food

Teaching Gardens: Using Permaculture to Teach Kids Practical Lessons

Submitted by Kevin Hansen on December 3, 2011 - 10:18

A wonderful article describing organic permaculture teaching gardens used to help teach children via experiential means the lessons they need - in a practical garden setting:

Sowing the Seeds of Food Security

By FIONA MACKAY
Published: New York Times - November 27, 2011

CAPE TOWN — At primary schools in South Africa’s impoverished Cape Flats area, teachers are using organic vegetable gardens to help children learn science, geography and economics — and to unlearn hunger.

Schools Environmental Education and Development (SEED) is a nonprofit based in Cape Town that creates learning gardens as part of their Organic Classroom Program, in partnerships with schools in South Africa’s poorest communities.

Founded in 2002, SEED trains teachers to design, plant and nurture a garden according to permaculture principles, which encourage a sustainable approach to agriculture modeled on the ecosystem.

Prosecutor Charges Bayer+Syngenta Over Honey Bee Die-Off

Submitted by Kevin Hansen on November 13, 2011 - 01:45

Three related events have recently heightened the honeybee issue:

First: Prosecutors in Italy have charged Bayer CropScience and Syngenta - both manufacturers of clothianidin - in honeybee deaths:

Rodale Institute Report, Truly Sustainable Agriculture, Good for Climate and More Financially Viable than Conventional Ag

Submitted by Kevin Hansen on October 6, 2011 - 19:11

Re-posted from Rodale Institute's Newsletter:

The hallmark of a truly sustainable system is its ability to regenerate itself. When it comes to farming, the key to sustainable agriculture is healthy soil, since this is the foundation for present and future growth.

Organic farming is far superior to conventional systems when it comes to building, maintaining and replenishing the health of the soil. For soil health alone, organic agriculture is more sustainable than conventional. When one also considers yields, economic viability, energy usage, and human health, it’s clear that organic farming is sustainable, while current conventional practices are not.

Investing in Farmers Markets Could Create Thousands of New Jobs: Union of Concerned Scientists

Submitted by Kevin Hansen on September 9, 2011 - 09:59

 http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/solutions/big_picture_solutions/market-forces.html

A great study from the Union of Concerned Scientists shows how supporting local agriculture is big jobs creator - and far more.  Local food is better, healthier, supports the local economy, and reduces the climate-impact of farming or food transportation - and provides new food security. Children taught sustainable agriculture are better-prepared to take care of themselves and their shared planet.

A big winner. It's clear that local self-sufficiency - especially in food - is a very important part of a sustainable and healthy future.

Cheers,

Kevin

270,000 Organic Farmers Sue Monsanto

Submitted by Kevin Hansen on July 23, 2011 - 12:16

Original emailed by Paul Ray

An Open-Source Design Ecosystem for Civilization: OpenFarmTech.org - #Commons

Submitted by Pierre Terre on April 28, 2011 - 10:39

Open Source Ecology is a network of farmers, engineers, and supporters that has been imagining and creating the Global Village Construction Set, an open source, low-cost, high performance technological platform. These DIY-fabricated industrial machines can be used to build a sustainable civilization with modern comforts. The GVCS lowers the barriers to entry into farming, building, and manufacturing. It is a life-size lego-like set of modular tools that can create entire economies.

See their amazing TED Talk by

Timeline of a Bee Massacre: EPA Still Allowing Hive-Killing Pesticide

Submitted by Pierre Terre on January 21, 2011 - 11:36

Ariel Schwartz reports for FastCompany.com on the USEPA's refusal to ban the known problem nicotine pesticide Clothianidin:   http://www.fastcompany.com/1709815/why-has-the-epa-allowed-a-bee-killing...

Protecting Honey Bees from Chemical Pesticides by Dr. Maryann Frazier

Submitted by Pierre Terre on October 19, 2010 - 14:35

Protecting Honey Bees from Chemical Pesticides

Location: 
Agricultural Extension Office, Penn State University State College, PA
United States
40° 47' 36.222" N, 77° 51' 36.0036" W
See map: Google Maps

Location

Agricultural Extension Office, Penn State University State College, PA
United States
40° 47' 36.222" N, 77° 51' 36.0036" W
See map: Google Maps

Co-op bans eight pesticides after worldwide beehive collapse

Submitted by Pierre Terre on October 19, 2010 - 14:16

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jan/28/bees-coop-pesticide

By Allison Benjamin, The Guardian Wednesday 28 January 2009 11.40 GMT

First UK supermarket chain – and Britain's biggest farmer – to prohibit chemicals implicated in the death of over one-third of British bees.

 

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