In this morning's FOODday, reporter Leslie Cole interviews Michael Pollan about new developments in food policy at the national level, challenges faced by small farmers, and how each of us can help build a healthy food system for our community.

Think small, he says: "I think putting in a home garden in important. It's a great lesson in self-reliance. And the cheapest, best, freshest organic food you can have would be the stuff you can grow yourself."

Not everyone has yard space to plant a garden. Community gardens help people access fresh, affordable, healthy food while they spend time outside and get to know their neighbors. Through our Community Garden Initiative, we're working to add 1,000 new plots by the end of 2012, helping more Portlanders than ever before grow their own food.

We're also kicking the junk food out of our community centers and encouraging vendors to offer healthy options when they sell food at events in our parks.

And remember - farmer's markets are already starting to open for the season! Find one near you!

Pollan will be in Portland this weekend to deliver keynote remarks for the "Food for Thought" conference presented by the University of Portland. Also speaking is Fedele Bauccio, UP alum and co-founder of Bon Appetit, which spends tens of millions of dollars annually on healthy, sustainable, locally-sourced food.

Coming up in early May, Portland's Community Food Security Coalition will present "Food Policy from Neighborhood to Nation," which features sessions on 'Policy Tools for Saving the Small Town Grocery Store,' 'Building Community: Growing Food & Jobs,' and more.

Photos: Root vegetables, above, courtesy Flickr user lumierefl; Drawer garden, right, courtesy Flickr user mazaletel