Posts from — May 2011

URL link to video here.

“The One Straw Revolution” published in 1978

In 1973, Larry Korn was under the tutelage of his Sensei (teacher), Masanobu Fukuoka, who lived in Shikoku Island, Japan. Korn received a hands-on education in the art of non-cultivation and do-nothing, natural farming. Translated in many languages, Masanobu Fukuoka wrote “The One Straw Revolution,” (New York Book Reviews), a classic memoir and guide.

[Read more →]

Nearly 200,000 farmers have committed suicide in India over the last 10 years

But the mainstream media hardly reflects this.

Nero’s Guests is a story about India’s agrarian crisis and the growing inequality seen through the work of the Rural Affairs Editor of Hindu newspaper, P Sainath.

[Read more →]

Group empowers people with developmental disabilities

News Release
May 5, 2011

Event in Vancouver BC:
Saturday, May 14, 2011. Garden build 8:00am – 5:00 pm. At: 4410 Kaslo Street, Vancouver (across from the 29th Ave Sky Train Station)

‘Can You Dig It’ is an urban agriculture and community development initiative hosted by posAbilities, a not for profit organization that empowers people with developmental disabilities. In partnership with MOSAIC immigrant settlement services and the Simon Fraser Society for Community Living, a new 50 plot community inclusive garden will be developed at 4410 Kaslo Street in Vancouver. Para Space Landscape Inc. had generously donated over $11,000 of expertise, time and materials to this garden, and the City of Vancouver has offered the land. Over 100 volunteers will work shoulder to shoulder on May 14 to build the site in just one day!

[Read more →]

Vuelve Carolina in Valencia, Spain.

Vertical mini allotments: What grows up

By Harriot Lane Fox
The Telegraph
05 May 2011

Excerpts:

What could be more metro-horticultural than ushering your dinner guests out onto the balcony and inviting them to pick their perfect salad?

That’s almost what the Michelin-starred chef-patron of Vuelve Carolina in Valencia, Spain, is doing with this chic new restaurant. He has taken the green wall — an eco-cool way to soften new shopping centres, offices and Olympic villages, including London’s — and made it edible. Diners now enjoy garnishes grown right in front of them.

[Read more →]

Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire. Map shows some of the 280 hectares of rolling fields.

The National Trust is asking the public to help run a real-life working farm via the web.

In return for a £30 annual subscription, 10,000 people will take control of the farm on the Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire.

Have your say on big decisions
Because Wimpole is a real farm, the decisions that have to be made are real, and they have real consequences. But, as in life and in any other business, there is no one right answer in farming, and we need some fresh ideas – yours! The first vote will be a big one: what should we grow on the farm?

[Read more →]

BYBØNDER. »Vi bliver mere og mere stressede, og vi dør af luftforurening. Jeg fatter simpelthen ikke, hvorfor vi partout skal have et højere tempo ind i byen«, siger den urbane landmand Anders Christoffer Andersen. – Foto: Mathias Christensen.

An urban farming initiative in Nørrebro

By Afton Halloran
Urban Agriculture Denmark
May 5, 2011

Excerpt:

The efforts of the unsung heros of the decentralized urban agriculture movement in Copenhagen are now starting to be recognized outside of their usual circles. For example, on April 29th, 2011 Politiken published a feature article on DYRK, an urban farming initiative in Nørrebro, titled “Urbane landmænd planter grønne chok i København”

Located on the roof of Blågård School DYRK has made a 250 square meter garden. And the group also has a variety of mobile raised beds that associations, institutions, cafes and cultural centers in the area can borrow.

[Read more →]

Three weeks of training followed by eleven weeks of work experience with partner agencies

By Julia Thiessen
EYA
May 3, 2011

A landmark internship has just drawn to a close, with ten local youth completing a unique urban agriculture work experience program. This program offered the opportunity for hands-on learning in the budding field of urban agriculture – and get paid for it! For the youth in the program this opportunity was not only a unique chance to  delve into organizations making a difference in the community, but also a chance to address their own barriers to finding fulfilling work in the future.

[Read more →]

There are a lot of skirmishes still to be fought within the urban ag war

By Kelly McCartney (writer-chef)
The Kelword
April 27th, 2011

Excerpt:

Although we may have a long row yet to hoe on the matter, urban agriculture has really started to take root in just a few short years as quite a few cities have passed legislation that make it a lot easier to grow food in an urban environment. In 2009, Seattle passed a bill that allows curbside areas to be planted without requiring a permit. Hardscaping – using rocks or raised beds – still requires permission, but not a fee.

[Read more →]

The Face Behind CityFarmer.org – Interview with Michael Levenston from The Socio Capitalist on Vimeo.

Socio Capitalist Interview with Michael Levenston

By Luke Miller Callahan
The Socio Capitalist
05/04/2011
(Disclaimer: The audio and video quality is not great -Luke)

More information here on The Socio Capitalist.

Britain’s Prince Charles accepts flowers from Nicole Pendergast, 7, of Washington, during a visit to Common Good City Farm in Washington, on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. Photo: Jacquelyn Martin / AP

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray described the prince as a “visionary” on environmental issues

By Ben Nuckols
Associated Press
May 3, 2011

Excerpts:

The Prince of Wales spent about 35 minutes touring Common Good City Farm on Capitol Hill. Wearing a gray, double-breasted suit on a muggy, windy day, he shook hands and made small talk with farm staffers, volunteers and dozens of onlookers who crammed against a picket fence.

He did not speak to reporters or address the crowd, but he chatted up children about composting and the members of a jazz band about their equipment. A longtime advocate of sustainable agriculture, Charles picked up a piece of spinach grown at the farm and popped it into his mouth.

[Read more →]

In 2010/11 “Leave It Better” has given gardens and cameras to 10 schools in New York

Kids are building gardens, sharing stories, inspiring friends and family to change the way we relate to our food, to our community and ultimately, to our planet.

Our unique documentary project provides children with gardening supplies and cameras, and allows them to share the story as they learn to compost, plant seeds and ultimately harvest food they’ve grown themselves.

[Read more →]

Molly Rockamann: 2011 Growing Green Young Food Leader award winner

By Ettie Berneking
Riverfront Times
May 2 2011

Excerpt:

You’re working to start a summer school program on the farm for middle schoolers. Is it more difficult to get kids enthused about farming?

One of the things that’s so different about kids is that they have this unbridled enthusiasm for it. I think kids, if they haven’t been told that they shouldn’t get dirty too much in their lives, they’re happy to get dirty. Kids are just into it right away.

[Read more →]

Prince Charles To Visit Common Good City Farm in Washington, DC May 3, 2011

His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, Will Visit the Farm

Dear Friends of Common Good City Farm,

It is with honor that I write to inform you that His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales will be visiting Common Good City Farm on Tuesday May 3rd, 2011 from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. HRH Prince Charles is a long-time supporter of sustainable agriculture and we are privileged and grateful for his visit. We at Common Good City Farm would like you to join us as we welcome the Prince to our farm and neighborhood.

[Read more →]

Stories of Urban Agriculture in Vancouver- Interview with Chris Thoreau from The Socio Capitalist on Vimeo.

The Socio Capitalist Interviews Chris Thoreau

By Luke Miller Callahan
The Socio Capitalist
05/02/2011

Excerpt:

Chris Thoreau is currently finishing his undergraduate degree in Agroecology at UBC. His focus has been on soils, urban farming, and plant breeding. Currently working on expanding the viability of urban farming as a business, he hopes to unite these three areas of study to help ensure the sustainability of urban food production.

[Read more →]

Ian White and his daughters Roberta and Nico at the Honor Oak Park Allotments. Photo by Justin Sutcliffe.

Plot-holders revolt over plan to scrap historic right to council land

By Jane Merrick and Mark Jewsbury
The Independent
1 May 2011

Excerpt:

The century-old right of people to demand an allotment from their council may be abolished by the Government under plans to scale back red tape, it emerged yesterday.

Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary, is examining plans to free local authorities from a 103-year-old obligation to provide plots of public land for cultivation by gardeners.

[Read more →]