Posts tagged as:

agriculture

Midterm elections could change federal agriculture policy

by Editor November 8, 2010 Agriculture

By Susan Richardson Last week’s midterm elections swept dozens of conservative Republicans into the U.S. House of Representatives, giving the GOP a majority. So, what will be the effect of the election results on the Farm Bill, sustainable food initiatives and other agricultural issues? Following is a roundup of views and news from bloggers and [...]

Read more

Woodlawn garden wins Chicago landscape award

by Editor October 20, 2010 Community gardening

By Susan Richardson The 65th Street and Woodlawn Community Garden recently won first prize in Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley’s Landscape Awards in the vegetable garden category, competing against 13 other gardens. The Cook County Sheriff’s Office, which runs a vegetable garden at the County Jail, and the Fulton Street Flower and Vegetable Garden took [...]

Read more

Advocates for Urban Agriculture send a letter to Vilsack

by Cassandra West July 30, 2010 Farmers markets
Thumbnail image for Advocates for Urban Agriculture send a letter to Vilsack

Chicago’s Advocates for Urban Agriculture sent a letter this week to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in support of the USDA’s “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” initiative. The initiative is designed to create new economic opportunities by better connecting consumers with local producers, but some Republican senators have criticized it, saying it [...]

Read more

Sherrod case highlights struggles of black farmers

by Editor July 28, 2010 Agribusiness

COMMENTARY By Susan Richardson For black farmers who were part of the landmark discrimination settlement against the USDA in 1999, Shirley Sherrod’s story is a reminder that the federal agency has a long way to go to end a legacy of racial discrimination.  The farmers sued because the agency frequently denied loans and other financial support [...]

Read more

Root-Riot Madison Ave. Ribbon Cutting brings out Oak Park gardeners

by Cassandra West July 11, 2010 Community gardening
Thumbnail image for Root-Riot Madison Ave. Ribbon Cutting brings out Oak Park gardeners

Root-Riot Urban Garden Network held a dedication and ribbon cutting on a beautiful, sunny July 10 Saturday morning. Many gardeners and supporters came out to see what has sprung up on the Madison Avenue lot. About 50 raised beds are now going strong, filled with many varieties of vegetables and flowers. There’s also a lovely [...]

Read more

This is what fresh looks like

by Cassandra West July 7, 2010 Local food production
Thumbnail image for This is what fresh looks like

Those of us who are first-time urban farmers are always amazed at what we get from the soil. We go into this food-growing venture hopeful, expectant and not quite knowing what our efforts — and the Earth — will yield. So anything we harvest is a pleasure and a reward. I picked my first pepper [...]

Read more

USDA seeks public comments on new food guidelines

by Editor June 27, 2010 Agriculture

By Susan Richardson The U.S. Department of Agriculture is taking public comments through July 15 on the proposed 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the basis for important policy decisions about the Food Pyramid, school meals, the WIC Program, and other nutrition programs managed by the USDA.  Written by 13 prominent independent experts in nutrition and [...]

Read more

Food funders gather in Philadelphia to discuss urban agriculture

by Editor June 15, 2010 Economic development
SAFSF tour to urban farms in Philadelphia

By Susan Richardson PHILADELPHIA — The 8th Annual Forum of the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders began with a reminder of how far the food movement has come since the group first met in 2003.  Thirty people attended SAFSF’s inaugural conference in San Francisco; 155 people are attending  this year’s conference in Philadelphia, said [...]

Read more

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →