This is what we need to do.
Some of you are lucky enough to live in your own rural homesteads - lucky bitches. You can grow, raise, and coach all the food you want. But most of us live in cities. And that's why urban farming/gardening is so important. So is involving young people. Really young people. Because it's their experiences and frameworks that are going to shape the future of food.
Am I suggesting commandeering their brilliant little minds and brainwashing them into a new way of connecting, growing, and eating? Yes. In a sense. Why not?
For this week's Film Friday I've posted a video I found on City Farmer News a while back. I think it's perfect timing though with the Spring season upon us - the weather is getting better, people want to get outside, and growing food in urban centers falls right in line with that.
As urban farmer Ilana Labow says, we need to focus on four big things:
Beauty.
Community.
Food.
Think.
I'm down with that.
What do you think about Labow's four principles? Additions? Subtractions?
What does your city do to promote ethical, sustainable, and sovereign food ways? What can you do?
What factors factor into your participation (or non-participation) with local food?
This post is linked up with Fresh Bites Friday; Fight Back Friday; Seasonal Inspirations; Seasonal Celebration Sunday.
Amen!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm starting a garden curriculum at my daughter's new school next year and the current talk is to do it urban style, in pots. Every other school in the city currently has a garden.
i love it! there's no reason why that kind of program shouldn't exist in every school!
DeleteKristy, that girl is great! Next thing I know she will have a show on the Discovery channel. We have lots of urban gardens here in Nashville...community type...our Mayor is hosting "walks" all over the city to help folks get more aware of their health and weight and eating better...you guys are way ahead of us in all ways in this area. Tennessee has one of the fattest populations in the USA! Not something I am proud of...we are all in the food business & local, slow & eating better movement chipping away at this one bite at a time!
ReplyDeletethat's all we can do Teresa - one bite at a time. and as long as we keep at it, we'll have healthier, happier people :)
DeleteWe have an urben gardening system here in the UK, whereby those who don't have a garden but wish to grow their own, can use another garden belonging to someone else in return for providing the owner of that garden with vegetables. Makes great sense in urban areas where land is limited! I loved having you link up to our "Seasonal Celebration Sunday" Hope you'll be back Sunday! Rebecca @ Natural Mothers Network x
ReplyDeletethat's bloody brilliant. i think bartering for services, goods, space, etc... is key to getting out of the financial rut we're in. actual money is worth nothing except the number we assign to it. if we remove it from the equation, the true value of things is exposed - ie. some land for some vegetables. i love that.
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