SYRACUSE, NY, July 25, 2014 - In the first broad-scale estimate of air pollution removal by trees nationwide, U.S. Forest Service scientists and collaborators calculated that trees are saving more than 850 human lives a year and preventing 670,000 incidences of acute respiratory symptoms.
While trees’ pollution removal equated to an average air quality improvement of less than 1 percent, the impacts of that improvement are substantial. Researchers valued the human health effects of the reduced air pollution at nearly $7 billion every year in a study published recently in the journal Environmental Pollution. “Tree and Forest Effects on Air Quality and Human Health in the United States.”
link to report
Essays, links and visuals highlighting an alternative, resilient place at the strategic crescent of one mighty river.
Showing posts with label urban farming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label urban farming. Show all posts
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Friday, August 28, 2009
Trees are good
A unique African tree could dramatically improve the yield of crops planted under its canopy by providing natural, renewable fertilizer, says a new study.
The tree has the potential to aid farmers throughout Africa, South America, and much of south and Southeast Asia, according to the researchers. msnbc story
maybe this is should be one of those "new New Orleanians"?
The tree has the potential to aid farmers throughout Africa, South America, and much of south and Southeast Asia, according to the researchers. msnbc story
maybe this is should be one of those "new New Orleanians"?
Monday, December 08, 2008
Grants for groups for farming
2009 Project Orange Thumb Grant
Gardening projects geared toward community involvement, neighborhood beautification, sustainable agriculture and/or horticultural education are eligible to apply for a Project Orange Thumb grant for gardening tools and other related materials. Community garden groups, as well as schools, youth groups, community centers, camps, clubs, and treatment facilities are all encouraged to apply. Only group applications will be considered; single individuals are not eligible for a grant. The deadline for the 2009 grants is February 19, 2009. Visit the Orange Thumb website for application information, and take a look at the blog to see what past recipients are doing.
application
Gardening projects geared toward community involvement, neighborhood beautification, sustainable agriculture and/or horticultural education are eligible to apply for a Project Orange Thumb grant for gardening tools and other related materials. Community garden groups, as well as schools, youth groups, community centers, camps, clubs, and treatment facilities are all encouraged to apply. Only group applications will be considered; single individuals are not eligible for a grant. The deadline for the 2009 grants is February 19, 2009. Visit the Orange Thumb website for application information, and take a look at the blog to see what past recipients are doing.
application
Haitian help
This is a friend from the Crescent City, who is currently living in California. See her ask for this excellent work which is about to start:
Dear friends,
Recently, I read a short article in National Geographic about Haiti that stuck with me, and that has lead me to write this letter to you. The article was called, "Dirt Poor" and spoke of the heavy deforestation and erosion that has left the impoverished island nation without a way to feed its people. A modern staple in the typical Haitian diet consists of a cake made from clay, salt and shortening. The 2008 hurricane season left an already infrastructure-poor country utterly devastated; footage from Haiti in September left me speechless, unsettled, angry.
I am writing to ask for your help. I will be traveling to Haiti for eleven days in January 2009. I will be working as a volunteer with the organization S.O.I.L. (Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods). SOIL is a non-profit run entirely by volunteers dedicated to protecting soil resources, empowering communities and transforming waste into resources in Haiti. SOIL was co-founded by Sasha Kramer, ecologist and human rights advocate. Sasha received her Ph.D. in Ecology from Stanford University and is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Miami, though she spends most of her time in Haiti.
I will be traveling with a group of students from the University of Miami while in Haiti. The trip's focus is Sustainability Science and we will work on a number of projects including the construction of an ecological sanitation system. We will visit the rural town of Minot, Shada, an overcrowded slum in the city of Cap-Haitien and the Village of Labadi, where Royal Caribbean Cruiselines has a private beach but the people live, out of the view of tourists, in abject poverty.
Because of my particular skills and interests, Sasha has asked me to help with an urban tomato cultivation project in Shada and to work with individual families to construct household gardens. I am passionate about gardening and have been gardening for more than 12 years. To be able to use my knowledge to help families gain some small bit of independence through local food production is extraordinary and I am thankful that I have the skills and experience to do so.
I am paying for all of my own expenses relating to traveling to, from and within Haiti, with the generous support of my husband, Michael, and my family. However, SOIL operates entirely from individual donations and the organization's needs are many. I am hoping to raise $2,500 for materials for the urban tomato and household garden projects. I leave for Haiti on January 5th- less than a month away. A donation to S.O.I.L. in support of these projects would be appreciated more than words can express. Would you please consider making a gift of $50 to $100, if that is within your budget, or any amount that you are able to contribute? 80% of Haitians live on less than $1 a day.
Below are links to information about Haiti, SOIL and the University of Miami's Sustainable Science in Haiti Program.
Donations should be sent to me at the address below, but, please, make your check payable to SOIL.
Corinne Law
1360 17th Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94122
I thank you and wish you and yours a peaceful and joyous holiday season!
Sincerely,
Corinne Law
True joy comes from knowing what you are doing, why you are doing it, and doing it wholeheartedly. -Sakyong Mipham
S.O.I.L. website:
http://www.oursoil.org
Inside a Failed State - Haiti, 23 minute video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbbM8OM9Dqw&feature=rec-HM-r2
Short National Geographic article:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/09/soil/bourne-text
U. of Miami, Sustainable Science in Haiti Program:
http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/0,1770,6371-1;56929-3,00.html
Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiti
Haiti Food Crisis, 8 minute video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSWJmq4XC2s
Strange Things, 3 minute video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQVe4PDf_Cg
Dear friends,
Recently, I read a short article in National Geographic about Haiti that stuck with me, and that has lead me to write this letter to you. The article was called, "Dirt Poor" and spoke of the heavy deforestation and erosion that has left the impoverished island nation without a way to feed its people. A modern staple in the typical Haitian diet consists of a cake made from clay, salt and shortening. The 2008 hurricane season left an already infrastructure-poor country utterly devastated; footage from Haiti in September left me speechless, unsettled, angry.
I am writing to ask for your help. I will be traveling to Haiti for eleven days in January 2009. I will be working as a volunteer with the organization S.O.I.L. (Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods). SOIL is a non-profit run entirely by volunteers dedicated to protecting soil resources, empowering communities and transforming waste into resources in Haiti. SOIL was co-founded by Sasha Kramer, ecologist and human rights advocate. Sasha received her Ph.D. in Ecology from Stanford University and is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Miami, though she spends most of her time in Haiti.
I will be traveling with a group of students from the University of Miami while in Haiti. The trip's focus is Sustainability Science and we will work on a number of projects including the construction of an ecological sanitation system. We will visit the rural town of Minot, Shada, an overcrowded slum in the city of Cap-Haitien and the Village of Labadi, where Royal Caribbean Cruiselines has a private beach but the people live, out of the view of tourists, in abject poverty.
Because of my particular skills and interests, Sasha has asked me to help with an urban tomato cultivation project in Shada and to work with individual families to construct household gardens. I am passionate about gardening and have been gardening for more than 12 years. To be able to use my knowledge to help families gain some small bit of independence through local food production is extraordinary and I am thankful that I have the skills and experience to do so.
I am paying for all of my own expenses relating to traveling to, from and within Haiti, with the generous support of my husband, Michael, and my family. However, SOIL operates entirely from individual donations and the organization's needs are many. I am hoping to raise $2,500 for materials for the urban tomato and household garden projects. I leave for Haiti on January 5th- less than a month away. A donation to S.O.I.L. in support of these projects would be appreciated more than words can express. Would you please consider making a gift of $50 to $100, if that is within your budget, or any amount that you are able to contribute? 80% of Haitians live on less than $1 a day.
Below are links to information about Haiti, SOIL and the University of Miami's Sustainable Science in Haiti Program.
Donations should be sent to me at the address below, but, please, make your check payable to SOIL.
Corinne Law
1360 17th Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94122
I thank you and wish you and yours a peaceful and joyous holiday season!
Sincerely,
Corinne Law
True joy comes from knowing what you are doing, why you are doing it, and doing it wholeheartedly. -Sakyong Mipham
S.O.I.L. website:
http://www.oursoil.org
Inside a Failed State - Haiti, 23 minute video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbbM8OM9Dqw&feature=rec-HM-r2
Short National Geographic article:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/09/soil/bourne-text
U. of Miami, Sustainable Science in Haiti Program:
http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/0,1770,6371-1;56929-3,00.html
Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiti
Haiti Food Crisis, 8 minute video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSWJmq4XC2s
Strange Things, 3 minute video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQVe4PDf_Cg
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Food is wealth
This week, much good news about food here in the Alligator Bioregion (or as author Gary Nabhan calls it in his new book "Renewing American Food Traditions"-Gumbo Nation). Not only is the Tuesday before Thanksgiving one of the very best days of the year at the farmers market, but many farmers have told me that they have had an excellent month at our markets, and think our staff is the best we have every had.
*Also ran into food forager extraordinaire Jay Martin who was kind enough to talk about persimmons, bees and other free wild foods with me, and then to call my neighbor V and talk some more with her on the same subject. His expertise has energized M&V even more, who are doing a great job with their ongoing food growing life lesson. Sometimes I just sit in the farm in the early am looking around, feeling better about the city and its future by seeing those okra plants and blueberry bushes...
*Had some great sweet potatoes from the Hagan Farm tonight (just cook them with onions and garlic and black beans in a skillet), and look forward to clipping some green onions tomorrow over there for my catfish this week.
*Our CCFM hothouse cuke and tomato farmer Barry and Marsha Barilleaux are back with some GREAT bread and butter pickles on their table; they are so happy to be at market again this season. I promised to look for money to get them to Milwaukee to see Will Allen's place...
*Made some spaghetti saucewith dried mushrooms brought back from Tuscany tonight too and ate on my new French Quarter courtyard (more on that move next week).
*Marilyn told me she had a great lettuce crop from her urban farm at Cortez; selling 50 bags to her list of buyers.
Last but not least, satsumas and grapefruit from L'Hoste Organic citrus farm every day.
alive and quite well in the Alligator-Pontchartrain Basin...
*Also ran into food forager extraordinaire Jay Martin who was kind enough to talk about persimmons, bees and other free wild foods with me, and then to call my neighbor V and talk some more with her on the same subject. His expertise has energized M&V even more, who are doing a great job with their ongoing food growing life lesson. Sometimes I just sit in the farm in the early am looking around, feeling better about the city and its future by seeing those okra plants and blueberry bushes...
*Had some great sweet potatoes from the Hagan Farm tonight (just cook them with onions and garlic and black beans in a skillet), and look forward to clipping some green onions tomorrow over there for my catfish this week.
*Our CCFM hothouse cuke and tomato farmer Barry and Marsha Barilleaux are back with some GREAT bread and butter pickles on their table; they are so happy to be at market again this season. I promised to look for money to get them to Milwaukee to see Will Allen's place...
*Made some spaghetti saucewith dried mushrooms brought back from Tuscany tonight too and ate on my new French Quarter courtyard (more on that move next week).
*Marilyn told me she had a great lettuce crop from her urban farm at Cortez; selling 50 bags to her list of buyers.
Last but not least, satsumas and grapefruit from L'Hoste Organic citrus farm every day.
alive and quite well in the Alligator-Pontchartrain Basin...
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
How to Get Your Garden Started Workshop Series
New Orleans Food & Farm Network
The first of the Grow Mo' Betta! training series
Saturday, September 20
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Cost: $3.00
Garden guru Anne Baker and NOFFN staff will teach you:
* How to choose the best site in your yard
* Ways to build healthy soil
* The importance of composting, planting basics
* Raised beds vs. in-ground beds
* The garden plan and how to make it work
Free vegetable and herb seeds available
The trainings will take place at New Orleans Food & Farm Network's new Growing Center:
4840 Banks St. (at the corner of S. Anthony, across from the cemeteries
Other training Dates
3rd Saturday of the month
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
*
September 20
*
October 18
*
November 15
*
January 16
*
February 21
*
March 20
*
April 18
The first of the Grow Mo' Betta! training series
Saturday, September 20
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Cost: $3.00
Garden guru Anne Baker and NOFFN staff will teach you:
* How to choose the best site in your yard
* Ways to build healthy soil
* The importance of composting, planting basics
* Raised beds vs. in-ground beds
* The garden plan and how to make it work
Free vegetable and herb seeds available
The trainings will take place at New Orleans Food & Farm Network's new Growing Center:
4840 Banks St. (at the corner of S. Anthony, across from the cemeteries
Other training Dates
3rd Saturday of the month
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
*
September 20
*
October 18
*
November 15
*
January 16
*
February 21
*
March 20
*
April 18
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