Press about tonight’s SF release party
Bay Area Bites has a great write up on tonight’s release party at Green Arcade.
Upcoming FTN Events
Upcoming Farm Together Now releases/readings:
- San Francisco, CA^# – Tuesday 12/1/10 8pm @ Green Arcade (with Illustrator Corinne Matesich)
- Baltimore, MD* – Wednesday 1/5/11 7pm @ 2640
- Philadelphia, PA* – Thursday 1/6/11 7pm @ Wooden Shoe Books & Records
- Millbrook, NY* – Saturday 1/8/11 Time TBA @ Merritt Books
- Pocantico Hills, NY* – Sunday 1/9/11 2pm @ Stone Barns Center’s Winter Market in the Hay Barn
- Brooklyn, NY* – Monday 1/10/11 7pm @ Melville House Books
- Los Angeles, CA* – Monday 1/31/11 Time TBA @ Stories
[Who is presenting the book: * = Daniel Tucker; ^ = Amy Franceschini; # = Anne Hamersky]
FTN Trailer is live on Youtube!
Spread it around!
Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser on the Food Safety Modernization Bill
Check out this New York Times article by a few writers who work at demystifying our food system. The Senate is scheduled to vote on the food safety bill with the Tester-Hagan amendment included.
Senate Passes Black Farmer Lawsuit
This just in from the Network of Black Farm Groups and Advocates:
For Immediate Release: November 19, 2010
Contact: Heather Gray 404 765 0991Senate Passes Black Farmer Lawsuit Legislation
ATLANTA…Two years after the provision in the 2008 Farm Bill that provided the opportunity for late petitioners in the Black farmer lawsuit to file their claims against the United States Department of Agriculture, the Senate has finally passed an appropriations bill that will fund the lawsuit. It was a vote of unanimous consent. While the Senate version of the bill still needs to pass the House of Representatives, the passage in the U.S. Senate was a momentous occasion.
At a time when people decry divisiveness prevails in Congress, this effort to pass the Black farmer lawsuit was ultimately one of impressive collaboration between the Republicans and Democrats as well as the Obama Administration. The Cobell Native American land trust lawsuit was also attached to the bill.
From the outset Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) was an excellent facilitator of Republican Senators to assure their support for passage of the bill and as an outspoken supporter of Black farmers to be compensated for the discrimination they have experienced. This was coupled with the leadership of Majority Leader Senator Harry Reid who has consistently attempted to bring this bill before the Senate and advocate for its passage. The Obama administration has also played an extraordinarily important and much appreciated role in the passage of this bill.
Another most important advocate has been the NAACP under the leadership of Ben Jealous that has consistently worked in Washington, DC and nationally in support of the Black farmer lawsuit.
The representatives of the Network of Black Farm Groups and Advocates listed below were in Washington numerous times this year to talk with Senators and Representatives about the importance of the required appropriations. They represent Black farm groups and Black farmers from throughout the Southeast.
in addition, the sizable “Listing of Organizational Support for Pigford Lawsuit Funding” enumerated below are of organizations that signed letters sent to both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The Network of Black Farm Groups and Advocates are thankful for the support of the Black farmer lawsuit ultimately received in Congress and throughout the country. We also support the Secretary of Agriculture’s efforts to resolve all of the outstanding lawsuits against the USDA for discrimination of underserved farmers.
Food safety bill
The Senate is set to vote on the Food Safety Modernization Act (S.510)– tomorrow, November 17. This Bill expands the FDA’s authority over not only large agribusiness and processed food producers but small-scale, organic farmers as well. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition offers this report regarding a sustainable agriculture perspective on food safety.
There are two important amendments to this Bill that small-scale, local and organic farmers need to protect themselves from potential financial burden. The Tester-Hayden Amendment will improve food safety outcomes by providing size-appropriate requirements. While the Manager’s Amendment includes 5 components, such as providing a USDA-sponsored competitive grants program for food safety training for small and mid-size farmers. The Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance shares important facts and figures related to this bill and for additional information regarding what you can do to help, check out Food Democracy Now!
Nourish with real food
Nourish is an education initiative dedicated to the story of our food. The purpose of this initiative is to inspire a public conversation regarding our current food system and to inform young people, families and communities through a variety of media. Included in the programming is a middle school curriculum guide to be used in social studies, health, science or English classes. Michael Pollan is one of the experts that is featured in a Nourish film.
Food politics now
For a little bite of food politics, check out Marion Nestle’s article regarding an invitation by the UK Department of Health to McDonald’s, PepsiCo, Mars, Kellogg’s, etc to help address public health concerns. These “food networks” will be writing the policies that address diet-related disease.
Bees, chickens and worms
Check out this article featuring advice on backyard urban farming. Included are tips on vegetable gardening, vermiculture, beekeeping and raising chickens.
Congrats to City Slicker Farms
City Slicker Farms
This just in from City Slicker Farms, one of the 20 farms featured in our book Farm Together Now:
Prop 84 Funding for City Slicker Farms Brings Land Security to West Oakland’s Urban Agriculture Movement.
City Slicker Farms is awarded $4,000,000 to purchase land in West Oakland to create a Community Market Farm and park.
Oakland, CA (November 10, 2010)—On Monday, November 8, 2010 City Slicker Farms was awarded $4,000,000 for a “West Oakland Park and Urban Farm” project. The funds come from Proposition 84, a California bond initiative approved in 2006, which reserves 5.4 billion dollars in bonds for projects involving water quality and access, park improvements, and natural resources and park preservation. The funds will be used to purchase a vacant lot in West Oakland at 28th and Peralta Streets and construct a farm and park there. At 1.4 acres, this will be City Slicker Farms’ largest farm site; greatly increasing their ability to grow and distribute food for the West Oakland community. City Slicker Farms conducted a three-month long community design process with West Oakland youth, seniors, and families to determine what they wanted in the new park. The design was submitted and, after a lengthy and competitive review process, City Slicker Farms was selected to receive a grant. There were 475 applicants from throughout California, and only 62 were chosen for grant awards. The “West Oakland Urban Farm and Park” was the second highest award in Alameda County and the 22nd largest award in the state.
Since 2001, City Slicker Farms has been successfully partnering with thousands of West Oakland residents to transform vacant lots and hundreds of backyards into food-producing gardens, growing over 20,000 pounds of food each year. This exemplifies a successful, resident-driven movement to utilize urban agriculture as a means to get needed food on the table. West Oakland is an 8.2 sq mile industrial area bounded by three major freeways, and it is home to the 5th busiest port in the country. The neighborhood struggles with poverty, environmental pollution, and a lack of access to fresh, affordable healthy food. Thirty-two percent of residents live below the poverty level, and mortality rates for diabetes and heart disease are 1.5 times above the county rate. The lack of access to safe open space and healthy foods contributes to chronic illnesses. This new project will address these issues in a greater capacity by more than doubling City Slicker Farms’ operations and programs.
“This is a huge boon for the West Oakland community,” said Barbara Finnin, Executive Director of City Slicker Farms. “Of the seven market farms we operate, this will be the largest and only one owned by City Slicker Farms. We will be creating a legal structure to ensure that this park remains an open maintained space for all community members to enjoy in perpetuity.” The “West Oakland Urban Farm and Park” will contain an abundance of new open space as well as new recreational and educational opportunities. The community has requested that this park include lawn space (to provide ample room for youth of all ages to run, play, and exercise), a vegetable growing area, a community garden, a fruit orchard, a chicken coop, a beehive, a dog run, and a tot lot. It will be open seven days a week, from morning until night without charge. City Slicker Farms will collaborate with other community-based groups and individuals to provide ongoing programs and opportunities for the community at the site.
The land itself was home to a paint factory for 50 years and is currently owned by Peralta Street, LLC. For the past five years, the site has been vacant and fenced off. In 2005-06, the site underwent a thorough Brownfield cleanup process. Under the supervision of the State of California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), the site was exhaustively tested, analyzed and ultimately cleaned up. In December 2006, DTSC issued a Certificate of Completion acknowledging successful completion of the cleanup. In partnership with Peralta Street, LLC, City Slicker Farms will conduct ongoing assessments and maintenance of groundwater and soil. Peralta Street, LLC and City Slicker Farms will start the Purchase and Sale Agreement process in early 2011. A community engagement and construction schedule will be announced after the purchase is completed.
About City Slicker Farms
City Slicker Farms supports food self-sufficiency in West Oakland by creating organic, sustainable, high-yield urban farms and partnering with residents to transform their yards into food-producing gardens. These spaces provide healthy, affordable food and improve the environment. City Slicker Farms seeks to serve all West Oakland residents, prioritizing people who have the least access to healthy food. The farms and gardens demonstrate the viability of a local food-production system; serve as community space; empower children and adults who want to learn about the connections between ecology, farming and the urban environment; and support tools for self-reliance and empowerment.
Contact:
Barbara Finnin, Executive Director, City Slicker Farms
510-763-4241
Farm Together Now - The Book and Blog 