Locavore News – World
Posted: May 3, 2010
Categories: News from Sustain Ontario
- Food Policy Councils: Lessons Learned
- Sustainable urban agriculture: stocktake and opportunities
- Pop! … goes sibling rivalry
- Top 10 Mistakes Made by Farmers Market Noobz
- Uncommon Act of Design: The Secret of Getting Kids to Eat Veggies? Move the Salad Bar
- “Local†Foods Initiatives in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (USA)
- Chew on this—benefits of eating local
- Outdoor Classroom Garden Mini-Grant Program
- Garden Mini-grants for Teachers
- Milk Crate Gardening for Tight Spaces
Perspectives on good food and farming by Elbert van Donkersgoed
May 3, 2010
Food Policy Councils: Lessons Learned
As the food and financial crises bring fresh urgency to concerns over hunger, food access, public health, labor and economic development – citizens and governments are beginning to connect these issues back to the food system as a whole. Councils are springing up across North America to “connect the dots†between the growing number of neighbourhood food initiatives and communities forging policies for just, healthy food systems. Food Policy Councils act as both forums for food issues and platforms for coordinated action. The first Food Policy Council started in 1982 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Since then Food Policy Councils have been established at state, local and regional levels across the county. Some have remarkable success stories. Others have failed, disbanded, or spun-off into other service and non-profit organizations. What lessons can be taken from North America’s three-decade experiment in formulating local food policy? Food Policy Councils: Lessons Learned is an assessment based on an extensive literature review and testimony from 48 individual interviews with the people most involved in Food Policy Councils. Report (3MB PDF).
Sustainable urban agriculture: stocktake and opportunities
This paper reviews research on urban agriculture which relates to the three dimensions of sustainability: social, economic and environmental. We propose that urban agriculture has three elements: urban agriculture in isolation; its interface with the people and environment within which it is situated; and its contribution to the design of built form. Additionally, we consider its scale: micro, meso and macro. The analysis draws attention to legal, social and economic constraints and opportunities. It suggests that future priorities for research should be directed towards (i) strategically identifying principles of sustainable urban agriculture that help policy makers to design resilient cities, e.g. using flood-prone areas for food and employment, and (ii) operationally trialling innovative institutional mechanisms, e.g. differential land taxes to support sustainable urban agriculture or payments for environmental services provided by urban agriculture such as carbon sequestration. Paper published in International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability,
Pop! … goes sibling rivalry
It started making sense, and OnoPops was born. Addressing the brothers’ differences, you can get a light 90-calorie fruit bar to a caramel latte flavor that packs 30 grams of fat. These are not the sugar-water confections you may have enjoyed as a kid, though. These sweet and savory icy treats are made with local, organic produce, something close to Lanthier-Welch’s heart. Honolulu Star-Bulletin story
Top 10 Mistakes Made by Farmers Market Noobz
If you haven’t spent much time at farmers markets, I know they can be a bit intimidating. Locals always know exactly where to go and what to buy, and seem to possess some kind of secret, cult-like knowledge of seasonal favorites and exclusive deals. How is a farmers market noobie supposed to sort through the piles of exotic vegetables without feeling like an trespasser? The reality is this: Farmers market fans can indeed be fanatical (I know I am), but the farmers themselves couldn’t be more friendly and welcoming. Here are my top 10 tips for fitting in at the farmers market and getting the most from being a locavore. Darya Pino blogs for the Huffington Post.
Uncommon Act of Design: The Secret of Getting Kids to Eat Veggies? Move the Salad Bar
Laura Smith, a researcher at the Cornell Food and Brand Lab, has discovered that simply changing the placement of a middle school’s salad bar can cause a spike in veggie consumption. What would your guess be on that spike? 15% 25%? 50%? Try 250-300%. That’s not a typo. Web Design Cool story.
“Local†Foods Initiatives in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (USA)
Local Preference for School Food Purchases – Regulatory reform – no cost for schools using federal school meal funds: • Allows local schools the flexibility to specify “local†as a bid requirement in purchasing foods for school meals with school meal program funds. • Includes all food products: fruits, vegetables, dairy, meats, etc. Farmers’ Market Promotion Program – $33 million over 5 years for organized farmers markets, non-profits, units of government, others. Analysis of the US Farm Bill by Alan Hunt, Senior Policy Analyst, Northeast-Midwest Institute.
Chew on this—benefits of eating local
While locavorism may sound like something you should see your doctor to treat; in actuality, being a locavore may minimize doctor visits. For those not familiar, a locavore is one who focuses on eating most, if not all, of their diet from items produced locally. On Saturday, a panel of six discussed the values of eating locally produced foods, including the taste, nutrition and benefits to your health.Sentinel-Tribune (Bowling Green, Ohio) story.
Outdoor Classroom Garden Mini-Grant Program
The Outdoor Classroom Garden Mini-Grant Program is designed to show that agriculture is an integral part of our everyday environment. Farms, wildlife, forestry, people and cities are all interrelated with agriculture. Since most of Arkansas wildlife resides on and feeds off of private property, including farms and timber lands, the gardens can demonstrate the connection between agriculture, food, fiber, conservation, wildlife, and the urban environment. Garden Grant committee members will evaluate each application for proper criteria and study objectives before grants are awarded. Notification of acceptance or rejection of application will be delivered in writing. Details on Arkansas Farm Bureau website.
Garden Mini-grants for Teachers
In an effort to teach school children that agriculture is an integral part of our everyday environment, the SC Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher program will offer a classroom garden mini-grant program for teachers in public and private schools. The mini-grant program will provide a raised bed outdoor garden kit valued at $500, or an indoor garden kit valued at $250 for teachers who qualify through an application process. Details on South Carolina Farm Bureau website.
Milk Crate Gardening for Tight Spaces
Who says you need a sprawling patch of open lawn to get your green thumb groove on? Dump all your old LPs and college text books out of those milk crates, grab some soil and seeds and get planting. You don’t need a ton of space to grow some tomatoes and tasty pesto herbs, just a warm bright area to stash your crate o’dirt. Eco blog Re-Nest sings the virtues of milk crate urban container gardening. They point to clever post over at Instructables which details how the 14×14 plastic cubes we know and love make great – if not particularly attractive – makeshift gardens. Line them with weed block, dump in some soil, add seeds, and let Mother Nature do her thing. EcoSalon story.
AND if You Have Time
Top 7 food trucks in Los Angeles
A new generation of Southern California food trucks provides more than just traditional tacos; their mobile kitchens have evolved into serious cuisine-on-wheels. ABC7 teamed up with Citysearch.com to find the top 7 food trucks in the Southland: 1. Grilled Cheese Truck. Rest of the list.