Just a stream of thoughts today I'm afraid. I've been so busy lately and when you are working as basically your own boss, sorta, the time really does start to become the most valuable commodity you have. It reminds me of why my work with the Flow Campaign is so important. I have really taken the lessons I've been learning from this work to heart. Time is the premium.
Yesterday I did some initial shooting of a site visit for the Sustainable Rain project for Sustainable Seattle. The location was on the corner of MLK and Union in a formerly vacant lot that was overrun by blackberries, brambles and broken furniture. Across the street is a Grocery Outlet, a cafe espresso stand, and a series of houses with no fences, dogs and comic book readers who flip through superhero hijinks while taking drags off of early morning cigarettes.
The neighbors are all behind the new project that is being lead by a fiscal sponsoree of Sustainable Seattle, Green Plate Special. The project is all about teaching youth about healthy eating, cooking and urban agriculture. It takes youth who have not had the training and examples of a well rounded diet or even the baseline knowledge of where food comes from or what it takes to bring that food from farm to table.
Showing posts with label sustainable agriculture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sustainable agriculture. Show all posts
Apr 7, 2011
Feb 3, 2011
2012 Farm Bill examination with Dan Imhoff
Sustainable Seattle offers this space to non profits and social entrepreneurs to inform the public of their work. For more information or to share an announcement contact info(at)sustainableseattle.org.
Why the Farm Bill Matters
Why the Farm Bill Matters
Come hear nationally renowned author, researcher, publisher and farmer Dan Imhoff speak about the 2012 Farm Bill. Dan Imhoff is the author of two important books: CAFO: The Tragedy of Industrial Animal Factories and Food Fight: The Citizen’s Guide to a Food and Farm Bill
Tuesday, March 1, 7-9 pm.
Architecture Hall, University of Washington
Thanks to the efforts of the Northwest Farm Bill Action Group, the Department of Urban Planning and Design in the College of Built Environments, University of Washington and our co-sponsors there is no charge or this event!
The Farm Bill is perhaps the single most significant land use legislation enacted in the United States, yet many citizens remain unaware of its power and scope. As debate and wrangling over the 2012 Farm Bill intensifies, Dan Imhoff will offer a highly informative and engaging overview of the legislation that literally shapes our food system, our bodies, and our future.
The Northwest Farm Bill Action Group, a primary sponsor of this event, is a new alliance which provides the space for people and organizations to educate themselves about the 2012 Food and Farm Bill and to transform the bill to work for healthy farms, communities and food for everyone. The NW Farm Bill Action Group is undertaking innovative research and outreach efforts to help those wanting to shape the next Food and Farm Bill.
Daniel Imhoff has appeared on hundreds of national and regional radio and television programs. He has testified before Congress and spoken at numerous conferences, corporate and government offices, and college campuses. Dan received a B.A. in International Relations from Allegheny College and an M.A. in International Affairs from the Maxwell School of Public Affairs at Syracuse University.
For more info, please email farmbill@
Mar 24, 2010
Urban Agriculture, lessons and hard work
On Saturday March 20th I showed up with a friend in tow to the Yeslar Terrace community center to help out with the p-patch restoration and expansion project. The day was shining, the neighborhood was still sleeping and the bus got us there right on time.
I saw a few colleagues of mine already there, Owen our videographer, and Corey the Community Development Co Lead. I greeted them and then ducked out of the way of the camera trying to hide my face and likeness. I don't want another screen cap of my grill being the face of our next video like the staff video up on our website...scary.
There were about thirty people in attendance with most of them youth from various community groups like Ground Up Yeslar, Seattle Tilth, a few local High Schools like Franklin and of course the agriculture professionals, one of them a fifteen year veteran at this particular growing site.
The students were dressed sensibly and were excited about the prospect with roughly half of them female and the other half...male. I spoke with Karen from Ground Up as we had previously met at the Journalism that Matters conference and it was great catching up. She then convened the volunteers and we had a brief, but effective safety meeting.
The students were fired up and the atmosphere was friendly, dedicated, with banter that was surprisingly appropriate. I'm always surprised how much people expect teens to be rude, obnoxious, cursing troublemakers, when the majority of them that I've interacted with over my many years has been exactly the opposite.
I decided to go do some composting and after an hour of wheel barrow shifting, shoveling, sorting, digging and listening to an adult give the teens a true history of African American heritage, I was tired and feeling great.
The p-patch itself is very large and spread out amongst the apartments in Yeslar Terrace. The patches are mostly overrun with native plant weed, but they are fertile and with the right stewardship would be a reliable source of food for the community.
Corey was chosen to be a lead in one of the projects and he cheerfully responded. He is doing so much work in this community and his heart is definitely feeling the unique, diverse vibe that Yeslar Terrace exudes. I look forward to coming back and seeing where this partnership leads.
Did I fail to mention the home cooked lunch provided to us after we were done? It was an exploration of East African cuisine provided by neighbors and participants. I loved the greens and actually ate more than my fair share. I kept sneaking more fork fulls onto my plate after distracting other hungry volunteers with questions and conversation. Best lesson learned is to always give participants a way to participate. The neighbors who cooked the food did what they do best and everyone benefited.
I saw a few colleagues of mine already there, Owen our videographer, and Corey the Community Development Co Lead. I greeted them and then ducked out of the way of the camera trying to hide my face and likeness. I don't want another screen cap of my grill being the face of our next video like the staff video up on our website...scary.
There were about thirty people in attendance with most of them youth from various community groups like Ground Up Yeslar, Seattle Tilth, a few local High Schools like Franklin and of course the agriculture professionals, one of them a fifteen year veteran at this particular growing site.
The students were dressed sensibly and were excited about the prospect with roughly half of them female and the other half...male. I spoke with Karen from Ground Up as we had previously met at the Journalism that Matters conference and it was great catching up. She then convened the volunteers and we had a brief, but effective safety meeting.The students were fired up and the atmosphere was friendly, dedicated, with banter that was surprisingly appropriate. I'm always surprised how much people expect teens to be rude, obnoxious, cursing troublemakers, when the majority of them that I've interacted with over my many years has been exactly the opposite.
I decided to go do some composting and after an hour of wheel barrow shifting, shoveling, sorting, digging and listening to an adult give the teens a true history of African American heritage, I was tired and feeling great.
The p-patch itself is very large and spread out amongst the apartments in Yeslar Terrace. The patches are mostly overrun with native plant weed, but they are fertile and with the right stewardship would be a reliable source of food for the community.
Corey was chosen to be a lead in one of the projects and he cheerfully responded. He is doing so much work in this community and his heart is definitely feeling the unique, diverse vibe that Yeslar Terrace exudes. I look forward to coming back and seeing where this partnership leads.
Did I fail to mention the home cooked lunch provided to us after we were done? It was an exploration of East African cuisine provided by neighbors and participants. I loved the greens and actually ate more than my fair share. I kept sneaking more fork fulls onto my plate after distracting other hungry volunteers with questions and conversation. Best lesson learned is to always give participants a way to participate. The neighbors who cooked the food did what they do best and everyone benefited.
Jan 13, 2010
Sustainable Agriculture Events
A training event on agriculture and personal changes one can make around food in general. These events take place in Tacoma.
Tacoma's First Permaculture Design Course
Permaculture Ethics & Principles are the basis of the design system.
You'll learn what this foundation is, how these principles are observed in
nature, and how they apply to our lives and designs.
Reading the Landscape, Mapmaking are first steps in understanding the
earth we live on and finding clues to how to best interact with it. We'll
be teaching a plethora of observation techniques that open the senses to
important details and show you how to read a landscape's history. You'll
learn how to visually portray nature's patterns by learning map-making
skills and doing base maps of different areas.
Permaculture Design organizes information into different methodologies
that help you plan, place, and prioritize elements into most efficient
uses. Many playful games teach how to connect resources and expand
creative possibilities within our designs and our lives.
Soils, Compost, Nutrients, Mycology. Broken, contaminated soils are all
around us and affect the food we eat and the abundance of our ecosystems.
You'll learn soil analysis and many soil-building and remediation
strategies that are the first step in building your permaculture
ecosystem. There'll be a strong focus on mycoremediation and in
cultivating mushrooms, as fungi do incredible work in the soil.
Tacoma's First Permaculture Design Course
Free Introductory Event:
“What on Earth is Permaculture? An introduction to sustainable human habitats in Tacoma”
When: January 28th 2010. 6:30-9pm
Where: First Methodist Church of Tacoma, 621 Tacoma Ave S.
It will be in lower level of the church. Enter through Court E (Alley between 6th and 7th)
Cost: Free! Donations accepted
Permaculture Design Course Details:
Dates: 2/20-21, 3/13-14, 4/17-18, 5/8-9, 6/19-20, 7/17-18, 8/21-22, 9/11-12
Cost: $800-$650 sliding scale
Details: http://www.divinearthgp.com/?
Friday Evening Lectures, Open to the Public
Dates: 2/19, 3/12, 4/16, 5/7, 6/18, 7/16, 8/20, 9/10
Cost: each talk is $10-$5 sliding scale
Topics DescriptionPermaculture Ethics & Principles are the basis of the design system.
You'll learn what this foundation is, how these principles are observed in
nature, and how they apply to our lives and designs.
Reading the Landscape, Mapmaking are first steps in understanding the
earth we live on and finding clues to how to best interact with it. We'll
be teaching a plethora of observation techniques that open the senses to
important details and show you how to read a landscape's history. You'll
learn how to visually portray nature's patterns by learning map-making
skills and doing base maps of different areas.
Permaculture Design organizes information into different methodologies
that help you plan, place, and prioritize elements into most efficient
uses. Many playful games teach how to connect resources and expand
creative possibilities within our designs and our lives.
Soils, Compost, Nutrients, Mycology. Broken, contaminated soils are all
around us and affect the food we eat and the abundance of our ecosystems.
You'll learn soil analysis and many soil-building and remediation
strategies that are the first step in building your permaculture
ecosystem. There'll be a strong focus on mycoremediation and in
cultivating mushrooms, as fungi do incredible work in the soil.
Jun 22, 2009
Event | 'One Straw Revolution' Presentation
Join Seattle Tilth and InterIm Community Development Association for a slideshow and discussion on the One Straw Revolution with Larry Korn. The One Straw Revolution was written by Masanobu Fukuoka, one of the pioneers of no-till cultivation, whose book helped to spread the understanding that 'natural farming is not just for growing crops, it is for the cultivation and perfection of human beings'. At this two hour presentation permaculture enthusiasts will have the chance to explore and discuss the origins of his influential philosophies. For more information on the central message of the One Straw Revolution, take a look at The Plowboy Interview. Date | Tuesday June 23rd
Time |7:30pm (doors at 7pm)
Location | Theater Off Jackson, 409 7th Ave S., Seattle.
Cost |$5 suggested donation
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