All posts by jgerber123

I teach sustainable food and farming at the University of Massachusetts and try to contribute to my local community without causing too much harm....
Local Food

Vote for democracy and community – buy local food

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Those of us living in Western Massachusetts are privileged to have lots of farmers markets and CSA’s offering excellent quality, locally-grown fresh food at a very reasonable price.   Many people buy from local farmers (who are also our neighbors) because the food is so good.  But that’s not the only reason I walk my dog to North Amherst on Saturday mornings.

At a time when our global food system is threatened and corporate political power is out of control, many of us choose to buy local as an act of protest.  We “vote for democracy and community” with our dollars by not supporting a global food system whenever possible.

I was thinking about this while walking Riley down to the North Amherst Farmers Market on Saturday morning.  It was a lovely day, but I was troubled by the political theater around a “manufactured” debt crisis.  I had sent a few emails to congress, but was feeling helpless.   Economic recession… debt crisis… corporate influence on government and control of the food system… it all seemed connected.

The global food system favors large, financially efficient businesses which exploit people, undermine democracy, erode community and degrade natural resources in order to maximize profits for shareholders.  When economic power is concentrated in the hands of a few multi-national corporations, it not only results in the erosion of environmental quality and social justice –  but creates a political situation that undermines democracy.  And I help create this situation every time I buy food that is offered by the global food system.

So Riley and I went for a walk…

As we arrived at the farmers market, Joe Swartz (the manager of Swartz Family Farm, which is right around the corner) had a warm welcome for Riley, who he knows by name (he then said hello to me).  We love the salad greens offered by Sarah and Joe Swartz, who grow entirely without pesticides.

At J & J Farms we said hello to Laura and bought some sweet corn (that was grown within a mile of the market) and then a few homemade dog biscuits from Leigh’s Mixing Bowl of Haydenville.  Leigh, who stopped to play with Riley, learned to bake from her grandmother Irene (I don’t know if Grandma is responsible for the dog biscuit recipe, but Riley surely appreciated the biscuits and the attention).

My wife Phyl (who stopped by while running errands) bought some local maple syrup from Parkers Sugar House, which is just over the New Hampshire line, for our son and daughter-in-law who we will visit this month in Colorado (we try to give locally produced gifts, whenever possible).  And finally I had a nice conversation with my friend Mary Hager (who also is the best web designer I know) about how to cook a goat!

I came home a little less depressed and well stocked with local food.  Maybe I’ll see you at the market next Saturday!  We can talk about the debt crisis, how to cook sweet corn and maybe even about how to raise your own hens!

Check out a few of my pictures from the market.  And if you can’t make it to North Amherst on Saturday morning, don’t forget the Wednesday afternoon market at Kendrick Park or the Downtown Market on Saturday.

Lots of good food –  and maybe a touch of democracy and community!

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For more ideas, videos and challenges along these lines, please join my Facebook Group; Just Food Now.  And go here for more of my World.edu blog posts.

Education

Please join me in supporting local farming, education and community at NACF

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TO:  Friends of local farming

FROM:  John Gerber

I love local farms and community farming, and although I have a huge garden that provides my family with much of our produce, chicken and eggs, I still volunteer to support the North Amherst Community Farm.  I’m asking you to join me in helping to promote local farming by making a financial contribution to NACF today.

Please show your support for local farms and community farming!

The North Amherst Community Farm is a community based non-profit organization which saved the land from development that is currently farmed by Simple Gifts Farm in North Amherst, MA.  Part of the NACF annual operating budget is based on gifts from our supporters and we are now at 72% of our fundraising goal for the year which ends June 30th, 2011.

Here are a few highlights of our recent activities:

  •  Amherst Town Meeting voted to give us $25,000 in Community Preservation Act funds to begin repair of the historic barn – future home of workshops, farm camp, community dances, music and more.
  • We hosted a fun day at the farm last Saturday – kids got to dig in the dirt, play with worms, and plant seeds for the new Children’s Garden and then hop aboard a hayride around the farm to meet the farm animals.
  • In July and August, we will partner with the Amherst Survival Center and Simple Gifts Farm to provide more fresh veggies and teach cooking classes at ASC.
  • And we are planning a full line up of educational programs again this summer, culminating with our annual Harvest Festival on September 18!

To help us continue this good work, please consider making a donation of $5.00, $50, or $500.oo to NACF online through Network for Good – just click on the button above – or use our mail in donation form.

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A Brief History of North Amherst Community Farm

In 2006, the North Amherst Community Farm (NACF) was created when the Dziekanowski farm, one of the last working farms in North Amherst, was purchased and saved from development. Funds were raised through a combination of private donations and town and state funding.

NACF, run by a local volunteer board of directors, worked out a long-term lease with Simple Gifts Farm (SGF) to run a community supported agricultural operation on the land. By combining their efforts, these two organizations have formed a successful public-private partnership that promotes sustainable, organic farming methods, provides healthy farm products to the region, educates the community on food and farming issues, and helps preserve the agricultural heritage and character of the North Amherst Village Center Historic District.

What Do We Mean by a Community Farm?

NACF’s mission is to promote and support sustainable agriculture in the heart of North Amherst. The primary objective of North Amherst Community Farm is to preserve and develop its 35 acre farm site into a productive and educational agricultural resource for the community.

The vision of NACF is to cultivate the farm as a unique community and natural resource. NACF will be a hub of community life and home to a working, organic and sustainable farm operation while maintaining the integrity of the wildlife corridor, natural landscape, and the public walking trails through and around the farm.

NACF will create more equitable access to fresh, organic food for the 10,000 people living within a 1-1/2 mile radius of the farm by leasing the land to a Community Supported Agriculture farm operation and by finding ways to make the food and the farm experience accessible to all. NACF’s educational and cultural programming will strengthen the bonds within our diverse community; engage a wide diversity of adults and children in the culture of farming and raising farm animals, and raise awareness of the connection between sustainable food production and distribution and the health of the environment.

Please join me in supporting this terrific community activity!  A donation of $25 will make you a member of the North Amherst Community Farm.

Backyard Chickens, Local Food

Amherst, MA passes zoning bylaw to allow backyard hens!

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On May 25, 2011 the Amherst Town Meeting overwhelmingly endorsed a citizen’s petition article which makes it easier to raise hens in town legally!

The new bylaw was designed to achieve three objectives:

1.   To protect the health, safety and care of the animals
2.   To protect neighbors from noise, odors and nuisance
3.   To reduce the bureaucratic and financial barrier to raising hens legally

 A small group of residents has been working on this bylaw change for almost a year.  By the time the article came up for a vote it was supported by:

  • The Select Board
  • The Planning Board
  • The Board of Health
  • The Agricultural Commission
  • The Health Director
  • The Animal Welfare Officer
  • And over 200 Amherst residents who signed a petition in favor of the article
Me and one of my hens

Here is the story…..

Raising egg-laying hens is a safe, healthy and educational family activity.  Hens are quieter, cleaner and easier to care for than dogs.  

         But…….

A major barrier for many Amherst residents to raising hens was our town zoning rules which required many residents to go through a burdensome and expensive permitting process. 

 A Citizens Petition Article was proposed to Town Meeting to allow safe and responsible raising of hens and meat rabbits in all non-commercial zoning districts while putting the responsibility for protecting the rights of neighbors and the health of the animals in the hands of the Health Director and the Animal Welfare Officer, rather than the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The proposal was to eliminate zoning restrictions against hens and rabbits and allow up to 12 animals by right.  Sites where animals are to be raised will be licensed by the Health Department for a minimal fee, homeowners will receive educational materials on the safe care for animals, and sites may be inspected annually by the Animal Welfare Officer.   The new zoning bylaw is described here.   In addition, changes were made in the Animal Welfare Bylaw to protect the animals and the neighbors.  Relevant sections of the new Animal Welfare Bylaw are posted here.

Many other cities and towns are working on this as well.  Here are a few sample “chicken laws.”   And here is a blog post describing the political process in more detail and sharing some suggestions on how to be successful…

….get involved – it is possible to change the law!


Local Food

Can we grow more food in Amherst, MA?

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On March 31, 2011, the Amherst Conservation and Agricultural Commissions sponsored a public event in Town Hall to discuss opportunities to raise more food in town.  The first speaker, Mr. David Ziomek, Director of Conservation and Development, presented an overview of land conservation and opportunities for farming on public land.
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This was followed by a presentation by Dr. Brian Donahue, Professor of Environmental History, who outlined opportunities to grow more food in New England.  According to Brian Donahue, New England could grow:

  • Almost all of our vegetables
  • Half of our fruit
  • All of our  dairy products
  • Most of our beef and lamb
  • Most of our pastured pork, poultry and eggs

See the following for details:
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For more ideas on how to make this happen, see Just Food Now in Amherst.

Local Food

“Just Food Now” in Amherst, Massachusetts

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Many of us living in the Pioneer Valley are aware that the modern industrial food system is distress.  In this post, I offer some ideas for local solutions we might consider to…

“just grow food – and – grow food justly.”

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I believe that public bodies such as Town Government and the colleges and universities need to take more responsibility for helping to build a more robust local food system.  Some things we might consider are:

  1. tax incentives for small, integrated farms committed to selling within their own community,
  2. public investment to support infrastructure (such as packing, cooling, and distribution facilities),
  3. changes in zoning regulations to support the “homegrown food revolution”and
  4. education programs encouraging family, neighborhood, community self-sufficiency, and local farming.

We must begin to build more resilience into a food system that is dominated by global corporations, vulnerable to collapse (in the industrial world), and already in collapse in many developing countries (as evidenced by recent unrest). 

It is time to take action!

Lots of people are interested in talking about creative solutions.  We are planning a public event on March 31, 2011, right here in Amherst – please join us!

In preparation for this event, I’ve outlined a few things we might consider:

  1. If you live in an apartment, growing a few vegetables or herbs in window boxes or on the patio.  And of course walk or bike to one of our farm stands or farmers markets to buy local food whenever possible.
  2. If you live in a suburban neighborhood, tear up that lawn and just grow food now!
  3. If you are in a less dense part of town, grow a large garden with fruit trees.  And don’t forget to consider hens, chickens and rabbits for meat, perhaps a milking goat, and bees!
  4. If you live on a farm, consider growing more food crops (for people).  Much of the farmland in New England is used to produce hay (some for cows, but much for riding horses).  Is this the best use of farm land?
  5. If you are responsible for a public building, consider growing food on the rooftop.  This not only produces food but makes heating and cooling the building less expensive.  Or look to re-configure parking lots and other open areas with raised beds such as the organiponicos in Cuba.

And no matter where you live, think about ways we can make food farming a more attractive lifestyle.  Farmers (especially those who don’t own land) struggle with the economics of a food system that keeps prices artificially low through public subsidies and failing to pay for externalities.  If we want more local food, we need to help these farms compete more effectively within the global food system.

The Feed Northampton report, for example, proposes a public investment in food hubs that might provide communal food processing, packaging, cold storage and redistribution.  It might also include a slaughter facility, a community kitchen for processing vegetables, a maple sugar boiler, a cider press,  and a flour mill.

We all need to begin by imagining possibilities and then getting to work.  There are plenty of examples of ways in which you can get involved in creating a sustainable food system.  Think about:

1. Slow Food

2. Fair Trade

3. Bioregionalism

3. Public commitment to human right to a nutritious diet

4. Public commitment to insure food producers earn a living wage

5. Zoning laws that allow urban and suburban families to raise their own food (including animals) – a right to survival law

6. Decent wages and training for farm labor

7. Education for young farm managers

8. Research into appropriate technologies

9. Programs to bring local food into the workplace

10.  And of course, grow our own!

Lets dream together about the world we want to create….. and then lets get to work!

You can begin by joining us on;

Thursday, March 31 at 7:00pm-9:30pm

Amherst Town Hall

for a presentation sponsored by the Amherst Agricultural Commission and Conservation Commission on….

Growing More Food in Amherst: Public Responsibilities and Opportunities

…featuring Dr. Brian Donahue speaking on “the future of food farming in New England” followed by a public discussion.

For information, call John Gerber at 413-549-6949 or see:

http://www.justfoodnow.org/Events/AmherstFood.html

I hope to see you there!

Backyard Chickens, Local Food

Amherst Citizens Petition to Allow Hens

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We have filed a Citizens Petition article for Spring 2011 Town Meeting which would make it easier to raise backyard hens in Amherst.

We need your support!

We believe the keeping of backyard animals, particularly hens, is an appropriately-scaled, practical and symbolic form of environmental, fiscal, and community sustainability.  As part of the local food movement, cities and towns across the nation are enacting “hen friendly” legislation to help residents move toward personal, neighborhood and community self-sufficiency.  This proposed change in the town bylaw will allow Amherst to join this national movement.

Key Elements of the Proposal

  • A “by right” approach to a small number of animals.
  • Boundary setbacks to protect neighbor’s interests
  • Site registration (similar to the simplicity of a dog license)
  • Animal care guided by published “best practices” regulations
  • Complaint initiated enforcement by the Animal Welfare Officer

For the full text of the language; Bylaw Proposal

Naturally, there are some voices in town who oppose this citizens petition.  Some of those concerns have been expressed by the Planning Board Zoning Subcommittee.  To hear those concerns, please check out this 6 minute video.
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If you agree or disagree with these concerns, please send your thoughts to the Planning Board Zoning Subcommittee at this email address:  

planning@amherstma.gov.


And if you are willing to sign our e-petition in support, please go here:

I am a resident of Amherst and support this citizens petition

For more information on this issue;

Lets Raise Hens!

Finally, if you want to be kept informed of the progress of this citizens petition article, or when Planning Board meetings will be held, please let me know at: jgerber@psis.umass.edu.


Food Policy and Advocacy

The Global Food Crisis

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Most Americans are unaware of the mounting global food crisis.  The following was taken from an article in YES magazine examining the root cause of the eruption of violence in Tunisia and Egypt.

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In many of these countries, certainly in both Tunisia and Egypt, tensions have simmered for years. The trigger, it seems, came in the form of food shortages caused by the record high global prices reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in December 2010. The return of high food prices two to three years after the 2008 global food crisis should not be a surprise. For most of the preceding decade, world grain consumption exceeded production—correlating with agricultural land productivity declining almost by half from 1990–2007, compared with 1950–1990.

This year, global food supply chains were again “stretched to the limit” following poor harvests in Canada, Russia and Ukraine; hotter, drier weather in South America cutting soybean production; flooding in Australia, wiping out its wheat crops; not to mention the colder, stormier, snowier winters experienced in the northern hemisphere, damaging harvests.

So much of the current supply shortages have been inflicted by increasingly erratic weather events and natural disasters, which climate scientists have long warned are symptomatic of anthropogenic global warming. Droughts exacerbated by global warming in key food-basket regions have already led to a 10–20 percent drop in rice yields over the last decade. By mid-century, world crop yields could fall as much as 20–40 percent due to climate change alone.

But climate change is likely to do more than generate droughts in some regions. It is also linked to the prospect of colder weather in the eastern United States, east Asia, and northern Europe—as the rate of Arctic summer sea ice is accelerating, leading to intensifying warming, the change in atmospheric pressure pushes cold Arctic air to the south. Similarly, even the floods in Australia could be linked to climate change. Scientists agree they were caused by a particularly strong El Niño/La Niña oscillation in the Tropical Pacific ocean-atmospheric system. But Michael McPhaden, co-author of a recent scientific study on the issue, suggests that recently stronger El Niño events are “plausibly the result of global warming.”

The global food situation has been compounded by the over-dependence of industrial agriculture on fossil fuels, consuming ten calories of fossil fuel energy for every one calorie of food energy produced. The problem is that global conventional oil production has most likely already peaked, having been on an undulating plateau since 2005—and forecast to steadily and inexorably decline, leading to higher prices. Although oil prices dropped after the 2008 crash due to recession, the resuscitation of economic activity has pushed up demand, leading fuel prices to creep back up to $95 a barrel.

The fuel price hikes, combining with the predatory activities of financial speculators trying to rake in profits by investing in the commodity markets, have underpinned worldwide inflation. Just as in 2008, the worst effected have been the poorer populations of the South. Thus, the eruption of political unrest in Egypt and elsewhere cannot be fully understood without acknowledging the context of accelerating ecological, energy and economic crises—inherently interconnected problems which are symptomatic of an Empire in overstretch, a global political economy in breach of the natural limits of its environment.

Food Policy and Advocacy

How do you know if its real food?

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Did you ever wonder if Cheez Whiz was real food?

One of my favorite “foodie” web pages, Summer Tomato, was created by Darya Pino who has a PhD in neuroscience from UC San Francisco and also writes for several publications including The Huffington Post, SF Weekly, KQED Science and Edible San Francisco.  Her latest post proposes a slightly “tongue in cheek” method for determining if the food you are buying is real food!   She calls it her supermarket GPS.

Of course, you won’t need it if you shop at your local farmers market! And by the way, if you run Cheez Whiz through the test – it fails!

Have fun……

 

 

Food Policy and Advocacy

Food prices rise: time to grow your own

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The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization announced this week that food prices hit a record high last month.


According to the United Nations, food prices in December were close to the crisis levels that provoked shortages and riots in poor countries three years ago.  The reasons according to experts vary, but no one seems to deny that rising energy costs and erratic climate are among the primary causes.  Neither of these impacts are likely to improve.  Coupled with economic stress, this “perfect storm” requires a response.  While policy solutions are much needed, it is important for individuals and families to take action!

It seems to me like a good time to start growing your own food.  Economists predict the biggest impact on food costs in the U.S. is likely to be on meat and egg prices, which depend heavily on grain for feed.

 

 

For some background info on raising your own hens (for eggs of course), see Homes for Hens. And for more on diy food, go to my main page Just Food Now.

 

There are lots of reasons to start thinking about starting our own garden.  Perhaps you can even contribute to “saving the planet” by growing your own food.

Food Policy and Advocacy

Transition Towns in Amherst

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Don’t miss the showing of In Transition on Sunday, January 16, 4 p.m. at the First Congregational Church; 165 Main St., Amherst MA.  Discussion • Refreshments • Suggested donation: $5

Join us for the first detailed film about the Transition move­ment, filmed by those who are  making it hap­pen. The Transition move­ment is about  commun­ities around the world re­sponding to peak oil sup­ply, climate change, and economic instability with creativity,  imagination and  humor.  It shows com­munities rebuilding their local economies, food supply, transportation, ener­gy-generation, and health care. The film is positive, solutions-focused  and fun.

For more information or snow-date, call Betsy Krogh, 413-549-2846