LEARN2 - Food Insecurity in Los Angeles

"In 2008, the US poverty rate was 13.2 percent. But a new report from USDA, "Household
Food Security in the United States, 2008", puts the number of
food insecure at 14.6 percent. And number for female-headed
single-parent households with children was a staggering 37.2%. (The
relationship between poverty and food insecurity is a complex one. Poor
seniors, for example, have a much lower incidence of food
insecurity--just 8.8 when living alone, compared to the 37.2% figure
just cited for single-mother households.)" http://www.openleft.com/diary/16173/shadow-of-food-insecurity-looms...


The economy and current recession has taken a hard hit on the people of Los Angeles. There has been a 46% increase in people receiving food assistance since 2005.

The following are excerpt is from this website http://www.lafoodbank.org/E_PressReleases/HILAC2010.htm :

"February 2, 2010 - A new study published by the Los
Angeles Regional Foodbank today reports that a record 983,400 Los
Angeles County residents received food assistance from food
pantries, soup kitchens and shelters served by the Foodbank in 2009.
This total represents nearly 1 in 10 residents of Los Angeles
County. Children comprise 40 percent of people receiving food
assistance and seniors comprise 5 percent as an estimated 393,000
kids and 49,000 seniors benefited from food distributed by the
Foodbank over the course of the year."

Here is another news article stating the same information: http://www.dailynews.com/ci_14320250

Currently, one of the best methods in Los Angeles to combat this issue is the network of Food Banks in the area. http://www.lafoodbank.org/

One of the innovations currently being used alongside the LA Food Banks in the Green Roofs project.
http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=1045
Project Name: Urban Farming Food Chain - Los Angeles Regional Food Bank Green Wall
Year: 2008
Owner: Urban Farming
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Building Type: Non-Profit
Greenroof Type: Extensive, Test/Research
Greenroof System: Single Source Provider
Roof Size: 188 sq.ft.
Roof Slope: 100%
Access: Accessible, Open to Public
Submitted by: George Irwin, Green Living Technologies

Designers/Manufacturers of Record:
Project Visionary: Joyce Lapinski, Director, Urban Farming
Guardian Wall Architect: Robin Osler, Emily Osler Architects (EOA)
Designer / Manufacturer / Implementation / Education: George Irwin, Green Living
Technologies (GLT)

The Urban Farming Food Chain consists of 750 square feet of edible
food-producing Green Living™ Walls mounted on buildings, concrete walls,
freestanding or in parking areas, growing fresh produce (without the
use of pesticides) at four locations in and around downtown Los Angeles,
inclusive of the Central City East (Skid Row) area.

The Food Chain is a vertical gardening system that offers immediate access to fresh produce, greens the environment, creates team-building
and skills-training, and provides an opportunity for community service
and involvement. This program has also become part of an initial pilot for grades 3-12 as
a 6 week introduction to green roofs and green wall technologies
designed and implemented by nationally certified teacher and GLT CEO
George Irwin aka “The Green Wall Editor” on Greenroofs.com.

Warm season crops include; tomatoes, cuc**bers (green and yellow), strawberries, bell peppers, hot peppers, tomatillos, spinach, parsley,
leeks, edible lavender, eggplant, zucchini, Sugar Baby watermelon, and a
variety of herbs. Cool season crops include: lettuce varieties, radish,
and legumes.

The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is located at 1701 E. 41st Place, Los Angeles, CA 90058 (at E. 41st Place and Long Beach Ave.). Learn more
about the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank here. For more information
about the Urban Farming Food Chain™, to donate to Urban Farming or to
become a Co-sponsor, please contact: Joyce Lapinsky, Program
Development: jlapinsky@urbanfarming.org 323-877-2697, or visit their website. Read all
about Green Living Technologies (GLT) in The Greenroof Directory here.
George Irwin can be reached for comment or presentations directly at:
george@agreenroof.com.