Cleveland-Marshall College of Law seeks proposals for presentations at the symposium

04/20/2012 – 2:00pm – 5:00pm
1801 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, Ohio 44115

Cleveland-Marshall College of Law is presenting “Urban Agriculture: It’s Not an Oxymoron. Policies for Cultivating City Land and Increasing Access to Local Food” a symposium on policy, land-use and other legal issues connected to urban agriculture and the local food movement.

As the movement towards local food continues to grow, cities are finding that they must develop law and policies to allow for and regulate agricultural practices within urban communities. Many cities are implementing policies to increase urban food production through regulation, incentives, and more comprehensive land-use and public-health policies.

Cities are doing so because they recognize that increasing agricultural land use can be a good answer to declining populations and an excess of abandoned or foreclosed properties. Cities are also recognizing that increasing access to local food can provide economic and public health benefits. And, regions are realizing that increasing the connections between rural farmers and urban consumers can provide a synergistic relationship with economic benefits to the farmer, health benefits to the consumer, ecological benefits to the environment, and a more sustainable and secure food sources for the community.

Read more here.

Forthcoming at: Agriculture in an Urbanizing Society – International Conference on Multifunctional Agriculture and Urban-Rural Relations The Netherlands 1 – 4 April 2012

By Nathali Lehmann Schumann and Michael Heasman
Global Nutrition and Health, Metropolitan University College
Copenhagen, Denmark

Abstract only:

This paper presents evidence on the policy challenges facing urban agriculture in the cities of Vancouver, New York, London and Copenhagen based on an analysis of relevant policy documents and in-depth interviews with experts in each city who are directly involved in the implementation of policy related to urban agriculture. Despite progress in each city, the research suggests the extent of the role of urban agriculture is not fully understood or defined and that it is rare to find stand-alone policy documents. Instead urban agricultural policies are usually embedded within wider policy initiatives such as on the environment, sustainability, planning or ‘green’ city policies.

Comparative analysis across the four cities, based on the key informant interviews and policy documentation, will be presented with respect to urban agriculture policy implementation, policy development, the role of stakeholders, and the challenges and barriers facing urban agriculture in each city. More than 20 ‘challenges’ were identified by the research related to the implementation and integration of urban agriculture, with five challenges seen as key: the need for evidence; political will; a lack of strategy; space and land issues; and perceptions about urban agriculture as an ‘alternative food system’. The identified challenges suggest that much more has to be done to encourage and promote local food production in cities. Finally the results are considered in the broader context of alternative food systems and it is suggested that policies related to urban agriculture tend to ‘romanticize’ the role of urban agriculture in relation to its potential benefits due to the absence of empirical data, evaluation, and a lack of monitoring procedures.

The full paper will be published at a later date.

Conference website here.

February 16, 2012
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. (PST); 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. (EST)

A vibrant movement is afoot in cities across the country ? farmers, activists, and community organizations are improving the health, economic outlook, and vitality of their communities through urban farming. Advocates are illustrating that urban agriculture is a pathway to making healthy food more available for low-income communities, a key to shifting economic revitalization efforts, and catalytic for battling the challenges of blight and abandonment.

Building from the recently released PolicyLink Urban Agriculture Tool, PolicyLink will be hosting a mini-series of webinars focusing on how low-income communities and communities of color are incorporating urban agriculture into their community development efforts and into policy infrastructures supporting this work.

This first webinar will feature Green City Grower’s CEO Mary Donnell, Ian Marvy, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Added Value (see video here), and Malik Yakini, Chairman of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network. Each panelist will discuss challenges and strategies for growing and sustaining urban agriculture projects in low-income communities and communities of color.

Register for the Webinar here.

Visit PolicyLink Urban Agriculture Tool here.

The conference will be held in Dutch

From Guido van Rijkom:

We have attracted a large number of good speakers to the conference, both from city governments, entrepreneurs, housing agencies, etc. I am also very happy to announce that Wayne Roberts (Toronto Food Policy Council) will be our keynote speaker that day.

The conference will be held in Dutch and it is mainly for a Dutch audience (some from Belgium, maybe some from Germany).

Press Release (in Dutch)

Dag van de Stadslandbouw – 8 maart 2012 Almere
Op donderdag 8 maart 2012 vindt in Almere de Dag van de Stadslandbouw plaats. Dit landelijke congres wordt georganiseerd in samenwerking met o.a. het Ministerie van Economische Zaken, Landbouw en Innovatie, Wageningen Universiteit, Netwerk Platteland, het Nicis Institute en het Ontwikkelcentrum Stadslandbouw Almere.

Doelstelling en doelgroep
De Dag van de Stadslandbouw is het eerste nationale platform waar in breed perspectief de kansen en knelpunten van stadslandbouw in Nederland uiteen worden gezet. De dag gaat in op de vraag of en hoe stadslandbouw kan inspelen op de behoeften van Nederlandse steden (op het gebied van o.a. groen, gezondheid, stedelijke ontwikkeling en economie). De dag is bestemd voor gemeenten en provincies, ondernemers, de food- en agro sector, retailbedrijven, groenvoorzien-ers, cateraars, woningcorporaties, projectontwikkelaars en overige partijen die professioneel bij het thema betrokken zijn.

Keynote spreker Wayne Roberts
De Canadese auteur Wayne Roberts is wereldwijd befaamd als voedselstrategie analist en staat bekend als de drijvende kracht achter de Toronto Food Policy Council. Speciaal voor de Dag van de Stadslandbouw komt hij naar Nederland. Hij zal adviseren over de rol van overheden bij stadslandbouw en inzicht geven hoe stadslandbouw in breder kader in gemeentelijk beleid ingebed kan worden.

Exclusieve bestuurdersbijeenkomst
Voor bestuurders van gemeenten en provincies vindt er in de ochtend een speciale bestuurdersbijeenkomst plaats. Bestuurders van gemeenten en provincies gaan hier, met inbreng van deskundigen, dieper in op een aantal vraagstellingen rondom Stadslandbouw.

Stadslandbouw Innovatie Award 2012
Ondernemers worden deze dag bijzonder uitgedaagd om mee te dingen naar de eerste Stadslandbouw Innovatie Award. Deze stimuleringsprijs is bedoeld voor ondernemers en andere initiatiefnemers die een creatief, innoverend en inspirerend idee hebben voor een stadslandbouw project in Nederland.

Naast een plenair deel bestaat het programma uit praktijk- en inspiratiesessies en een streekmarkt.

Enkele thema’s die aan bod komen zijn:
• Biedt stadslandbouw kansen of is het niet meer dan een hype?
• Waarom is stadslandbouw interessant voor de stad en haar bewoners?
• Welke beleidsdoelen kan het helpen realiseren?
• Wat is de rol van de overheid om ontwikkelingen van de grond te krijgen?
• Ideeën genoeg, maar hoe komt een economisch duurzame financiering tot stand?
• Wat voor soort ondernemer wordt er gevraagd en welke rol heeft deze?

Sprekers tijdens de dag zijn o.a.:
• Annemarie Jorritsma-Lebbink, burgemeester van Almere
• Jan Ferwerda, algemeen directeur PLUS Retail
• Carlos Faes, oprichter/eigenaar Philips Fruittuin
• Annemieke Fontein, hoofd landschapsarchitectuur gemeente Rotterdam
• Riek Bakker, stedenbouwkundige
• Lenie Dwarshuis-Van de Beek, lid PeriUrban Platform Europe
• Anneke Ammerlaan, voedseldeskundige
• Frank Bijdendijk, voorzitter Voedselbank Amsterdam; vm. directeur Stadgenoot

Kijk voor meer informatie op: www.dagvandestadslandbouw.nl

Visit their website here.

John Ameroso is responsible for around 18 tons of produce grown in NYC a year, and sowing gardens and since 1976.

January 18th, 2012
1118 Cortelyou RD, Brooklyn

In 1976 John Ameroso piloted the Urban Gardening Program with Cornell University Cooperative Extension, and through his efforts successfully set the ground for Extension education in urban horticulture and food production for New York City. Mr. Ameroso served as President of the New York State Association of County Agricultural Agents (1997) and serves on the Boards of Directors for four organizations – one concerned with environmental “greening” issues (Neighborhood Open Space Coalition);

one involved with local food security issues (Just Food); another with youth development utilizing agriculture and food accessibility programs (Added Value); the other promoting and supporting farmers’ markets throughout New York State (Farmers’ Market Federation of New York). Two of his programs have received National recognition: Rikers Island Prison Farm Project and The Gericke Organic Farm Education Project at Clay Pit Pond State Park in Staten Island.

More here.

Agriculture in an urbanizing society – International Conference on Multifunctional Agriculture and Urban-Rural Relations

Conference
The Netherlands
1 – 4 April 2012

What are the challenges of future urban agriculture?

Urban agriculture is defined as producing food and food products within the city, or in the city fringe, and simultaneously provide non-food products and services for city dwellers. Urban agriculture is as old as our cities, but lost its function swiftly in the 19th century mainly due to new means of conservation, processing and transportation of food. Today, urban agriculture, in all its diversity, is regaining its function as local food producer and processor, in both developing and developed cities worldwide.

However, the initiatives operate at different levels of scale, in different domains, with different jargon and without coherence. Moreover, the initiatives still are depending on a few ambitious entrepreneurs, civilians or policymakers. This could hamper further development and even risk a future decline.

Evidence is coming available that urban agriculture has a potential for improving liveability in cities, enhancing (bio-)diversity, improving health and more social interaction between city dwellers. Could we address the potentials (and risks) of modern urban agriculture. In this working group we ask you for contributions on one or more of the following topics:

The possible benefits and expenses of urban agriculture (investment, redesign, space)
The role of urban agriculture in cities liveability, e.g. social interactions, social cohesion within the city and rural – city interactions
The contribution of urban agriculture to food security in urban areas
The contribution of urban agriculture to cities (bio)diversity
The contribution of urban agriculture to sustainable urban food chains (reuse of waste or minerals and reducing food miles)
Transitions needed in attitude, acting and organisation of city dwellers, policy and entrepreneurs

Based on the different contributions we will pay a lot of attention in this working group on debating the future research and action agenda on urban agriculture.

See more details here.

Garden Grant Application Available Online, Due Dec. 23, 2011

Press Release
Oct. 25, 2011

Burpee Home Gardens(R) is now accepting applications for the 2012 “I Can Grow” Youth Garden Award. In its third year, the “I Can Grow” program continues to support urban school and community gardens in cities across the United States. To date, the “I Can Grow” program has provided more than 8,000 vegetable and herb plants to help create 16 gardens nationwide.

Two grand-prize winners will be awarded up to 500 vegetable and herb plants, including the Burpee BOOST collection, and $2,500 in garden supplies. They also will receive on-site assistance for initial garden layout and installation from the experts at Burpee Home Gardens, 5 gallons of Daniels(R) Plant Food, one hose-end sprayer and a Flip Video(TM) camera to document the garden’s progress throughout the year. In addition, three runner-up winners will receive 500 vegetable and herb plants, including the Burpee BOOST collection, 5 gallons of Daniels(R) Plant Food, one hose-end sprayer and a Flip Video camera.

Read the complete article here.

Reap What You Sow -Eat What You Grow! 10th-12th December 2011, Mumbai

From Urban Leaves:

The aim of hosting this seminar is to give faces to names, learn some amazing gardening secrets from experienced practitioners, interact and meet all those like minded people across the country with whom we have been sharing our joys of harvests, sharing tips on composting, sowing and reaping up till now on e–groups and networking sites.

We hope this seminar will act as a catalyst to the growth in urban gardens which began last year with the first ever urban farming seminar in Bangalore. The seminar has therefore been designed keeping in mind the needs of urban gardeners.

We hope to have loads of interaction and fun, group discussion and a happy heart to take back sweet memories and a song in our heart as we begin working on our urban gardens once we are back at home.

Link to Urban Leaves here.

Urban Agriculture – Innovative Farming Systems for the 21st Century

Online Class (December 19 – January 20, 2012)
Instructor: Helena Farrell

Description: The course explores the subject of Urban Agriculture through the investigation and evaluation of current urban farming system. Using case studies, students will practice critical research skills including information gathering, analysis and assessment, as a means for learning about contemporary urban farming systems and issues in the field. The first half of the course will involve focused investigation of particular urban farming designs using national and international examples.

Participants will learn about a wide range of designs, productions methods, technologies and innovations, as well as principles and practices in urban farming systems; learn why urban agriculture is needed in the context of current events and contemporary issues; and learn and practice peer-evaluation, critical thinking, analysis and communication skills in an online classroom.

3 credits (will count toward the Sustainable Food and Farming major or certificate).

See more here.

A gathering of Vancouver’s urban farmers

Friday, November 25, 2011 (evening);
Saturday, November 26, 2011 (all day)

Introduction from the website:

Vancouver has the goal of being the Greenest City in the World by 2020. Local food and green economy are two of ten areas of focus for achieving the greenest city goals. Urban farming is in a unique position to contribute to both of these goals. The number of urban farms in Vancouver is increasing and these green businesses are leading the way in developing economically viable food production models for the urban environment.

With urban commercial food production being a relatively new occurrence in Vancouver, it is not accounted for in current city policy. There are a number of factors affecting urban farms’ ability to operate as legitimate businesses in Vancouver including land zoning and business licensing. This forum comes out of an interest from both the City and Urban Farmers to work together toward policies, best practices, and land-use decisions that can support urban farming practices now and into the future.

This forum will draw on policy precedents from other West Coast cities such as San Francisco, Seattle, Victoria, and Lantzville – to generate ideas for shaping Vancouver’s city policy. Each of these cities has implemented urban farming policies over the past several years and can offer a lot of insight into developing our own policies here in Vancouver.

This forum also offers the opportunity for urban farmers to share what they have to offer to the city and to discuss best practices to ensure urban farming activity is not at odds with other urban activities.

As urban farming becomes more and more prevalent in Vancouver changes to policies will be essential in ensuring the sustainability of urban farming businesses. This forum offers the opportunity for input from a wide range of stakeholders in an effort to realize those changes.

See more details here.

And sign up today here.

Urban Agriculture – How do we feed people in the urban era?

House of Sweden, 2900 K Street, NW, Washington, DC
November 16, 2011, 1 pm – 5 pm (refreshments will be served)
This is hosted by the Embassy of Sweden and Plantagon and its partners. There is no cost to attend.

As more and more people move to ever-expanding cities, farming will be pushed further away from population centers. The inevitable result of this ”urban sprawl” is longer transportation routes and less fresh products.
Especially low-income urban areas will be affected.

Join Swedish clean-tech and American know-how in a half-day seminar on how to use urban agriculture technologies to create a more sustainable city of tomorrow.

Where consumers will have access to healthy and nutritious food in their neighbourhood.

All consumers; regardless of income level and where they live.

Urban Agriculture Summit 2011

13:00 – 13:05 Welcome by moderator Nils Bruzelius, Environmental Working Group
13.05 – 13.10 Opening address, HE Jonas Hafström, Swedish Ambassador to the U.S.
13:10 – 14:00 Prof. Oren Lyons, Chairman Plantagon (keynote) – “Food security from a global climate change perspective and diminishing land access”
14:00 – 14.15 Tomas Norling, Swedish Trade Council/SymbioCity – “Swedish government’s cleantech collaboration project SymbioCity”
14:15 – 14.30 Eva Nygren, CEO Sweco Group – “Sustainable engineering and design”
14:30 – 15:00 Coffee
15:00 – 15.15 TBD; Representative EWG / Representative US City (San Francisco, Portland, Chicago, Boston & Syracuse invited, to be confirmed)
15:15 – 15:30 Hans Hassle, CEO Plantagon – “Feeding people in the urban era”
15:30 – 16:15 Round table discussion on how urban agriculture will affect our daily lives of tomorrow moderated by Nils Bruzelius
Participants: Prof. Oren Lyons, Hans Hassle, Mats Hellström (Former Swedish Minister for Foreign Trade and Agriculture), Tomas Norling, Eva Nygren, EWG/US city
16:15 – 17:00 Reception (refreshments)

Join the event here.

You Local Guradian
26th September 2011

Excerpt:

A farm in Colliers Wood has scooped the title of best in London for the second year running at a festival of city farming and community gardening.

Volunteers from Deen City Farm beat their nearest rivals Surrey Docks and attributed their victory to great teamwork and animal handling skills.

City Harvest Festival, London. See more photos from the event here.

The annual event was held at Capel Manor in Kent on September 17. Deen City’s 14 representatives, one just 10-years-old, were awarded seven 1st places, four 2nd places and two 3rd places giving them 32 points overall – four points more than their own winning total last year.

Read the complete article here.

London’s Harvest Festival

Excerpt from The Smallholder, Sept 1, 2011

A unique UK festival, with all the fun and atmosphere of a traditional rural county show, but featuring animals and producer from inner city London takes place on September 17.

Now in its 13th year, the City Harvest Festival is the one time in the year when the hard work and dedication of talented farmers and gardeners from across London are celebrated.

City Harvest Festival, London. See more photos from the event here.

This year, animals and produce from a wide range of London’s 16 city farms and more than 100 community gardens will be showcased at the event. Visitors to the festival can see Golden Guernsey goats from Newham, honey from Walworth, pumpkins from Kentish Town, Indian runner ducks from Vauxhall, Bengali kerala from Shoreditch, and blackcurrants from White City. The festival takes place in 30 acres of gorgeous grounds at Capel Manor in Enfield and is a great family day out. Ducks, geese, rabbits, ponies and livestock compete for the Best in Show, while there is a dazzling array of both familiar and exotic fruit and vegetables in a variety of produce competitions, all sourced from London farms and gardens.

Read the complete article here.

A proposal to bring a major exhibition of British food, farming and countryside to Hyde Park, London on 26th-29th September 2013.

Buckingham Palace – Message from Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, in support of Farming in the Park, London, 2013

Now that the majority of the population live in towns and cities, there is every reason to draw attention to the fact that just 3% of the working population produce about 80% of the food consumed by the whole population of this country.

The last time a Festival of Food and Farming was organised in London was 1989 and it was a huge success. Now, over twenty years later, it would seem about time to repeat such a venture for the benefit of a whole new generation of urban consumers.

The Proposal

Over the last ten years the farming industry has realised there is a growing appetite from an increasingly curious public to learn more about where their food comes from and how the countryside is managed. As a result, across rural Britain, from county shows to open farms, there has been an impressive amount of activity and initiative that has sought to better engage with all age groups. What we now need to do is to tap into this communication renaissance and bring it to our capital.

You could argue that while we have focused our efforts on our own provincial patches, the cities have been largely forgotten. London is a vital hub that agriculture ignores at its peril. There are eight million consumers and 2,250 schools all within twenty miles of Hyde Park. Furthermore, the city is a focal point when it comes to the nation’s political, business and cultural life. In 1989 and 1992 major celebrations of food and farming were held in Hyde Park. They were emphatic successes pulling in enormous crowds of close to a million people each time. At the end of the 1992 event, the exhibitors were surveyed and over 90% agreed a similar event should be held again soon. Twenty years later this is long overdue.

Farming in the Park Ltd has been set up by a group of like minded farmers from across Britain with the intention of putting on another landmark exhibition free to enter that will celebrate the best of farming, food and countryside in Hyde Park in late September 2013.
Now it needs your help and support.

See the plan here.

GrowTo: the What, How, Where and Why of Urban Agriculture

Ryerson University.
Toronto Oct-Nov 2011

Hear from local and international urban agriculture experts and participate in interactive discussions designed to expand local food production in Toronto.

Session 1: Oct 4. What can we grow? New Crops and Marketing for a Multicultural City

Session 2: Oct 20. How can we grow? Food Hubs – from Concept to Practice

Session 3: Nov 1. Where can we grow? Planning and Designing for a Carrot City

Session 4: Nov 15. Why should we grow? Making the Case for Urban Agriculture

See more here.

A unique urban adventure: counting worms, learning about composting

City Chase brought a few hundred explorers to the Vancouver Compost Demonstration Garden as part of a unique urban adventure. Participants had to dig through our worm bins and find 10 worms and also answer questions about the composting process. It was a wonderful way to introduce people to home composting.

City Chase money goes to Right To Play

Right To Play is an international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play programs to improve health, develop life skills, and foster peace for children and communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world. Working in both the humanitarian and development context, Right To Play builds local capacity by training community leaders as Coaches to deliver its programs in over 20 countries affected by war, poverty, and disease in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America.

City City Chase here.

Mayor Kasim Reed, Wal-Mart and Sustainable Atlanta Announce Urban Farm Design Competition

Aug 24, 2011
Press Release

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Wal-Mart representatives and officials from the Office of Sustainability and Sustainable Atlanta announced today a competition to design an urban farm on a vacant lot across from City Hall. The Trinity Avenue Urban Farm Design Competition was launched to support the city’s effort in establishing an effective and inspirational model for urban agriculture and furthering the city’s pursuit of becoming a Top 10 sustainable city. In addition, as part of Wal-Mart’s initial funding, there is a $25,000 award to the winning submission.

“We are very excited about the opportunity to create a sustainable and accessible greenspace in the heart of downtown that will serve as a model and educational tool for similar projects in the future,” said Mayor Reed. “I want to thank our partners at Wal-Mart for their generous support of the urban farm and their commitment to bringing fresh produce to inner-city neighborhoods.”

Supported by Wal-Mart, the design competition will transform the site of the old traffic court building – vacant for several years – into a thriving demonstration farm. “We are honored to support this project which will ultimately promote local foods, create jobs and build community,” said Wal-Mart Regional General Manager Karen Brewer-Edwards.

With the ultimate goal of showcasing how fresh food can be grown locally and sustainably, the competition will promote creativity and innovation in the design of the farm, as well raise awareness of the farm itself. The Office of Sustainability is consulting on this multidisciplinary project with Sustainable Atlanta, the Atlanta City Council, the University of Georgia School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Georgia Organics and Truly Living Well.

“By engaging a consortium of city leaders and experts from outside organizations, this cutting-edge demonstration project has the potential to inform a wide range of stakeholders on the benefits of local food programs,” said Sustainable Atlanta Director Suzanne Burnes.

The contest is open to students, educators and professionals across Georgia in fields related to urban agriculture and landscape architecture.

Interested competitors must register online at http://www.trinityavenuefarm.org by October 15 and submit proposals by November 1. Once the winning design is chosen, the preparation of the land and design installation will begin immediately, with the farm scheduled to open to the public by the spring of 2012. There will be a $25,000 grand prize awarded to the winning submission.

The demonstration project will support the City of Atlanta’s “Power to Change” sustainability plan and its commitment to bring local food within 10 minutes of 75 percent of all residents by 2020. “The Trinity Avenue farm will be a living visual of the city’s dedication to sustainability,” said Office of Sustainability Communications Manager Aaron Bastian.

“Local, sustainable and organic food practices have numerous health and environmental benefits,” said UGA’s Director of Environmental Sciences Susan Varlamoff. “Local food is often fresher, eliminates negative externalities, such as carbon emissions, and supports our local economy. We applaud Mayor Reed and the city for joining the local food movement by showcasing urban agriculture right in the heart of downtown.”

The City of Atlanta intends for the Trinity Avenue Urban Farm to be a productive, crop-producing plot of land and a designated space for innovative projects. Visible to anyone who visits City Hall, the project aims to inspire community awareness and interest in local, sustainable food systems and to encourage citizens to take these practices home. Through this demonstration project, urban agriculture initiatives in local communities can become more widespread, effectively working to support and maintain healthier lifestyles in every neighborhood while saving money on families’ grocery bills.

See more about the project here.

Sunday, September 18th from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm; to be followed by RiverSing. Mount Auburn Street from Eliot St to JFK St and in Winthrop Park, Cambridge, MA.

The Third Annual Urban-AG fair will be held on Sunday, September 18, 2011 on the site of the first marketplace in Newtone (1630s) and will showcase locally grown fruits and vegetables. Come sample delicious local fare, purchase locally grown foods, get tips from local experts on composting, community gardening, container gardening, and raising chickens and bees and more!

Cooking demonstrations by local chefs will be held throughout the day. In addition, there will be great live music and a beer garden featuring locally crafted brews! All events are free, open to the public and are family friendly.

Submit your fruits, vegetables, flowers, honey, eggs, baked goods, preserves, pickles and beverages in our judged competition! Prizes will be awarded in the categories of tastiest, biggest, prettiest/most creative, most interesting/funny-looking and student grower (under 17). In addition, prizes will be awarded for photographs in the categories of composition, best use of space in a community garden and best use of space at a residence.

See more here.

At Michael Abelman’s farm – Salt Spring Island, BC. Canada

Tuesday, September 27th, 7:00pm – Friday, September 30th, 2011
instructor: Michael Ableman and Josh Volk
cost: $285 plus HST (lunches and dinners included)

Urban agriculture as a movement has come into its own, with a dramatic increase in individuals wanting to create agricultural enterprises on small plots in the city. While enthusiasm is high, the skill level required to make these enterprises financially viable is often lacking. This workshop, taught by two veteran farmers, will provide the nuts and bolts for starting an urban agricultural enterprise from site selection and soil remediation, to developing a business and crop plan, to propagation,

direct seeding, transplanting, irrigation, cultivation, pests, diseases, harvesting and a range of creative marketing strategies. The workshop is for beginners and for those who have been farming and want to improve their skills. While the workshop has a focus on the urban scene, much of the instruction will also apply to peri-urban and rural farming enterprises.

See details here.

“The winner will watch recording history go down in front of their eyes as they join Snoop Dogg as he creates his next new masterpiece.”

Look to the Stars
July 13, 2011

Rapper, actor and cultural trendsetter Snoop Dogg is adding philanthropist to his long list of accolades. The legendary entertainer and record producer has partnered with leading charity auction site charitybuzz.com to give one lucky fan the experience on a lifetime for a cause he’s passionate about.

Snoop is auctioning the rare opportunity to join him in his California recording studio to benefit Urban Farming and the Snoop Youth Football League.

Valued at $50,000, this experience is the ultimate look into the life of one of the world’s most successful artists. First, the winning bidder will take a ride with Snoop’s car customizer extraordinaire Bigg Slice to the recording studio in one of his pimped out cars. Then, the winner will watch recording history go down in front of their eyes as they join Snoop Dogg as he creates his next new masterpiece.

Read the complete article here.

July 9 – Seattle Tilth’s Chicken Coop & Urban Farm Tour

Using our map with descriptions of each site, you can choose your own adventure. Some highlights include a Coop Expo at the Rainier Beach Farm with several builders ready to show-off a variety of coops that are made-to-order, a certified organic garden-to-market project used for mental health therapy, a community garden with a large chicken coop for Asian immigrant elders, a chicken coop with a green roof, rain barrels and neighboring goats, and a diverse garden with bees, worm bins and medicinal plants used to make herbal tinctures and salves.

Seattle Tilth has been organizing this community event for over a decade, originally to encourage people to raise chickens in the city. Since then, the event has expanded in both topic and turf to include urban and suburban sites, as well as a wide variety of animals and agricultural practices. Tour participants get face time with ducks, mini dairy goats, honey bees, geese and a couple sheep with (hopefully) new born lambs, even a cow and horse. The territory ranges from Edmonds to Renton, with sites in Issaquah and Duvall, and everywhere in between.

See more here.