The opening decade of the 21st century in America was book-ended by the twin calamities of the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 and the financial collapse that occurred in the final days of the Bush administration. A spirit of self-reliance and 'can do' optimism has manifest itself in a particular way within America's changing attitudes surrounding food. The childhood admonishment to 'eat your vegetables' has taken on an environmental and political context as activists and farmers have pushed the concepts of food justice and sustainable agriculture into the national discourse. The new agrarian movement draws upon a vision of what a past American economy resembled, but makes full use of the latest technologies available for low impact sustainable farming. The community relies on modern communication and social media to generate interest, organize volunteer working groups and market to their customers. While public enthusiasm is high and the Obama administration has shown some support for the movement, the goal of reworking the nation's food system remains daunting.