Urban Farms - Utopian Principles

Urban Farms - Utopian Principles

Communal societies were all the rage in the 1960's as the hippie movement reached new heights. Many people set off to live away from society and form their own communities not defined by conventional norms. These communes often grew their own food, enforced laws and rules, established schools, and often shared tasks and responsibilities. Although they are not widely known nowadays, some still exist today. The farm, as it nonchalantly named, resides in Summertown, Tennessee and is based on an ecological Utopia or Utopia of Sufficiency, where sustainability is more important than abundance in consumption. The Farm can notably be known as the pioneers of Urban Farming today.

Who is the Farm?

Stephen Gaskin, a creative writing teacher from San Francisco, started the movement by holding open meetings about psychedelic experiences and their relation to world religions. Some of the classes were titled,"Experiments in Unified Theory", "Einstein Magic and God", and "Metaphysical Education" (Meta PE). The meetings attracted a lot of attention and Gaskin went on a 60 bus tour across the U.S. visiting schools and churches. After their traveling was over, the group decided to put their money together and buy some land. The farm began as a 1,000 acre farm and it is located in Summertown, TN. It is powered through solar panels and bio fuels. Recently, when I checked out their website, they had a proud badge posted on their homepage that read, "100% Powered by Wind Energy".

The Farm Communicates

After looking through their website it is no wonder why the Farm is still in existence. They are very active when it comes to hosting events and gatherings in their community. Looking at their calendar they had all types of affairs including, "Vegan Cooking Retreat", "Stream Clean Up", "Organic Gardening", and "Experience the Land", which is a weekend retreat that includes going on a waterfall hike. They have other weekend events too like "The Spiritual Path", which focuses on personal rejuvenation and meditation. They also hold midwifery workshops throughout the month consistently.

The website has other interactive features as well. Not only can you look at the history and foundation of the Farm, but you can click on videos on cooking and gardening tips. They even have a link to all YouTube videos about the Farm. Additionally, the website includes links to an interactive map of the farm, the Farm's own blog page, and links to all their associated businesses and non-profit contributions. It's eye opening to see how a small idea can grow so big!

What Can You Do?

Realistically, we don't live in a Utopia and we certainly don't have farms growing in our backyards. So how do we contribute or take part in Utopian principles?

• Buy produce and other goods from farmer's markets. (Check out my link to Farmer's Markets in Chicago).
• Try to buy goods at smaller stores and independent vendors.
• Support markets who define themselves as "green" rather than large chains.
• Check out Dill Pickle a food co-op based here in Chicago in the Logan Square neighborhood. 
• Dill Pickle 

To learn more about the farm visit the following websites:

http://www.thefarmcommunity.com/index.html
http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-experimental-towns-and-communes.php

The Fox

The Fox - Environmentalist & Activist

Could you believe the roots of eco-radicalism started right here in Chicago? In the early 1970's an anonymous man, who called himself "The Fox" went around the Chicagoland area, plugging sewer pipes, leaving skunks at the front doors of executives, and posting signs around the city in attack against United States Steel saying, ''Making steel is my business, murdering your environment is my sideline.'' He even once collected 50 lbs of sewage  that a company had sunk into Lake Michigan and dumped it into the company's reception room.

"He was featured in the pages of Time, Newsweek and Life magazines, and a television special, "Profit the Earth" — all anonymously. He spoke via telephone to the U.S. secretary of state’s Committee on Human Environment, a group preparing for the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment."

Much of the Fox's discourse was against the law and the police were never able to catch him or make charges against him. He later went on to work as a field inspector for the Kane County Environmental Department and started the Fox River Conservation Foundation. He was finally able to use his passion for the environment in a positive light.

The Fox was later identified as James Phillips. He died in 2001, at the age of 70.

Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/22/us/james-phillips-70-environmentalist-who-was-called-the-fox.html

http://www.policyarchive.org/handle/10207/bitstreams/9471.pdf

http://www.chicagowildernessmag.org/issues/spring2002/fox.html

SWANCC

SWANCC - Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County

My mom works for the Village of Glenview and was telling me about this recycling program they offer to Cook County Residents. They offer all kinds of services such as confidential paper shredding, holiday light recycling, commercial waste disposal sights, composting information, and residential chemical disposal, where they come to your house to safely remove hazardous chemicals and dispose of them correctly. They also recycle pharmaceuticals and needles. Even when you flush an old perscription down the toliet, it can still cause harm to other species and contaminate water. The SWANCC allows you to safely recycle items that we don't always know what to do with. In addition, they offer educational programs and resources to Cook County residents. Check out their website, which is full of useful information on how to live green!

http://www.swancc.org/

Growing Home - Urban Farm

Chicago's Urban Agriculture

Home-Grown Training in Chicago In a once-empty lot in Chicago's stockyard district (the setting for Upton Sinclair's classic novel The Jungle,) an urban farm called Growing Home has transformed the land into a lush garden of fruits and vegetables and, more importantly, transformed the formerly homeless people who now manage it. Heifer International is helping many major urban centers across the country repurpose land like this one in Chicago - areas that once were thriving downtowns but through ensuing years became unused parking lots, abandoned industrial complexes and old building sites reclaimed by weeds. Because many of these sites are paved or contaminated by years of industrial use, the farming is done in raised beds - therefore avoiding the expense of cleaning. Growing Home sells its produce to local restaurants and at two farmers markets, providing fresh food in urban areas that usually offer only fast-food restaurants and convenience stores for its residents. The farm also has a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program - members pay a fee at the beginning of the season and plant and harvest their own produce. Perhaps most importantly, Growing Home has helped create a sense of ownership for people who have not had much to call their own.  "People [at the market] want to know where things are grown," said Courtney, one of the project participants, "then they want to know how I know. I tell them, because I'm the one that put the seed in the ground, watered it, cut it and brought it to the market." Over in the center of Chicago, a 19,000-square-foot community garden is producing food that goes directly to shelters and soup kitchens. This garden is part of Growing Power, a large training program and agricultural complex based in Milwaukee that was created by Will Allen, a former professional basketball player. Heifer and Growing Power joined forces almost 10 years ago, and Growing Home's gardeners receive training through the Growing Power project. This training, along with gardening duties, is preparing both young people and the unemployed for greater responsibilities in future jobs. "Growing Home is trying to give people basics of what an employer expects of you since most have been out of work for years," said Avram Golden-Trist, the site coordinator. "With this program we hope to alert them to avenues where they can move on as a positive person." And Allen believes the project will continue to be 'Growing' for years to come. "There are 70,000 acres of vacant lots in the Chicago area," Allen said, "All I need to set it up is a handful of worms." Article and photos provided by http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.1526569/ Communication Rhetoric What kind of rhetoric does this article use to appeal to their audience?  Ethos - This article was posted on heifer.org, an international charity working to provide sustainable solutions to hunger. Heifer works with other organizations all over the world to help those in need. Pathos - Heifer and Growing Home have collaborated to provide food and jobs for homeless people and those in need. Food grown at Growing Home goes directly to shelters and soup kitchens, as well as local restaurants and two farmers markets in the Chicagoland area. They've also established Growing Power, a training program and agricultural complex located in Milwaukee, WI. Not only are they providing food, but they are also providing jobs and training to those who need it.  Logos - "There are 70,000 acres of vacant lots in the Chicago area."Using empty lots in Chicago as an agricultural space instead of using it as commercial space is a unique and productive way to make an abandon area seem full of life....Green Life.

List of Farmer's Markets

Natural Home & Garden ranked the top 10 Urban Farms in America.

Numbers 1 & 2 are located here in Chicago!

http://cityfarmchicago.wordpress.com/market-stan - City Farm

http://www.chicagobotanic.org/greenyouthfarm/ - Green Youth Farm


Here is also a comprehensive list of Farmer's Markets to check out! Maybe one is in your neighborhood!

 http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/food/5274248-423/2011-farmers-market-guide.html



image from http://www.explorechicago.org/etc/medialib/explore_chicago/mose/farmers_markets.Par.19511.Image.-1.-1.1.gif