Art, Farming and Sustainability: The Alaskan Way Hanging Gardens

Photo Credit: Sustainable Seattle

Sungold tomatoes, amaranth, salad burnet, broccoli and eggplant... did my tummy just grumble? No, this isn't a farmer’s market shopping list. These are just some of the vegetables found in plastic semitransparent milk jugs, attached together with twine, hanging five feet above a concrete sidewalk to a row of trees at the Seattle Waterfront, between Alaskan Way and Wall Street to be exact.

Last month, we posted on our Facebook page about this unexpected urban garden, named Alaskan Way Hanging Gardens. These sweet little plants, even equipped with a drip irrigation system, on a busy downtown street warmed our urban agriculture hearts. We just had to find out how this project came to be. Turns out, it took two city departments, one artist/urban gardener/chocolatier, and a couple sustainability minded concepts to build this garden that is actually, art.

(Sustainable Seattle offers this space for non profits or social entrepreneurs to advertise their projects, events or programs. For more information and to pitch us your ideas send an email to info(at)sustainableseattle.org.)

www.truck-farm.com

Truck Farm is a simple concept with a big impact. It’s a 1986 Dodge pickup with
a mini-farm planted in the truck bed. It’s a traveling, edible exhibit that brings
a rural experience to urban students.

It’s a Brooklyn based CSA that makes
weekly deliveries to 20 families. And it’s the focus of a new short documentary
coming out this winter.

Called “the coolest urban agriculture project around” by The Huffington Post,
the farm-on-wheels has already made a splash in schoolyards, Earth Day
celebrations, Japanese morning television, and even the National Botanic
Garden. What if every urban center had its own Truck Farm traveling from
school to school teaching kids about how fun farming and healthy food can
be, engaging them in thinking about where food comes from and getting them
excited about growing food themselves? This is our vision and we’re looking for
a few good urban farmers to help us bring it to fruition.

What: A fleet of Truck Farms that will take to the road this spring popping up at schools, camps,
street fairs, outdoor concerts, little league ball fields and anywhere else large groups of youth
congregate. These micro-farms will be prepared and managed by nonprofits, food educators, graduate students, food co-ops, gardening groups, urban food activists and anyone else with the passion to teach kids about growing and eating healthy food.


For extra credit the Farms can serve as CSA’s and for extra extra credit the trucks can be run on bio-fuel.

Where: Communities in the US and Canada that do not have easy access to farms and/or farm fresh food.

When: Our Truck Farms will be planted in early April, in time for a “premiere” on Earth Day, which will double as our kick-off for our second annual Garden Contest, a challenge to see which student group can grow food in the most creative place.

Truck Farmers will need to register with us by January so they have three months to find their trucks, prepare their farms and begin booking their spring “tour.” Our squad of trucks will hit the road throughout May and June, visiting as many area schools as possible. Please note: While our goal is for each truck to visit a minimum of 25 groups throughout the growing season, we do not expect the Truck Farmers to work on this full-time.

How: We will provide you with step-by-step instructions for building, maintaining and showcasing your farm. If you can get a donated truck, the cost of materials will run you less than $300. We are hoping to secure funding in the next few months to help our Farmers cover the cost of these materials.

We will create a special Facebook page where all Truck Farmers can convene and swap ideas and
resources. We will be available for troubleshooting five days/week by phone or email. We will also provide Truck Farmers with educational materials, workshop ideas and copies of Truck Farm (the film) to use during school visits and workshops.

Who: Ian Cheney is the creator of Truck Farm. You might know him and his longtime collaborator Curt Ellis from their popular documentaries such as King Corn, Big River and The Greening of Southie.
www.truck-farm.com
Contact Us at info@truck-farm.com

West Oakland Green Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WEST OAKLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL GOES GREEN

Contact:

Keith Tucker, Producer

206.234.9565

thekeithtuckershow@yahoo.com

November 10^th Oakland, California– A group of top health professionals, community organizations and filmmaker Keith Tucker have come together to hold the first Oakland Youth Hip Hop Green Dinner at West Oakland Middle School on November 12^th.

The dinners are designed to be a perfect combination of information and entertainment. By breaking bread and sharing information in a relaxed and entertaining environment, the Hip Hop Green Dinners help youth make the connection between their diet, lifestyle and their health.

Obesity is one of the largest public health issues of today and it is threatening the health of our youth. 23.5 million Americans, including 6.5 million children, live in “food deserts” — areas without a single supermarket. As filmmakers we are not only participating in solutions but we are also reaching out to top entertainers, educators and health professionals to introduce young people to their very first vegetarian meals across the country. “As we continue to develop and promote our film project we felt one of the most important things we could do was to make our concept as real as possible to our supporters”, said Keith Tucker, co-producer and visionary behind the project. “If we can inform young people and get them eating the food, it will be a major step in the right direction. We believe the Green Dinners can help change people’s lives even before the film hits the big screen and we are proud and honored to be in Oakland”.

The Principal of West Oakland Middle School, Cenne Carroll- Moore Stated “I’m very concerned about our young people’s health. We are dealing with lack of nutrition, obesity, diabetes and many more social economic issues. We hope that by having a Green Dinner here that we can get the community involved in our children’s health”.

At the West Oakland Green dinner one of the main focuses will be to establish relationships with community organizations that will institute ongoing health programs for the youth. The Green dinner hopes to be a catalyst for community to come together and work with the youth of West Oakland Middle School.

“Our community and especially our youth in West Oakland are plagued by multiple social determinants to health causing significant health disparities. Our greatest disparities affect our African American and Latino youth most in childhood obesity, asthma, violence, homicide, school dropouts, poverty, sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy. These health disparities are a result of environmental, social, economic and cultural influences in our community. Using the Green Medicine” approach we hope to introduce concepts of wellness and community sustainability to the students and their families at the West Oakland Middle School Green Dinner” said Green Dinner community partner Mahedere Solomon of One Love Center for Health.

The dinner’s keynote speaker is Dr. Milton Mills M.D, Leading Vegetarian wellness expert and PCRM Advisory board member. Also speaking is Dr Bob Savio Chief of Pediatrics at Highland General Hospital- Oakland, California as well as Mahedere Solomon of One Love Center for Health.

Performances by: Ashel Eldridge aka Seasunz, One Kahleo and Kid Smooth of Young & Brave and Kevin Gardner

Vegetarian Food Preparation: Chef Hunia V. Bradley – Co- manager – Farm Fresh Choice www.ecologycenter.org and owner of www.huniskitchen.com

Supporters: Charles Lovelace - Vegan One Club www.veganoneclub.com

Ngozi Oleru | Michael Woo | Yirim Seck | Callie Rodilfi | Dr Bob Savio | Michael Taylor | Peoples Grocery | Chef Jay Ar | Lashay Morris | Numi Tea | Kevin Gardner | Young & Brave | Ashel Eldridge aka Seasunz | Health Policy Institute | King County Public Health | International Fund for Africa | Sustainable Seattle |

Sponsor: Chef David Lee of Fieldroast Grain Meat Company - www.fieldroast.com

The Oakland Youth Green Dinner is being hosted in conjunction with One Love Center for Health.

One Love is a community health promotion group that recognizes the dangerous social and public health implications of health disparities in our Oakland communities. We embrace the principles of health, love, justice, equality, and opportunity. One Love’s vision to minimize the minority mortality rate, improve the quality of life and achieve an equal life expectancy for all despite socio-economic, ethnic, cultural or environmental factors. One Love’s mission to advocate health equality through culturally adaptive health promotion and accessibility to healthcare. We utilize evidence-based standardized practice guidelines for healthcare and

About the Documentary: Pursuit of a Green Planet

Pursuit of a Green Planet (POAGP) is the first documentary film project about Hip Hop, health and the green movement. The film takes a critical look at the connections between food, culture, economics and the epidemic of obesity related disease plaguing America’s youth. Keith is a regular guy who will become a living experiment as he makes the radical transition from your average American diet and lifestyle to a truly green, organic vegan lifestyle. Starting with a full medical profile of his current health condition, he will work with a team of the best medical and health professionals at every stage of the process as he cleanses his body, transitions to a vegan diet, and conditions his body to operate at peak performance. The film will document the biological, physical, psychological and emotional transitions of the process. On March 20, 2011 at 4:21p. PST, on the 1st minute of the first day of spring, the Pursuit of a Green Planet begins. This is the day and the moment that Keith Tucker will go vegetarian and officially kicks off the Pursuit of a Green Planet film and Hip Hop health activism project. Can he make it? How hard will it be?

Facebook- www,facebook.com/pursuitofagreenplanet

Twitter: hiphopisgreen

# # #

Election Results: an opinion

I wrote a brief examination of the election results for Washington State that went out in our twice monthly newsletter that focused exclusively on the initiatives and their potential impact. I wanted to play it as "hard" news so I did not editorialize my own thoughts about what the people of Washington State have unleashed in their votes, but I think I have calmed down enough to do it with slightly less throbbing in my head as I write.

First of all, I am a pragmatist in my views about government, taxation and the role and responsibility we have towards each other and the unfortunate. Government is one of the pillars that hold up our society and it is one of the only institutions that can systematically help create and maintain a more equitable society. It is not the only solution to our many problems, but it is one of the most powerful influences on our everyday lives.

This election cycle we saw another side of democracy that sickened many of us. Negative campaigns, fear, anger, and a sense of hopelessness was rained upon us minute after minute to inflame the passions, deaden the heart and distort the actual facts of the state of our nation. Many people were disappointed in the actions taken by the government before the election and did not even see the work that has been accomplished.

The general mood in Washington State was "don't tax me at all, but don't touch my medicare." Nearly all the tax initiatives that would have gone far to supply revenue to the state coffers were overturned or reversed. Also, there were new laws put into place that make it harder for the state to gather resources in the future. It is a short sighted outlook and general mistrust of government that made many voters check the boxes towards hamstringing their own government.

With the laws of Washington State in regards to budgets in mind, we will see a cutting of services that are essential such as health care, education, and human services. It is little surprise that the ones who will suffer the most are the most unfortunate. Many people in the middle class have had a rude awakening with this economic recession that they are not as economically solid as they were lead to believe. This causes fear and a tightening of purse strings in regards to the aide and comfort of their neighbors. People are looking to their own houses instead of seeing the larger picture that without our neighbors, colleagues and friends none of us can make it in this economic system of give and take.

On the national level the biggest disappointment is the naivete of the defeated Democrats. Repeatedly they have said that they see this thumping as a sign that people want compromise and the language nearly to a person in the Democratic caucus has been expecting compromise from the Republicans. Republicans on the other hand have made it clear that compromise is not in their plan.

Politics has gotten too charged with personal insults, class warfare and misunderstanding. It is a tug and pull of fear and loathing and in the end we are the ones to suffer. The election results will lead to extended gridlock and we will see a slowing of accomplishments as the term begins in January. We can't afford to have a government that is sitting on its hands in this economic pressure we face. We need a government that will put aside its ideological differences and get things done for those who cannot do on their own without assistance. We need to set in place economic systems that open up opportunities and an education system that will prepare us for the near and present future.

For another analysis of the midterms from the viewpoint of its effects on Nonprofits check out The Nonprofit Quarterly.

Waiting for Superman ( a repost)

[I wrote a review of the education film "Waiting for Superman" and I think it should live here as well. For the full post just follow the link after the excerpt.]

I just finished watching “Waiting for Superman” in the theatre and I have to say that the movie was very well done. I want to talk a bit about some of the major points, a few things done for dramatic effect and what I am taking away from this film.

The movie starts out with the narrator giving a bit of background on his older projects which included a year-long study of teachers as well as his own conflicting views about public schools and the choices he made for his own children. The filmmaker sent his own children to private school “betraying my own progressive views about public schools.” he tells us this so that the audience can take all his points that the film makes with the proverbial grain of salt.

The film follows the struggles of five different families trying to make the proper choices for their children in regards to their educations. It is an homage to hard-working parents facing institutional barriers to a better life for their children. A few of the families are minorities in traditionally under served areas like Washington D.C and Los Angeles.

endithinks.wordpress.com

Sustainability Essay Contest for grades 7-12

Win $200 in the Evergreen State Fair Essay Contest! Deadline: August 16^th

Tackle the issues affecting our environment through an essay contest sponsored by the Snohomish County Executive and Allied Waste Services for a chance to win $200 and an honorary title. The Evergreen State Fair hopes to inspire young people who have a passion for green living to share their ideas and opinions about sustainability. First, 2^nd, and 3^rd place winners will be recognized, along with their families, as guests of Executive Aaron Reardon at the Opening Ceremony of the Evergreen State Fair in Monroe on August 26. Contest open to students entering grades 7-12. For more information on the essay topics, guidelines and prizes, click here

Basic Info:

WHAT: Show your passion for green living and sustainability by entering Snohomish County’s “Living Evergreen” essay contest, and win $200. For more information on essay topics, guidelines and prizes, click here

WHO: Contest is open to all Washington State students entering grades 7-12 in fall 2010. Essays will be judged in two grade divisions.

WHEN: Deadline for submissions is August 16. The winners will be recognized and awarded along with their families as guests of the Executive at the Opening Ceremony of the Evergreen State Fair in Monroe on August 26.

WHERE: Submit entries, questions or clarification requests to essaycontest@nyhus.com with your essay in the body of the e-mail and attached as a text document. Entries can also be sent by mail to Living Evergreen Essay Contest, c/o Nyhus Communications, 1525 Fourth Avenue suite 400, Seattle, WA 98109

COST: Free to enter

Town Hall West Seattle

WEST SEATTLE, Wash. -Nearly sixty people spilled into the High Point Community Center to hear from State Representatives Eileen Cody and Sharon Nelson and State Senator Joe McDermott.

The audience was split evenly amongst men and women with the ages ranging from the early twenties to senior citizens. The majority of the crowd was above forty years of age and the atmosphere of the poorly sounded room was attentive and cautious.

The congresspeople first gave a presentation based on their respective committees and how they were combating the challenges facing: education, health care, and the state budget.

Senator McDermott gave a summary of how the state house and senate works including a brief reminder about how bills turn into law and he connected the inactivity of some of the laws on the books due to budget constraints. He used examples from education such as Initiative 728 concerned with restraining the size of classrooms and informed us of its non compliance due to the immense budget shortfalls which have made hiring more teachers a non starter.

Representative Sharon began talking about the mortgage crises in and the inadequate responses from both the federal and state sides. She then jumped to a possible revenue stream that of lifting the tax write offs and loopholes of large scale companies renting public land for their business and refineries. The large scale companies have nearly three million dollars in tax breaks.

The last Representative Eileen Cody, spoke mostly of health care and of the startling fact of prescription medications being widely abused and over prescribed. Washington state is number one in the number of prescriptions per year and in this state more people die of medical overdose than by traffic accidents.

She also spoke of the budget cuts that would have to occur in health care and elucidated the nearly 40,000 people that have lost state sponsored health insurance since this new budget went into effect in 2009. She also spoke of some of the additional challenges in Mental Health that the state faces after making the availability of Mental Health services increase.

After a short PowerPoint presentation of the state's budget woes the floor was then opened for questions and the hands shot up like a third grade classroom asking to go outside to play. The questions were a range of economic, political and accusatory commentary.

Initiative 960 was raised again and again as proponents of the initiative complained about the suspension of the tenants of the initiative for the next two years. The initiative, which passed by exactly 51%, states that any and all tax increases in Washington State have to have a two thirds super majority. This of course makes any attempt to raise revenue in the state extremely difficult and therefore during this time of recession has been voted on to be suspended.

Opponents of the initiative hailed the change and encouraged the lawmakers to support a state income tax to be more equitable. Low and middle income earners pay in effect more taxes than more affluent earners with a sales tax only model.

The questions began to get more random as marijuana, other illicit drugs, privatising liquor stores and closing all tax loopholes, including the tax exemption for food in Washington state, started to be suggested by taxphobic constituents. Some reverted to repeating their comments about the "lawmakers not listening to the will of the people," and claiming that if an income tax was enacted they would stop spending money, totally.

The congresspeople were patient and forgiving, yet they did not allow falsehoods or ignorant statements to go unanswered. They also encouraged those in attendance to contact them in any way convenient to them, but they said they preferred email that was personally written.

Who's Who | Wilderness Awareness School

In a tiny strip of city park somewhere in Beacon hill, pairs of adults (and one kid) huddle around Sword ferns. First they feel the fuzzy stem coming out of the dirt, then they work their way up, noticing the angle of the leaves, the patterns of colors, and finally they scrape the spores from the back of an upper leaf and taste them. This is the type of thing students are asked to do when they come to the Wilderness Awareness School to connect with nature in the Northwest. The school brings out the natural hunter-gatherer within us all by teaching "The Six Shields of Awareness". One set of knowledge, nature observation, is described as learning to "develop the awareness of a wild animal". One of the six "shields" teaches the use of edible and medicinal plants, and another, wilderness survival, has you "practice skills that can save your life"; what could be more useful?

Why it's not just for campers:

The core values of the Wilderness Awareness School are Peacemaking, Vitality, Nature Mentoring, and Community. The fourth, Community, illustrates why their system of education is so valuable and important:

"We nurture an ever-deepening awareness of the vital interdependence of nature, community, and self. With this awareness, we learn to honor and appreciate the richness that a diversity of life experiences, ideas, backgrounds, and gifts bring to the whole community. We encourage genuine relationships, work-life balance, service to community, and living in rhythm with nature."

The school, headquartered in Duvall, teaches children and adults in classes as long as a summer or as short as a day. They also have a preschool program, a homeschool program, and a home study training course. Class descriptions and more information about the school can be found on their website.

Masters in making a difference

Open House Center for Creative Change

If you or someone you know is interested in finding out more about programs offered in the Center for Creative Change at Antioch University Seattle, we invite you to attend our Open House Wed., Jan. 27, 2010, 6 to 8 p.m.

The Center's degree programs grow creative leaders, necessary for addressing the complex challenges we face. Our graduates gain the essential skills for generating sustainable change and propelling our workplaces, communities and our world toward better futures.

Center graduates gain technical and collaboration skills, making them vital leaders in their chosen fields. Our interdisciplinary degree programs, delivered in a supportive group environment, result in adaptive, critical thinkers who know how to build on the strengths of those around them.

Faculty and students will be talking about the Center's five interdisciplinary masters' degrees programs:

• M.A. in Environment & Community
• M.A. in Whole Systems Design
• M.A. in Strategic Communication
• M.A. in Organizational Psychology
• M.S. in Management

We'll also tell you about our Graduate Certificates.

Meet faculty, students and alumni for the program that interests you. Financial aid representatives also answer questions. Light refreshments will be served.

AUS campus, room 200
Antioch University Seattle is located at 2326 Sixth Avenue in Belltown, between Bell and Battery.

For further information, please contact:
Wendy L. Olsen, M.A., Admissions Advisor
Center for Creative Change
206-268-4208
1-888-268-4477 ext. 5208
wolsen@antioch.edu

Global Issues & Perspectives is a free lecture/discussion series sponsored by the Center for Creative Change to address the question: What do we need to know to become effective global citizens?

The series is an enriching opportunity to hear, learn from and be inspired by individuals - many of whom are from other cultures and countries - who are invited to Antioch to share their values and vision. Free and open to the public.

Antioch campus, room 100

Thurs., Jan. 21, 7 p.m.
Transforming the Global Footprint of American Business
A conversation with business leaders who are creating social and
environmental benefits through innovative business practices.

Seattle-based executives describe strategies for transforming their organization's global footprint:

Valerie Bone, Director of Quality/Corporate Social Responsibility, Pacific Market International; David Okrent, Brand Director, Environment and Sustainability, The Boeing Co.; David Basson,

President, Greensource Organic Clothing; and Dennis Gawlik, Faculty, Bainbridge Graduate Institute, and Director of Purchasing Services, University of Washington.

Discussion facilitated by Karl Ostrom, Co-Director of NBIS, Network for Business Innovation and Sustainability.

Thurs., Feb. 18, 7 p.m.
Youth Lead the Way in Global Citizenship

High school and college students discuss experiences with peers in Jordan, Guatemala and Peru through programs with One World Now, Global Visionaries and Bridges to Understanding. One World Now's vision offers new opportunities for young people to increase their tolerance, gain new language and leadership skills and to experience other cultures first-hand. Global Visionaries educates and empowers youth to become active leaders and global citizens who promote social and environmental justice through community service at home and abroad. Bridges to Understanding uses digital technology and the art of storytelling to empower

For more information about the Center for Creative Change at Antioch University Seattle, please visit our website or contact admissions advisor Wendy Olsen at 206-268-4208 or
1-888-268-4477 ext. 5208; wolsen@antioch.edu.