December 3, 2015 | seedstock

 

1 Urban agriculture is what we call it [San Diego Reader]

Excerpt: Cats are a problem. We gotta enclose the areas where we’re growing.” Diane Moss breaks it down for a visitor. “You gotta be careful with your compost. It’s composting,” she explains, “and that brings the rats. And the rats bring the cats.”                            

2 Urban agriculture learning from CR Drew farm in Detroit: Part 1 [Michigan State University Extension]

Excerpt: Michigan State University Extension applies research from MSU to help Michigan residents solve everyday problems in agriculture, community development, nutrition, family finances, youth development and more.                                

3 Cash flow is the true measure of sustainability in urban agriculture [Michigan State University Extension]

Excerpt: Michigan State University Extension applies research from MSU to help Michigan residents solve everyday problems in agriculture, community development, nutrition, family finances, youth development and more.                                  

4 A guide to Encinitas’ urban farming fight [Voice of San Diego]

Excerpt: The sometimes posh, sometimes provincial North County city is having a hard time reconciling its suburban values with its agricultural history.                              

5 Local gardener transforms vacant lot into thriving urban farm [Richmond Confidential]

Excerpt: Andromeda Brooks is changing the way we look at vacant lots. Tired of staring at the litter outside her window, Brooks decided to turn a blighted lot at Chanslor Avenue and First Street into an experiment in urban agriculture.                                    

6 Battle Creek urban farm offers children pathway to produce [Washington Times]

Excerpt: Throughout the Battle Creek area, local schools are partnering with Sprout Urban Farms to provide kids with both hands-on learning opportunities and a pathway to fresh produce.                

7 Urban farmers find that success leads to eviction [Seattle Times]

Excerpt: After four years of growing and selling produce in the heart of Omaha, Ali Clark has become expert at yanking out her black raspberry bushes and replanting them at another site.            

8 Kane County poised to help state become food, agriculture hub [Chicago Tribune]

Excerpt: Kane County, with its mix of urban and rural areas and dedication to agricultural issues, can be an important partner to help a FARM Illinois, private organization working to make Illinois a food and agriculture hub, spread its message, its executive director said.                            

9 City of Minneapolis cultivates urban farming [KSTP]

Excerpt: Caroline Devany didn’t start out wanting to be a farmer. She actually wanted to be an urban planner. Now, this Oakland, California, native currently living in Minneapolis is part owner of ‘Stones Throw Urban Farm.’                    

10 Agriculture linked to DNA changes in ancient Europe [New York Times]

Excerpt: Geneticists at Harvard have found that the rise of agriculture some 8,500 years ago led to widespread changes, affecting height and skin color.                 

11 Peddling a new model of urban farming [Earth Island]

Excerpt: The smile on Heather Grove’s face competes with the bright shine of the sunflowers surrounding her. “Sunflowers are amazing – they actually remove toxins from the soil,” she beams as she showcases a Fleet Farming garden. This “farmlette” was created on a neighborhood yard by a team of volunteers Grove organized.               

12 What should you eat during a drought? The answer is more delicious than you think [Matador Network]

Excerpt: ‘Blending 1,000-year-old desert crop varieties with water-saving approaches and farming techniques inherited from Moorish Spain, Africa, and indigenous North America, Nabhan’s modest arid plot offers a glimpse of how we could sustain ourselves in an era of chronic drought and increasing climate chaos.’                              

13 Urban farming hits the big leagues [The Daily Meal]

Excerpt: On November 10th, 2015 over 200 regional professional and collegiate sports teams, business and public leaders, athletes, restaurant owners, and chefs will convene at the Champions of Food event at Centurylink Field in Seattle. The goal of the symposium is to explore ways in which the sports industry can make advancements towards a more sustainable food system.                          

14 A small but growing number are finding success growing crops within the city [Distpatch]

Excerpt: On Canyon Drive in dense, residential Clintonville, a sign in the window of a particular small house reads: “Organic farm, please do not spray.” Step into Joseph Swain’s backyard and it is clear that this is no residential garden. A pair of long raised beds and a small hoop house take up much of the narrow lot. Chickens peck and scratch in a pen tucked into a corner.                                    

15 Foodie culture is spurring degree programs at U.S. colleges [LA Times]

Excerpt: Before he ever knew they might be topics to study in college, food business and farming played an important part in Charlie James’ life.                                      

16 Pittsburgh part Of worldwide effort to improve local food system {WESA]

Excerpt: Joining cities such as Amsterdam, Shanghai and Barcelona, Pittsburgh has signed onto the “Milan Urban Food Policy Pact.” It’s a worldwide effort to examine the system of how food is produced and distributed as demographics change.         

17 Growing Vermont’s green economy sustainably and locally [Food Tank]

Excerpt: The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund was created by the Vermont Legislature with the mission to accelerate the development of the state’s green economy. The organization provides early stage grant funding, technical assistance, and loans to entrepreneurs, businesses, farmers, and networks to develop jobs.                        

18 Case Western Reserve University pledges to buy local food [Cleveland.com]

Excerpt: Case Western Reserve University became the third university in Ohio to pledge to spend a portion of its budget on local and community-based food instead of food from industrial farms and junk food.                  

19 Farms near Lake Erie get millions [The Toledo Blade]

Excerpt: Between 2008 and 2015, concentrated animal feeding operations in the western Lake Erie watershed have received more than $16.8 million in direct payments, cost-shares, and other subsidies from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to a report issued earlier this month by activist groups tracking the issue.     

20 Advice for higher-yielding agriculture startups [Tech Crunch]

Excerpt: With interest and investment in food and agriculture startups reaching record levels, new entrepreneurs are entering this important sector, bringing fresh ideas and perspectives on how best to feed the world.              

21 UCLA serves up food studies minor [Daily Bruin]

Excerpt: Beginning next quarter, UCLA will offer a food studies minor to allow students to explore food distribution and access, among other ways food influences science, history and society. The Undergraduate Council of the Academic Senate approved the interdepartmentalminor last Tuesday.

22 First aquaponics greenhouse in Worcester could make sustainable food production work in urban settings [Mass Live]

Excerpt: Can city dwellers successfully grow a sustainable and healthy food source that can also turn a profit for its harvesters? Those are the ideas of behind Worcester’s new urban greenhouse. The greenhouse officially opened this week outside the non-profit agency Stone Soup, on King St.