This is another story that drives me insane. I just do not understand what goes on in the minds of certain people.
The Garden is a 2008 documentary that was nominated for an Academy Award. It is an absolutely amazing film that covers the story of the South Central Farmers, located in South Los Angeles, CA.
This group of about 350 farmers operated the largest urban farm in the country, transforming it from a space filled with junk to a productive community garden, from 1994-2006.
So why were they kicked out? The land was originally taken by the city under eminent domain to be used for the Los Angeles City Energy Recovery Project (LANCER). However, after a large amount of community opposition the project was abandoned. Afterwards, the city sold the property to the L.A. Harbor Department. In July 1994 the Harbor Department granted a revocable permit to the L.A. Regional Food Bank , which is a private, nonprofit food-distribution network housed across the street from the Lancer incinerator site – to "occupy and use the site as a community garden". So the farmers began their work and everything was peachy.
Then, in 2001, Ralph Horowitz, a part owner in the former property sued the City for breach of contract, for failure to honor the original right of repurchase. The city ended up selling the property back to Horowitz, through a private deal (sketchy), for a nice price of $5,000,000.
Well, the owner of the land, Horowitz, issued an eviction notice to the farmers in 2004 after they had been farming the land for 10 years. The farmers filed a lawsuit stating that the selling of the land was invalid, and the LA County Superior Court issued a temporary restraining order and later a preliminary injunction halting development of the property until the lawsuit could be settled. Sadly, the farmers lost the lawsuit and the court raised the injunction, unfortunately allowing Horowitz to proceed.
Horowitz's plan was to sell the land for $16.3 million dollars, more than three times the amount he paid for it (greedy much?). He told the farmers that if they could pay for the land, he would sell it to them for that price. So with the help and support of celebrities (such as: Danny Glover, Leonardo DiCaprio, Willie Nelson, Daryl Hannah, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Alicia Silverstone) the farmers began raising money. They successfully raised over $6 million dollars. They seemed to be losing hope, but as the eviction date neared the Annenberg Foundation donated the rest of the money.
They did it! They successfully raised $16.3 million dollars to save the garden! However, Horowitz cheated them. He refused to sell them the property, stating that he never thought they would be able to raise the money, and that he would never sell it simply because he did not like the farmers. Subsequently, the farm was bulldozed without care.
The farmers had grown 150 species of plants and used this garden to feed their families, and after meeting the request of Horowitz, they were still kicked out. What kind of horrendous, horrible, careless person would do that?
The farmers were giving a small amount of land to begin building another farm, but it does not make up for the corrupt and unjust treatment they received from the city and Horowitz.
The saddest part of this story is that the land that was bulldozed has remained untouched and unused since the eviction day. What was done is wrong. This type of urban farming is what needs to be done and what should be celebrated, not destroyed. What a waste.
"Why don't we pay more attention to who our farmers are? We would never be as careless choosing an auto mechanic or babysitter as we are about who grows our food." — Michael Pollan
France has told the European Union to stop Monsanto from selling their genetically modified MON810 corn to member nations! This is because the ecological minister of France (great man) has read studies that show that GMOs pose a significant environmental risk (duh, welcome to the party).
This is awesome. Let's hope the EU takes their request seriously and are responsible enough to see the evidence, and protect the health of their environment and citizens by banning these crops!
"In addition to contributing to erosion, pollution, food poisoning, and the dead zone, corn requires huge amounts of fossil fuel - it takes a half gallon of fossil fuel to produce a bushel of corn." -Michael Pollan
Things like this are why I started blogging, to spread awareness of the atrocities that happen within industrialized farming. This video seriously makes me sick. It is absolutely deplorable and downright cruel. I'll leave it at that and let you watch the video.
"Only after the last tree has been cut down…the last river has been poisoned…the last fish caught, only then will you find that money cannot be eaten." - Cree Indian Prophesy
I learned it in elementary school: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. As cheesy and it may sound, it has more meaning now that ever.
Usually I discuss agribusiness or related articles, but once in a while it is good to remember the basics.
Our Earth is not a never-ending basket full of resources. At some point, we will run out of things (oil, water, food) and regret that we did not take more care of the planet we live on. It sounds like a big challenge (...it is) but you can make small contributions everyday... like really, it's easy. For example, you can reduce trash from your house by using containers that can be used again. If you live in an area suitable you can also compost- composting helps use things that you would otherwise throw away. Also, start a garden!
Here are some easy things you can do to be greener (stop being lazy and do some): - Before you toss something in the garbage, think about the possibility of using it again. -Don’t use non-stick pans; use cast iron or stainless steel ones instead. -Lessen the amount of processed, canned, or fast food you consume, and never microwave plastic. -Buy and support organic. -Leave your shoes at the door to reduce pollutants in your home (positive: your home is cleaner!). -Buy natural fibers. -Use reusable water bottles instead of buying plastic ones. -Seal outdoor wooden structures that can contain arsenic. -Filter your water for drinking, cooking, and bathing. -Save energy by adjusting the thermostat just a few degrees, buying compact fluorescent light bulbs, opening the drapes for more light, and washing clothes in cold water when possible. -Recycle as much as possible and buy things made of recycled materials
These things are not hard to do, unless your lazy and unappreciative of the planet your using and living on. Not only will you feel more responsible, but things little efforts really do matter. “Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.”
Of the few heroes I have, Bill McKibben is definitely one of them. McKibben is the founder of 350.org. This is a grassroots organization committed to spreading awareness of climate change, which is indeed a crisis. Their goal is to reach everyone, everywhere. This is a global movement.
So what does 350 mean? In order to preserve our planet (or what is left of it), scientists say we must reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere from its current level of 392 parts per million to below 350 ppm. So for McKibben 350 not just a number—it's a symbol of what has to happen.
In 2009 350 coordinated 5200 simultaneous rallies and demonstrations in 181 countries (holy shit). CNN called it the 'most widespread day of political action in the planet's history.' Additionally, on 10/10/10, they organized the "Global Work Party"--> a day of climate solutions projects, from "solar panel installations to community garden plantings"--they had over 7000 events in 188 countries.
Most recently they played a part in stopping the construction of the keystone pipeline (success!)
McKibben is from upstate New York very close to where I live, so naturally I identify with him. But I have also heard him speak, and he is incredibly insightful and inspirational. The 350 movement is something to follow. The people are committing to solving real tangible problems that affect every person living on the plant, which everyone should be concerned about.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
Aqwise, located in Israel, is paving the way for clean waste-water treatment. They are offering varied treatments for industrial and municipal customers, who want or need to be greener. For some companies this is now a requirement, but requirements aside, it is good for the planet and for people. Water is a dwindling resource that should be treated with care.
According to the article "Aqwise’s technology utilizes biomass carriers, which look like little colorful plastic balls, and mix in the water, and even though to the untrained eye the balls look small, actually they have a large surface area. The bacteria see this as a convenient area to grow on, and this manipulation enables greater biological activity in any given area. This is the secret which enables Aqwise to plan a compact new facility or to make an existing facility more efficient, in many cases without the need to physically enlarge the treatment area."
This is the kid of cool innovative technology that is really effective in the green market. There is no reason why corporations should be opposed to using this waste-water treatment. I say make it mandatory!
Kudos to Aqwise! "Live Green, Love Green, Think Green"
Well, this is just what we need. Be careful if you are eating brown rice!
Brown rice is known to be one of the healthiest grains. Many doctors and farmers say that if you are health conscious and are interested in rice that it is definitely the way to go. So I was surprisedwhen I was browsing the news and came across this article.
A study that was just released by Dartmouth College revealed that there are potentially dangeously high levels of arsenic being found in brown rice, specifically in organic powered baby formula! They do not disclose the names of any brands in which the elevated levels of arsenic were found, but I would definitively be cautious in the grocery store! Make sure you check labels to see which brands include brown rice syrup. Many products that have brown rice included are cereal and energy bars... yiiiiiiiiiikes. “Any scientist who tells you they know that GMOs are safe and not to worry about it, is either ignorant of the history of science or is deliberately lying. Nobody knows what the long-term effect will be.” – Geneticist, David Suzuki, giving the 2008 Commonwealth Lecture in London
Novella is the author of the best-selling book Farm City. I was required to read this book for one of my classes (History of ecology and environmentalism) and as soon as I saw the cover, and read the description, I was intrigued. It is now safe to say that it's completely ahhhhmazing. The book tells the tale of a urban farmer (Carpenter) in Oakland, California. Oakland is not exactly what I would picture when I think "urban farm". When I think Oakland, I think riots, weed, and gangs. Well, I also now think pepper spray thanks to the extremely admirable police officers who handled the Occupy Oakland protesters with suuuch class and respect. Anyways, Novella chose to start an urban farm on an empty plot of land next to her apartment, in the ghetto of Oakland. She meets a variety of characters and ultimately raises bees, vegetables, and livestock (she forms a special bond with her turkeys, Maude and Harold).
Now, Novella is not some random spoiled brat that decides to grow a garden and become environmentally aware because its the "cool" thing to do. She actually cares where her food comes from and how it is produced. Shes rough around the edges, and has a completely addictive personality. She scrapes together money to pay for her farm, goes dumpster diving, and orders livestock that gets delivered in a box by UPS. Additionally, she drinks, is cranky at times, and is no stranger to curse words. But most of all, she is HILARIOUS. I literally could not put this book down. Its such an exceptional and inspiring piece of work.
Novella doesn't sugar coat anything. Growing your own food is not easy, especially when it comes to livestock. But it IS worth it. One thing she emphasizes is that most Americans have no idea where their food is grown or how it is produced, and that is the problem. Not only is it cheaper and healthier to produce your own food, you have the comforting feeling of KNOWING where your food comes from. Urban farming enables you to enjoy raising and producing your own food. The book is divided into three main sections: Turkey, Rabbit, Pig. She discusses everything from being hesitant about naming her animals, to developing relationships with them, killing them, and through drunken tequila filled nights discovering that she is indeed and urban farmer.
I cannot imagine anyone would pass up reading this book. First of all, it is only 185 pages, and its an easy read. Secondly, if you care at all about your food, or if you just want to have a good laugh, I highly recommend it.
In July 1994 the Harbor Department granted a revocable permit to the L.A. Regional Food Bank , which is a private, nonprofit food-distribution network housed across the street from the Lancer incinerator site – to "occupy and use the site as a community garden". So the farmers began their work and everything was peachy.
