the proceeds from my events. I've been a featured speaker at the national Share Our Strength Conference of Leaders (the biggest anti-hunger organization in the U.S.). In the last six months, I've met with Congressman Brad Miller (D-NC) and a top staffer with Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC) about hunger and food-safety issues.

I'm the chair of my area's Citizens Advisory Council and a member of the Raleigh Citizens Advisory Council, for which I just wrote a guide to help new chairs become effective more quickly.

My Twitter manifesto on online activism

Being online speeds the evolution of memes. People can think deeply before they “speak” and communicate with folks of similar interests all over the world.

My suggested bumper sticker slogan

You can afford to eat like it matters.

My idea for a cool new online action

I'll be doing a Wildly Affordable Organic challenge this summer. People who sign up will get daily emails of support and a way to share their experiences with others. Where the original Food Stamp Challenge showed it was very hard to cook on a dollar a meal, my challenge will give people the confidence and skills to cook most of their food from scratch for $5 a day or less.