Books to Inspire

~ Oakland, California & Tennessee ~

I'll be the fisrt to admit I'm a little slow on the uptake. I've been in a foreign land for two years, the after affects of which I fondly and aptly named the African Hangover. This means I know little about the latest pop culture, or CNN news, and get excited when I hear a song that is New to me. So I'll anxiously ask the nearest friend, "Have you heard this yet?!",  and then feel slightly crest fallen when I see their expression and await their reply as this person figures out how to tell me nicely, if not politely that the song has been out for over a year: "Uh, yeah...Must have come out when... er... you were... away."

So that means these two books were published when I was across a large ocean. And due to the game of catch up as a result of my own personal recession, one publication currently carries the hipster/trendy label even while human interest in agriculture precede us by thousands of years.

And Novella Carpenter (her last name prescribes her activities, I think) wrote 'The Education of an Urban Farmer'. A happy, but often sassy exploration of a woman's successful, but also sometimes frustrating efforts to grow her own vegetables, and foster her own animals - for the kill. The title implies the location: all her agrarian activities took place not only in a city setting, but in her backyard. Localvorians be pleased, Vegetarians proceed with caution. :)

     And before I had a chance to get my hands on this urban farming tale, I was lucky to be loaned yet another eye opener. Different prose, slightly different objectives, former New York City resident and policy maker, gone community Tennessee gardener and earth monger Sandor Ellix Katz offers concrete facts and impertinent doses of information with a soft and teaching kind of tone. I liked it. A lot. Especially all the fun antidotes about America's underground food movements, and the eclectic recipes that made me want to begin experimenting with cooking ideas at 2 in the morning - the hours I often found myself reading the pages.

 

This book, a bit more than Carpenter's, gave me a hefty gulp of energizing, and an antsy taste of activism. Make seed saving an act of Patriotism! Break the law by consuming raw milk! Participate in the trade and barter of unpasteurized cheese!

Yes, please. And Read on.

The Back of Our Car

~ Road Trip 101 ~

photo creds

The Holidays are almost behind us and letting out a sigh of relief is near. Though eating, drinking and being merry with loved ones was remarkable and memorable, I'm happy to begin hashing out a future Road Trip.

The initial ideas have only begun to formulate: We'll depart in April or May, (maybe even March???),  stop at Wwoofing farms en route to learn/explore, and see the bigs skies of Montana or Wyoming, because...we can.

But what car? Which States? How many days/weeks of driving? Land in California or Washington State?

Either way, can the back of the truck bed look like this?

Paradigm Shift -> Exist in Numbers

The idea of traveling 'cross country is nothing new, and has most certainly existed in the minds of many for ... averylongtime.

I know my own fantasies began a long time ago, because the foggy remnants of mixed tapes - not ipods nor car cd players - are melanged into the initial light bulb idea that popped into my head probably around the time I got my license at 16.

But this current trek across numerous boarders, towards the zephyr winds of Washington state and California, finally appears to be moving forward with a purpose: to visit young (like ourselves) and burgeoning farmers and homesteaders (who we'd like to emulate) as we create a wake there yonder  on US soil.

 

So speaking of young farmers that have yet to be met, I just read the a great article on the rewards of today's networking cycles, people-connections, and  social relationships. I was reminded how well all those ideas apply to this current pursuit and I'm eager to pick the brain of the author, a Bostonian neighbor and budding informant, Debbie Frieze. She and a co-author write about the means by which naturally occurring networking cycles have begun to flow.

1. The actions of self-interested people seek like minded individuals or groups, with the purpose of enhancing personal work. (check!/work in progress)

2. *Others* in the same field are discovered, and the partnership of like-minded individuals who understand the empowerment of group activities and initiatives merge to create the development of communities. Such group oriented influences can ultimately place these communities in a position of leadership in a local or global spectrum. (Yes, please.)

3. The spreading of ideas and influences takes place as the groups exist like pioneers, making new practices and beliefs a standard or norm throughout other populations.

And that's what I'm after: like-minded individuals who care about sharing ideas, information  and generating some change in the food we are provided, in the way we create it and the way we share it with others.
On ward!

Trying to Remain PatientWhile the World Evolves.

- Senegal/Global -

It's been an interesting two and a half months since returning from the Peace Corps. Not that anything particularly exciting has happend, infact just the opposite, and it's that unexpected inverse of events that has gotten me in a state of...well. Shock.

Returning from an incredibly foreign country, and living in a small village where cans of tomato paste, sardines, pasta, rice and onions were typically the plate du jour, I've since found this growing fascination with food. Plus, I worked in gardens over there in Africa, so I was introduced, and happily welcomed those unbelievable and reassuring moments of pulling carrots from the ground, cutting heads of cabbage from their stubby stalks, and watching my green beans grow plump; always a reminder to myself and the people around, that growing food was one of the most miraculous events we could possibly perform in an otherwise barren area.

SO. Now back in the United States living in the Northeast, it's incredibly frustrating (and yes, also very inspiring!) to read about amazing and wonderful urban farming pursuits, around the country and all over the world - like this women above featured in a UN article concerning the development of urban farming as an initiative to help poor and underdeveloped parts of the globe create food safety and sovereignty - but to also meet dead end job opportunities in a time of Cold winter, little greenhouse access, and ultimately a standstill in the farming realm at this time of year.

I know - What did I expect???

Well, that's why I plan to move to the west coast in the spring - where the greens are a'plenty and the movements and activism are shaking in their rubber work boots.

In the meantime, what is one to do? Met with obstacle after obstacle, and boring day after boring day, it's a wonder more people don't crazy around here!

So reading about the UN's initiatives has certainly revived an otherwise gloomy day, and provided *some* hope that not only is the world interested in making food more available and potentially healthier (no pesticides, please!), but that perhaps one can *pay rent* while taking part.

F A R M S C H O O L

 - NY, NY -

Yes! Take classes - at night and the weekends, if you so please - to learn more about Urban Ag. 

Get certified via a 2 year program, or take individual classes. 

Get schooled for 1 week, or 6. 

Pretty sweet, right?

A Polymath

- Japan/Asia/The World -

Masanabu Fukuoka

February 2nd 1913 - August 16th 2008

 

Farmer
Philosopher
Writer
Educator
Scientist
Poet

"Most of the work of farming is created by tampering with nature, which causes negative side effects. Very few agriculture practices are even necessary, just scattering seed, spreading straw on the soil and harvesting."

His books:
The One Straw Revolution
The Natural Way of Farming
The Road Back to Nature

Do Ya Dig IT ?

- NY, NY -

Photo Via Lizchristygarden.org

Liz Cristy, artist, environmentalist and gardener activist lived in the Lower East Side in the 1960's and 70's, promoting long lasting and healthy community green spaces in New York City. In 73' when she gathered several friends and community participants to clean out a vacant lot on the corner of Bowery and Houston, the Green Gorillas were born, and so continued as the members proliferated other city owned lots initiating the community gardening movement in the City.

Photo Via Nycgovparks.org

A favorite spot can be found at the 6th and B Garden in the East Village:

6th and B Garden Collage Sculpture by Eddie Boro's, 1998. Photo via Flickr Mollynme80's

The 6th & B Garden - Photo via Flickr HugLion

Corner of 6th and B circa 1972 - Photo via 6bgarden.org

Cold Weather Greenhous-ing

- Portland, ME -

Tucked away in a not too obvious location, is a lone 30+ year old greenhouse where students with learning disabilities of PATH High school, have an opportunity for total immersion in alternative learning programs. In the greenhouse, education is all about...plants.
Bob Francis, a former landscape architect of New York City has been teaching at the facility for 20 years, after being lured to Maine by his Mainer wife. ;)

One of the best learning moments of this short but wonderful visit, was the rediscovery of Stevia, an incredibly (shockingly) sweet herb. Take one little nibble of a small leaf, and the juices grow more and more delectable. See here:

I was also gifted some plant clippings to take home and put in soil. Double sweet.

N a v d a n aMeans 9 Crops...

- India -

Photo via Navdanya Website

Started by a woman and run for women, Navdanya is an ideal and beautiful organization. With networks spread across 16 states in India, they seek to be the change they wish to see... Pioneering the seed saving movement (Seeds of Freedom Campaign) in a time of biopiracy and rampant GMO's, they're direct interaction with communities represents the very real need to not only partake in policy change, but to involve and motivate the people who are growing the world's food.

They also offer internships. :)

Oakhurst, I Heart You

- Portland, Maine -

 

It's not too difficult for a Mainer to remember the days when Oakhurst proudly placed a natural and healthy Farmer's Pledge : No Artificial Growth Hormones Used, on their dairy products.

Then Monsanto sued Oakhurst about seven and a half years ago, making the most ridiculous, but with their reputation, notorious proclamation that such a statement could potentially mislead consumers to believe that dairy products with growth hormones have an adverse affect.

Fortunately for Oakhurst and their loyal followers, the dairy company is allowed to keep the Farmer's Pledge with an obligatory disclaimer - The FDA States: No significance difference in milk from cows treated with growth hormones.

Oh, Monsanto. Grow up. You're like the insecure and ugly super geek from high school, threatened by the naturally talented and gifted athlete. Leave bright and enterprising farmers alone!

A New 'Craigslist'For Local Food. Yay.

- Can AH DEE AH -

Think of this place as 'inspiration'.