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The Farm Bill, The Food System, and What You Can Do To Make It Better |
November 21, 2007
Introduction to the 2007 Farm Bill: Where it Stands, or Sits, Now
Guest Blog by Jessie Woletz
Psst. Did you hear? There is, or recently was, a big important discussion going on in the Senate and House of Representatives. The decisions they make will greatly determine the direction of the nation’s food system for the next 5 years. The 2007 Farm Bill, just last week, was being hashed out on the Senate floor. Unfortunately, the Farm Bill discussions are stalled for now because of what is being called a “showdown” between Republicans and Democrats.
A motion was filed by Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) on Wednesday to force a cloture vote Friday. Cloture is a procedural measure that would force a vote on the bill, which made sense to Reid given the limited timeframe to pass the new Farm Bill before the new year. Reid said, “If cloture is approved Friday, the Senate will have time to approve its version of the farm bill and then work together with the U.S. House of Representatives to form a unified piece of legislation before the end of the year”. (Farm Policy, Nov.14th)
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On-Farm Energy Innovations in Action |
November 20, 2007
2007 ROC Planning Fellow Jenny Lester Moffit's walnut farm is in the news for its innovations in sustainable on-farm energy production. Read the recent front page article from The Vacaville Reporter about Dixion Ridge Farms efforts to make the farm completely energy self sufficient with new on-farm energy solutions.
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Guest Blog - Planning Fellow Charlene Orszag |
November 6, 2007
Charlene is a co-founder of Tierra Miguel Foundation - an organic farm, conservation, education and research center in San Diego County. Charlene is dedicated to energizing collaborative efforts to build ecologically sustainable food production and distribution systems throughout Southern and Central California.
Being part of the ROC Fellows has been a privilege for me. I would have to be considered a “hybrid.”- part organic/biodynamic farmer, part non-profit foundation advisor, and part community builder. ..lots of hats. It’s exciting to see how ROC honors yet merges our statewide interests.
We at Tierra Miguel Foundation and Farm are working to connect the farm to the city, bringing urgent understanding of the value of farming and farmlands to folks who may have lost touch. We’re working with County, City and State decision makers, as well as grantors, NGOs, health institutions and schools to encourage the Farm to School programs. We’ve won conservation, program design awards and saved 85 organic acres for agriculture in perpetuity, We’re definitely working at the “growing edge,” (pardon the pun!) We think it’s all about connecting the dots and promoting recognition of our interdependency.
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Fresno Planners Consider Food Access |
October 16, 2007
A senior planner for the city of Fresno, Roots of Change 2007 Planning Fellow Sophia Pagoulatous is making news by incorperating local food systems into city planning efforts.
From The Fresno Bee 10/14/07
Farm fresh
What is a farmers market exactly? That was among questions posed last week at a Community Hunger and Nutrition Forum in Fresno where panelists discussed barriers to neighborhood farmers markets.
Fresno is seeking to do a better job of defining markets and tweaking ordinances to allow the markets in more locations.
"Part of the problem is that farmers markets aren't defined in the zoning code," said Sophia Pagoulatos, supervising planner with the city's Planning and Development Department.
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Guest Blog - Planning Fellow Brahm Ahmadi |
A 2007 ROC Fellow, Brahm is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of People’s Grocery and a leader noted for commitment to social justice, cooperative economics and access to healthy food for low-income, inner-city communities. Brahm is leading an effort to create a new retail format for West Oakland that will model a way to overcome the challenge of urban food deserts. Brahm is also active in organizing for economic democracy and was a founding board member of the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives.
August 23, 2007
When I attended the ROC Statewide meeting on March 3 in San Francisco I was simultaneously inspired and disappointed by what I observed. On the one hand, I was inspired by the momentum and resources being placed behind such a necessary and important vision. On the other hand, I was disappointed that there were so few people of color in attendance, that the vision was not entirely inclusive of truly diverse perspectives and that the leadership of ROC, and those who were its spokes people, were mostly of homogenous ethnic and political backgrounds.
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