All posts in urban agriculture category.
[Cross-posted from Will Bike for Change (or Pie!)] It’s a sadly common misconception that the local food movement is elitist. That’s why I was excited to hear about Jeremy Smith’s new book Growing a Garden City. It tells the stories of how first graders, single moms, and homeless folks have benefited from community gardens. At [...]
[Cross-posted from Capital Area Food Bank]
Whether you’re a master gardener or a terrified newcomer to backyard gardening (like me), you can help the Capital Area Food Bank relieve hunger with your extra squash and tomatoes.
The Grow a Row program connects D.C., Virginia and Maryland gardeners with CAFB partner organizations in their neighborhoods, creating “produce partnerships” that bring more nutritious fruits and vegetables to underserved communities.
We’ll set you up with someone who’s doing some good in your community, someplace where you’ll hopefully get a chance to see the positive difference your donation makes. Not only will you have someplace for that inevitable overabundance of one-thing-or-another, you’ll be a part of relationships that build stronger communities.
You’ll provide underserved communities with a resource they desperately need but have little access to. You’ll enjoy the unique satisfaction of filling a need while enjoying a stress-reducing, money-saving, earth-friendly hobby.
Best of all, you’ll get this great sign for your garden! For free!
You don’t need to quit your day job to grow food for the hungry. Whatever the size of your donation, we’ll find you a partner that will get your produce into the homes and onto the tables of your neighbors in need.
For more information, contact Alicia Camden at growarow@capitalareafoodbank.org
The Accokeek Foundation’s Center for Agricultural and Environmental Stewardship, in partnership with the National Immigrant Farming Initiative and the Rural Coalition, is collaborating to present our 2011 Food Justice Series. This series of four open-to-all events will feature a panel of speakers and a period of discussion, and will spotlight the issues that affect food [...]
Posted in Access, Community, Events, Farmers, Food Security, Health, Society, urban agricultureThis post is the fourth in a series from Bread for the City intern Allison Burket exploring the basics of food, hunger, and politics in the District.
In my previous post about food and hunger in the District, I began to explore the political landscape of DC’s food system. We learned there is no shortage of DC agencies that shape how we get food – at least 13 agencies deal with food in our city! – yet no one agency or governing body is responsible for ensuring that DC residents have access to healthy, affordable food.
Meanwhile, moving beyond the public sector, there are numerous efforts throughout the food system to ensure DC residents can enjoy healthy and affordable food.
What if they and others could work together better to tackle the interconnected issues of nutrition, employment, poverty, hunger, and the degradation of our environment? What if these groups had a unified voice in the halls of City Council?
A Food Policy Council in DC?
Cities across the country face similar challenges as those in DC – a fractured food policy-making environment, separate organizations addressing different pieces of a broken food system, and lack of transparency and community input in policy decisions. In response, many areas have brought together some combination of non-governmental organizations, citizens, advocates, and government, forming what are often known as food policy councils. (See this DC Food For All post about the Detroit food movement, and the policy council in that city.)
Food policy councils can serve as a forum for food issues, a network to coordinate community action, and a space to address some of the tangible injustices at work in our food system. They do a wide range of work in other cities, counties, and states — from gathering and communicating information about a food system, to crafting policy platforms, to developing collaborative projects to address immediate needs.
Bread for the City is interested in seeing something like a food policy council form in DC, but we also recognize that it will need to include more than policy wonks and non-profit providers if it is to be truly reflective of the interests of our diverse communities. A food policy council would ideally be born of a grassroots, city-wide movement for wellness and food sovereignty that includes residents who themselves have the most at stake in radically changing the food system.
That’s why we’re part of a larger conversation with groups like Groundwork Anacostia, the Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Collaborative, Ecolocity, and ONE DC. Together, we’re hosting a series of brainstorming sessions around the city, starting 3:30-4:30 pm this Saturday at Coolidge High School, as part of Rooting DC – an annual, free urban gardening forum. (Register for Rooting DC by calling 202-638-1649, or learn more about the whole conference by visiting the website.)
We’ll be discussing and envisioning: What would it look like for all DC residents had access to healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate food? What is an idea you have for moving the city, your neighborhood, or your self in that direction? The hope is that the discussion generated from this and upcoming sessions can then shape the formation something like a food policy council – or something completely new and different – in DC. We hope to see you there!
Posted in Action, Community, Events, Food Security, Government Issues, HAFA, Health, urban agricultureAmerica the Beautiful Fund and the Field to Fork Network’s 4th annual Rooting DC gardening forum is just around the corner! Rooting DC will be held on Saturday, February 19th from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm at Coolidge High School located at 6315 5th Street, NW.
This day-long, FREE event includes presentations and workshops on community gardens and food policy, healthy cooking demonstrations, and a whole track dedicated to youth and school gardens.
The DC Food For All community is a buzz with excitement – Ibti Vincent gives us a poetic preview of her canning workshop, Bread for the City is preparing for conversations about rooftop gardening and a food policy brainstorm, and the Farm at Walker Jones plugs its session on youth and community gardens. Check back for interviews with presenters and more tantalizing sneak peaks!
Download the full agenda here. Please call the America the Beautiful Fund offices at 202.638.1649 to register immediately.
Interested in volunteering? Photographing, filming, or blogging about the day? Contact lizlizwhitehurstwhitehurst@gmail.com to find out how!
True social, economic, and environmental sustainability relies on empowerment. We can never fix the unjust and unhealthy social structures we have in place if people must still rely on them for their food and other necessary needs. At Ecolocity, we believe that one of the best ways to empower people is to collectively learn skills [...]
“One of the goals of the Neighborhood Farm Initiative is to provide an educational resource for gardening and small scale organic food production for DC-area residents. It is in this same vein that we’re sponsoring this skillshare with some local home brewers,” said NFI Co-Founder and Program Director, Bea Trickett.
NFI and Mamie D. Lee Community Garden are teaming up to host a home brew contest and how-to workshop on Saturday, September 18th at La Casa Community Center in Mount Pleasant from 7-10pm.
