The Growing Edge » Media

Chicken Shows Up At City Council Meeting

Tom Alexander — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:12:17 +0000

A person dressed up as a chicken showed up at a Durango, Colorado city council meeting where the council was discussing the language of a recently-passed backyard hen ordinance relating to predators and allowing chickens within city limits. The chicken sat in the mostly empty audience area and when the council was about to adjourn to a closed session, arose and walked up before the council, left an egg on the floor and walked out of the building. Click HERE for the story.

Another California City Looks To Ban Leaf Blowers

Tom Alexander — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:08:54 +0000

The northern Bay Area city of Sebastopol is looking at banning the use of gas powered leaf blowers within the city limits. Sebastopol would join over a dozen other California citys that ban leaf blowers. What is next? Lawn mowers and rototillers? I am all for mower mulching your leaves in place and converting lawns to veggie gardens and cutting back on the use of gas powered implements but there are times when blister causing lawn and garden hand tools just don’t cut it.
Photo credit: Kent Porter/The Press Democrat
And watch the video below for the creative way they can be used with bicycles… I used to just put baseball cards in the spokes of the wheels for the sound effect.

The Fair Food Project

Tom Alexander — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:42:27 +0000

From The Fair Food Project,

“Fair Food: Field to Table” is a multimedia presentation promoting a more socially just food system in the U.S. It was created by California Institute for Rural Studies and Rick Nahmias Photography.
Through the stories and voices of farmworkers, growers, businesses and fair food advocates, viewers of the documentary learn about the harsh realities of farmworker conditions and, more importantly, the promise of improved farm labor practices in American agriculture. The growing movement for “fair food” is tapping into rising consumer demand for food produced in accordance with their values. Click HERE for more information on The Fair Food Project.

Part 1

To view videos Part 2 and 3

Part 2

Part 3

Biodynamic Wine

Tom Alexander — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:05:36 +0000

Dr. Robert Gross, owner of Cooper Mountain Vineyards, explains how and why he converted his vineyard from conventional chemical cultivation methods to organic biodynamic methods. It all started with the birds.

Portland Restaurant Composts Its Food Waste

Tom Alexander — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:44:12 +0000

The Bijou Cafe in Portland, Oregon instituted a compost program of all its compostable waste. Watch the owner explain what they do…

By the way, if you are in Portland, The Bijou is an excellent place to have breakfast or lunch. Sorry, no dinner.

Vanishing Of The Bees

Tom Alexander — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:50:24 +0000

A British documentary film has been out for a couple of years now, about the bee colony collapse disorder that is happening around the world. The film is called, Vanishing of the Bees. For more information, click HERE. So many people don’t realize the important function bees have in the production of food. It is simple, no bees, no food.

Students At Terra Nova High School Grow A Farm — And A Unique Produce Business

Tom Alexander — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:13:51 +0000

Melissa Navas, of The Oregonian, writes,

Paul Hudak watches the plow chisel through the sod of the baseball field. Hudak grimaces each time the plow hooks clank. Has the driver punctured something hidden under the soil — maybe pipes?
Hudak’s farmer friends have told him he is crazy to try to convert the field at Terra Nova High School into a productive student farm. And his untested idea of a student-run business selling produce to subscribers won’t fly, either.
The new teacher will need to win over those students, quickly. He will peddle seeds, talk about soil pH levels and try to muster interest.

Click HERE to read the whole story.
Photo credit: Faith Cathcart/The Oregonian

Terra Nova High School Farm Crew

Child Labor May Have Picked Your Walmart Blueberries

Tom Alexander — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 07:30:39 +0000

ABC News Friday night aired an investigative report called “The Blueberry Children” about the blueberry farms in Michigan using child labor as young as five years old. Disgusting. This shows how the “free market” that ignores regulations can devolve into this crap.
For the complete story click HERE.

Photo credit: ABC News

More Big Apple Rooftop Gardeners

Tom Alexander — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:08:16 +0000

Paige Kollock writes in VoiceofAmericaNews.com,

“New York is a city notoriously short on space, but also one whose residents are big on innovation. In the Big Apple, the latest trend is rooftop farming. Individuals and restaurants are beginning to grow some of their own food in the only space available to them -- their roofs. While the practice is currently an environmental rather than a financial trend, some companies hope it can become a money-making business model, providing a cheaper alternative to store-bought produce, especially in low income neighborhoods where fresh vegetables are expensive and scarce.”

For complete story click HERE. Photo credit: VofAnews.com

Family Plowing Its Way To Zero Waste

Tom Alexander — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:54:43 +0000

A family that used to live on a rural farm moved to the city and is changing their lawns to gardens and cutting down on their consumer waste. Gary Chittim of Seattle’s KING 5 television News reports,

“A family of four has moved from the farm to an urban Puget Sound community and is now plowing its way to zero waste.
When the Peterka family moved to Shoreline, they brought part of the farm with them. They ripped up the backyard lawn and planted a large garden.
They built a fenced chicken coop in one corner, and worm and compost bins in the other. Then they made some sacrifices.”

Click HERE to read the story.