This week on The Main Course Patrick and Katy spoke to Wes Gillingham of the Catskill Mountainkeepers. Wes layed out the startling process of hydro-frac mining: drilling a myriad of holes in what could otherwise be active farmland, injecting super toxic frac fluid, and extracting natural gas. Not only do these companies poison aquifers, reservoirs and ground water, but they recieve unprecedented tax breaks and government subsidies. David Haight then called in from American Farmland Trust to discuss how he helps farmers and land owners keep their farmland active and understand their rights, especially in leasing situations (like when Halliburton leases a farmers land to cut down trees, lay down pipes, and hydro-frac!) Plus Erica DeMane, a seasoned chef who penned the Italian section of the new Joy of Cooking, stopped by to ponder whether cooking is art or science, question whether taste is objective or subjective, and talk traditional Sicilian regional cuisine. This episode was sponsored by Edwards of Surry Virginia: www.EdwardsVAHam.com. Photo explaining how hydrofracking works