objects/sustainable-food-production.html

Sustainable Food Production

Food security is a big issue

• amount of food
• types of food available vs. nutrition
• economics
  • fuel
  • fertilizer
  • land ownership issues
• risks in the distribution system
• sensitivity to disruption from climate

Methods to produce food more sustainably

1. Artisan agriculture

• Polyface Farms in NC - mentioned in Michael Pollan's book
• Zena Farms here in Willamette Valley - summer program
• Tryon Creek community

2. Local food production - using the urban & suburban landscape

• Local food production
  • CSA
• Farmers markets all through out Portland area
• Portland Urban Growth Bounty
  • zoning for urban farms
• using the commons to grow food
  • Portland Urban Edibles
    • map
    • discussion of ethics
  • Philadephia Orchard Project and the map of edibles
  • Seattle fruit tree harvest
• Chickens? Portland has highest per capita chicken population
  • urban chickens blog?
• Urban Growth Boundary keeps farms nearby - map

 

Energy, food and local development

Spending locally has a multiplier effect

use grant money to catalyze (and organize) local spending

• $66k grant catalyzed $226k locally
• pilot project for entire state - use school money to provide healthy and locally sourced food
• http://www.ecotrust.org/project/farm-to-school/