GMO Terminology
These days we are likely to run across a report or article on genetically modified (GM) crop on the evening news, the newspaper, or the web. Most of us have heard the pros and cons about GM crops. But do you understand the long-term systemic impact of such crops? This will be first of a three part series that focus on the impact of GM crops on the environment. The first post will focus on the terminology.
So what is the difference between heirloom, hybrids, and genetically modified organism (GMO). A heirloom crop is openly pollinated. The seedlings are just like the parent plant. Heirloom plants are pollinated without direct human intervention. The plants cross-pollinates naturally through insects, animals, and winds. These plants adapt to its environment through natural selection through trail and error.
Volunteer Survey
As the year comes to a close we are looking for some feedback on how we are doing with our community. Please take 5 minutes to take our survey. Your feedback will help us improve our volunteer program for you and the Port Towns Community.
Read MoreGlimpse at China’s Organic & Urban Agriculture Pioneers
Organics Inside Greenhouse with Earthen Wall (Photo: Mary Kay Magistad)
This is a follow-up to the November post “Our Global Food System,” where one of the featured reports focused on what Chinese consumers think of organic produce. Today, I will share another report on China that focuses on the organic farmers. It is called Organic Farming in China, featured on PRI’s The World report.
Read MoreUrban Agriculture in NYC
Brooklyn Grange Farm is on top of a six-story building in Queens, NYC
Green Roofs has many positive benefits. It utilizes unused space on top of buildings in urban areas. The roof will double as an insulator for the top floor by regulating the temperature and mitigate urban heat wave issues. Such a roof will absorb excess water from a heavy rainstorm and slowly release it, which can help minimize flooding. But can you make green roofs an edible garden or a commercial farm? There are two examples in New York City, Brooklyn Grange and Gotham Greens, that is piloting commercial farm operation on rooftops in this fast moving metropolis. I will highlight innovative aspects of both models and share some articles written about each company.
Read More“Micro-farming” in Detroit
Detroit is generally known as the Motor City because the U.S. auto industry. Over the years this city’s economy has shared the same fate as the U.S. auto manufacturers. As Detroit rises out of the ashes, many of its residents are beginning to seek out ways to farm the vacant lots and open spaces within the city limits. The residents are starting to use urban farming as one way to reconnect the next generation to the city’s agricultural roots. In this post I will discuss two reports that provides a broad scope of the urban agriculture movement in Detroit.
Paul Weertz
The first report is called “The Gift of Detroit”: Tilling Urban Terrain, by Jon Kalish of the NPR (featured on the Weekend Edition on October 2, 2011). What I liked about this report are it identifies what are some of the possibilities of making a profitable venture within urban landscape and also some of the challenges. For example, Paul Weertz farms approximately 10 acres within Detroit. He grows about 1,000 bales of alfalfa. Another example focuses on Brother Nature Produce, which farms on 12 abandoned lots. It is operated in a co-op model amongst 27 families. However, the challenge is Detroit do not have clear policies with urban agriculture ventures within the city limits. If the city government wanted to reclaim the property for a future development or levy fines for having vegetation that is too tall they can. Listen to this report here or read about it here. See what other examples you can pull out from this report.
Malik Yakini of DBCFSN and D-Town Farm
The next report, called Detroit Urban Agriculture Movement Looks to Reclaim Motor City, (as featured on Democracy Now on June 24, 2010), focuses on how some groups are working with city government. In the video, Malik Yakini gives a tour of the D-Town Farm while speaking about the farms mission and the importance of urban agriculture in revitalizing Detroit. The farm is located in Rouge Park, one of the largest parks in the city. Yakini’s organization Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN), secured a 10-year lease with the city to operate their four acres organic farm. DBCFSN is organizing to educate and take action in their community by influencing public policy, and promoting urban agriculture and healthy eating habits. You can view this story here and take some time to follow some of the other stories on revitalizing Detroit.
As urban agriculture develops in Detroit and the city’s economy begins to improve, there will be policy barriers to sustaining such operations. Having allies with the municipality and creating policies that legalize urban agriculture enterprises in Detroit by incorporating these enterprises into the city’s zoning code will be essential.
Read MoreOur Global Food System
On November 1st, while listening to PRI’s “the World” segment on the local NPR station, I heard two short five minute reports on our food system. Our food system is reliant on a global supply chain that imports and export food from the around the world. These two reports put the spotlight on China.
