"I love that you've brought this to attention. An extensive database of uncommon but resistant and hardy plants/foods could be developed and organized by climate. Ease of growth and processing should also be taken in to account. I will try to…"
A crash course in changing the world.
mobile loaves and fishes
When I started thinking about food security where I live, I immediately jumped to the issue of homelessness. Being a large city, it's impossible to ignore those who have lost everything - regardless of their history - and are just trying to find a way to get back on their feet. This is a food security issue, as well as a social issue. Why is it so difficult for those without to provide healthy meals?
Mobile Loaves and Fishes is a nonprofit based in Austin, Texas whose mission is "to provide food, clothing and dignity to brothers and sisters in need." Their story - definitely inspirational - is found here. I first heard about this organization through a friend and partner of the program - Mark Horvath. His story is for a completely different blog post, though. I knew if Mark deemed these people respectable and trustworthy - I needed to research more. I wasn't disappointed - these guys are legit - definitely seeking sustainable solutions to food security in Austin.Perhaps the most intriguing branch of this organization focused on food security is the Karpophoreo Project. KP asks the question: "What would happen if the HOW (Habitat on Wheels) community produced and provided a local, organic and sustainable food supply for themselves, utilizing key partnerships around the city?"
There are 3 Paths in this project:
- HOW Community Gardens Program - this path establishes and maintains the gardens located in six RV communities where HOW residents live, collects and distributes food from the garden to the communities (extra food given to neighbors and volunteer workers) and introduces sustainable and nutritional food consumption to the community at large
- KP's Distributed Farm Program - this path creates a "patchwork quilt of green-space throughout the city" for pasture and farming of vegetables, providing self-reliance for a community used to the compassion of others. This green-space will be used for consumption, profit and trade
- KP's Food and Trade Skills Program - this path utilizes one-on-one mentoring and apprentice relationships, connecting and empowering those involved with a vocation that will flourish in the rough economic times.
What I most respect is that they are incredibly adamant about the description of the program. KP is NOT a food program - it's an opportunity for those who are used to receiving the cheapest food to grow and learn and benefit from food rich in nutrients.
Finding this excites me - Austin is a city ripe with opportunities to help those in need and my husband in particular has been looking for examples locally to help him in his own dream of sustainable living mentorships. Mobile Loaves and Fishes is doing what's necessary to not only help - but empower the least of these in our city.
Mobile Loaves and Fishes website: http://www.mlfnow.org/site/PageServer
Views: 21
-
Comment by Turil Cronburg on April 19, 2010 at 8:58pm
-
There are so many of these wonderful programs popping up everywhere these days.
Just a week ago I discovered my housemate building a new raised bed "urban farm" in the yard of a nursing school half a block away, that's being used as a community food farm that will donate most of the food to food pantries and such (and an AIDS support group that the nursing school runs). I'm excited to help out, especially because I actually use those food pantries, and it will save shipping and storage if I can get my produce while I'm gardening. :-)
-
Comment by Elora Ramirez on April 20, 2010 at 12:08pm
-
I agree! ie: your housemate - that sounds like an incredible program, and can totally understand you taking advantage of the opportunity to help out! i'm thinking my students & i will be taking a trip to mobile loaves and fishes soon so they can see sustainable practices - possibly bringing the ideas back with them to belton :)
Comment
Latest Activity
Fourth of July on the Lake
This past weekend was the annual celebration at the lake house in Connecticut. It is amazing that the lake is still so clear and beautiful after all these years. The watershed association has done a wonderful job protecting these waters from the damaging effects of development.The wood grill was finally ready to cook on, so we didn't miss the propane tank fueled grill anymore. The food actually tasted fresher than in the past and was easy to keep fueled.Dad was very proud of the solar hybrid…See More
Stinging Nettle
In this blog post I will focus on a plant that is abundant in our nature, and which is immensely nutritious. It's of course the Stinging Nettle. Let's start with the chemical constituents of this plant:37 % Non-Nitrogen-Extracts19 - 29 % Ash9 - 21 % Fiber4 % Fat22 % ProteinOnce the leaves are drid, their protein content can reach an astounding 40 %, which is much higher than beef, which even under the best of circ**stances can never exceed 31 % protein. In addition the Stinging Nettle consists…See More
The meal
It is 7'oclock, I was late home from work due to an assignment that i wanted to get ahead on. By the time I get home I am feeling extremley tired and I cannot be bothered to make a proper meal. I walk to the fridge and open it to see what there is for me to eat. All of the out of date foodstuffs have been automaticaly thrown away by the fridge, they will be recycled tomorrow as animal feed or something. I see i have organic local eggs and some local cheese. Foods are vacc** sealded for easy…See More
Future
FutureToday is 2020/1/1. It is just like yesterday. The war is still continuing. It has started since 2010. In 2010, that year was a horrible year. Almost every energy ran out. Every country’s governments were crushed down at the same time. There were riots everywhere. All of the big company’s bosses were killed xdeadx in the riots. Troops fought each other everywhere. Food was bought up xawayx at once. There were no more food supplies in any shops. The economy was all crushed down. All the…See More
public servants
The exchange works directly for state and public workers and servants. It gives them credit in exchange for the amount of public work they contribute to the community. The more constructive they are based off a base rate the more credit they recieve.
© 2024 Created by Alchemy.
Powered by
You need to be a member of Urgent Evoke to add comments!
Join Urgent Evoke