Photo by Shane Keyser. Currently in Kansas City, urban farmer Steve Mann is not permitted to sell produce from a residential property he does not own.

Urban farming yields a harvest of hassles

By LYNN HORSLEY
The Kansas City Star
Nov. 06, 2009

Steve Mann doesn’t look like an outlaw as he cheerfully harvests giant rutabagas and luscious lettuce bunches from a friend’s garden in Kansas City, North.

But technically he is violating Kansas City ordinances as he prepares to sell the produce.

Brooke Salvaggio never dreamed that she and her husband, Dan Heryer, were running afoul of city codes when they used a few apprentices in their backyard garden business in south Kansas City.

[Read more →]

Urban farming – County preparing to break ground

Tribune Editorial
The Salt Lake Tribune
Nov. 04, 2009

As they sow, so shall they reap. With a progressive and expansive urban farming initiative, Salt Lake County officials are wisely planting the seeds of community, economy and healthful, sustainable living.

After getting the green light from the County Council in August, county staffers identified dozens of sites that may prove suitable for agricultural use, everything from tiny plots for public vegetable gardens to sprawling expanses suitable for biofuels production projects.

[Read more →]

Photo by Doug Mills/The New York Times

A Bountiful Buzz – From the south lawn, a sweet smell of honey

By ELISABETH GOODRIDGE
November 4, 2009, 3:49 PM
The New York Times
The Politics and Government Blog

A new type of visitor came to the National Mall this year, flitting past monuments and museums in favor of trees, flowers and plants. But this wasn’t just some horticultural tour; no, this was work. Each day they were abuzz, gathering and pollinating before returning home to modest quarters with tremendous security near Lafayette Park.

Meet the White House honeybee.

Numbering more than 65,000 at one point, the bees produced a bumper crop of honey this year, the first time honey has ever been made on White House grounds. The hive, located on the South Lawn, is a key part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s organic kitchen garden project.

[Read more →]

First Lady Michelle Obama is shown in this undated publicity photograph as she plants a garden on “Sesame Street” with characters Big Bird and Elmo. “Sesame Street”, the world’s largest informal children’s educator, celebrates its 40th birthday on November 10, 2009 with Obama’s appearance on the show.

Michelle Obama and Sesame Street: 40th anniversary season

LOS ANGELES (Reuters)
Sep 29, 2009

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama is to kick off the 40th anniversary season of the children’s TV show “Sesame Street” with a segment encouraging kids to plant gardens and eat healthy food.

Obama, who is planting a fruit and vegetable garden on the grounds of the White House, will appear in the November10 season debut of “Sesame Street” — the educational show for kids that is broadcast in more than 120 countries around the world.

[Read more →]