We will be planting 12 raised beds at Lamp Ministries on South 26th and Jefferson as well as installing a rain barrels, so we need everyone to come out. The starts have all been donated and the beds are built. All we need to do is put them in the ground. Show up at 10am and bring some gloves!

See you all out there!

We will be all the way in the back by the outdoor patio at 12:30. This project is in partnership with the Center which provides everything from recreation to inspiration. Although its name implies Jewish affiliation, 70% of its members are non-Jewish and all walks of life are welcome to become members and use its facilities.

4:00 PM Vegan Cooking Class–”See Amanda serve up Sea Vegetables!”
6:00 PM Plant-based/Vegan/veggie Potluck (This is Earthsave’s central tenet.)
7:00 PM — 2011 is the year of the backyard garden. And Dr. Martin.
8:30 PM Enviro/Health/Food/Ethic music and conversation

Special Event: Just after the speaker, there will be a special showing of Carbon Nation — Inspiring in the midst of a lot of confusion and consternation about the climate/environment.

Sponsored by EarthSave Louisville
Home Location: United Crescent Hill Ministries
150 State Street
Louisville, KY 40206

You can learn more here at their website.

Atlanta, GA ~ In his 2010 State of the Union address, President Obama enumerated problems requiring his attention: health care, the economy, job creation, environmental issues and lack of renewable fuels. In doing so, he suggested that increasing agricultural exports would help solve some of these problems.

While export agriculture might indeed help some corporations, it is unlikely to resolve issues directly affecting the public. One thing that would however, is urban agriculture. While not a panacea, urban agriculture can allay many of the concerns mentioned by the president, and it can do so in several critical ways.

Our country is now undeniably urban. According to recent demographics, 81 percent of us now live in cities or suburbs. And with so few of us living on farms or in rural areas, our familiarity with the production and source of our food is limited. As an urban organic farmer, I find it amazing that so many chefs, produce managers, restaurateurs and
Americans in general remain blithely unaware of the sources of their food. Many have no idea what food looks like coming out of the soil, let alone have an awareness of seasonal fluctuations in fruit and vegetable production. Implications of this lack of knowledge and involvement in our own food production are immense, affecting all aspects of our life.

Since the Dust Bowl era in the 1930s, and the end of World War II, there has been an effort by government and corporate America to industrialize American agriculture. There has been an emphasis on efficiency and quantity rather than on growing quality food and protecting natural resources.

Agriculture is estimated to represent 20 to 25 percent of the U.S. annual energy budget, and as much as 40 percent of that energy goes toward producing artificial fertilizers and pesticides. Chemical-based growth stimulants produce large quantities of food at the expense of the minerals, vitamins and trace elements that create flavor and nutrition. Evidence of the poor quality of our food can be seen in rising rates of obesity, vitamin deficiencies and food-borne illnesses. Sadly, the major victim of industrial agriculture is the American public. We are subjected to more chemicals in food, more additives in food products and massive advertising campaigns for these products, and until recently were offered few healthy alternatives.

We Americans are in the early stages of reclaiming our food sovereignty. This is evidenced by the fast-growing organic sector in agriculture, the advent of urban agriculture initiatives and the increased numbers of farmers markets found in urban areas everywhere.

Across America, urban farmers are growing crops on vacant lots, in abandoned fields, in greenhouses, on balconies, by schools, in prison yards, in nursing homes and in countless other creative and engaging places. These urban growing fields can be privately owned, formed as cooperatives, as neighborhood organizations, in collaboration with universities or as partners with city and county governments. Options are endless. Urban America is beginning to wake up and feed itself.

Urban agriculture can play a critical role in reversing many negative aspects of industrial agriculture. Urban farming enhances the health of metropolitan residents, creates “green” jobs, produces affordable locally grown organic fruits and vegetables; teaches people to grow their own foods; reconnects people to their food and the land; and strengthens the environment through reduced fossil fuel dependence and carbon sequestration.
The source of our food is an abstract concept for most of us. But this is changing. More and more people are exploring the supply chain that connects the production of their food to its final consumption. People are returning to the earth as they learn that urban gardens provide benefits beyond good food. This includes economic savings, environmental improvement, lifestyle enhancement, increased exercise and family and community bonding.

President Obama mentioned increasing agricultural exports but also said that first lady Michelle Obama would continue her work on problems associated with child obesity. Ironically, the industrial agriculture that the President supports is directly connected to child obesity. Industrial agriculture and the lack of personal involvement in food production are leading factors causing our people to become obese and less healthy.

The time has come for Americans to reclaim our agricultural heritage. Participating in urban agriculture is a major step in that direction. Our national security may depend upon paradigm change in the 2010 U.S. Farm Bill that embraces urban agriculture.

K. Rashid Nuri is director of the Truly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture.

http://www.blackagriculture.com

© 2000–2011 San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center. Unless otherwise stated by the author, all content is free for non-commercial reuse, reprint, and rebroadcast, on the net and elsewhere. Opinions are those of the contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the SF Bay Area IMC.

Tomorrow is our first Garden Liaison meeting in a season long series that will train you in sustainable urban agriculture and put you in touch with community members wishing to start their own garden. This meeting will be an introduction to the Garden Liaison program, its objectives, and the basics of food justice.

Starting a community garden can be daunting and very rewarding. One of the most important factors in a successful community project is community support. As a Garden Liaison you will guide a garden through the season, sharing what you are learning at our meetings.

You do not need to have extensive knowledge on gardening as we will be teaching you everything you will need to know throughout the summer at the Garden Liaison meetings, so please do not be shy. Volunteering is a great way to learn something new and a great way to give back to the community you live in and love!

So even if you are just curious and trying to figure out if you’re interested in being a part of this program please join us.

6-7pm
The Shady Fern Garden
1622 Fernwood Ave
Louisville, KY 40205

You can find more information on our website.

1) Write down what you want to grow – There are a lot of reasons to choose to grow a plant. If could be because you love it fresh, it’s expensive in the store, or you just like the way it looks. Write down everything. Nothing is a bad idea.
2) Go buy your packets of seed – Instead of researching each plant to figure out when to plant it, how much space it needs, or how much sun it likes I would simply buy the packet (normally around $3) which has all of this information you need to know to start the seed. If you’ve picked a plant that won’t do well in our climate then chances are the store won’t have the seeds. I recommend Fresh Start Growers Supply.
3) Measure your space – Knowing how much area you are working with will help you choose what plants can go where and how many you can have.
4) Draw it – This step will help you visualize where things will go and how much of it you can have. Draw 1 ft squares in your plot and start writing down where things will go based on how much sun and space they will need. If you’re feeling spunky look into companion planting.
5) Count up you plants – Now you know how many plants you will have this season. With this information, and the planting date on the back of the seed packet, you will know how many start-trays you will need to buy, or how many egg cartons you’ll have to collect. Simply follow the directions on the packet and give it a shot.
6) Plant outside – some plants are ready to go outside right now like garlic, onions, peas, and spinach. Go a head and put them where you planned.

Follow these steps and you should have a good head-start on your garden this year. If you have any questions on the particulars just send us an email at Mason(at)LousivilleGrows.org. Happy Growing!

If you are interested in starting a garden we are taking down names until our first volunteer meeting March 5th. Check out our Start a Garden page for more details. Otherwise, if you have some time you would like to give to the community please consider our Garden Liaison program. You don’t have to know anything about agriculture to be a part of the program, because we’ll be beside you the whole way.

There is a small chance of heavy rain, in which case we’ll move it to next weekend, but I can’t think of a better way to give back to our community. If you’re wondering if it’s still on give me a call: 502-724-1509

Volunteer with us:
-Sign up to help with planting and harvest days around town at the Louisville Grows Gardens

Become a Garden Liaison:
-Work with a specific garden throughout the season and be trained by us in sustainable agriculture

Start a garden:
-We are still taking gardens that are looking for a helping hand this year

You can find more information at Our Volunteer Page or at our Start a Garden Page.