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 Proposal to be considered in Amherst, MA

August 6, 2010 jgerber123 Leave a comment

The Pioneer Valley Relocalization Project has asked two Town of Amherst public boards to support and/or sponsor a proposal that would encourage town bodies, including the public schools, to consider geographical proximity (that means “buy local“) when making decisions on where to buy food for the town. Notice the gown logo below – a book and a plow!

For more information click here.

Food Policy and Advocacy

Fresh Snack Food “fights back”

August 6, 2010 jgerber123 Leave a comment

The National Snack Food Association has declared February “Snack Food Month”. I guess we are all supposed to be sitting around watching TV getting fat during the winter. But the Kitchen Garden Association has decided to “fight back” with an awareness campaign to encourage us all to eat healthy.

Learn more here.

Food Policy and Advocacy

Food and Civilization (are we on the brink of collapse – again?)

August 4, 2010 jgerber123 1 Comment

A new book titled Empires of Food: Feast, Famine, and the Rise and Fall of Civilizations – (that includes our own), examines previous civilizations and claims that our current food system is following in the footsteps of millennia of incredibly efficient yet inflexible models of production and distribution of food. Sounds like deja vu all over again! Read the article here.

Organic Conference at UMass

August 3, 2010 jgerber123 Leave a comment

If you live anywhere near Western Massachusetts, plan on attending the 36th annual summer conference of NOFA, the Northeast Organic Farmers Association, at the Universityof Massachusetts to be held August 13 to 15 in Amherst, MA. The conference will kick off with a Raw Milk Symposium, and continue with hundreds of workshops geared to farmers and gardeners, consumers, home cooks or anyone with an interest in topics such as sustainability, local agriculture and nutrition. For more information click here.

Farming

Lots of New Farmers in Massachusetts

August 2, 2010 jgerber123 Leave a comment

The Boston Globe reported that after decades of decline, farming is resurging again in Massachusetts. New farmers are graduates fresh out of college, immigrants with farming backgrounds, or former professionals starting new careers. From 2002 to 2007, the number of farms in Massachusetts jumped by about 27 percent. That’s a reversal from the previous five years, when there was a 20 percent drop in the number of farms. The start-up farms are smaller than the enterprises of the past. For more….read the article here.

Farming

Farmers/gardeners and volunteer workers connect here

August 2, 2010 jgerber123 1 Comment

There is an interesting web service that connects people who need help in their garden/farm with volunteer workers. Sounds like a great idea when all the beans and tomatoes are ready to pick and you need help. Or if you just want to help out on a farm. Check out this service here.

Backyard Chickens, Local Food

Backyard Hens in the Suburbs

July 30, 2010 jgerber123 1 Comment

I”ve been working to change the zoning laws in my hometown, Amherst MA so that more of us can raise hens. Here is an article describing my backyard hens. Click here. (the source link may be down for a short time – if it is, please try again later – or look at this “backup version” for now).

Food Policy and Advocacy, Local Food

Seeds of change (local or global)

July 28, 2010 jgerber123 Leave a comment

Check out this short video about the industrial and global seed industry. We can do better than this by thinking organic and local. Check it out here.

Helping your parents “go sustainable”

July 27, 2010 jgerber123 1 Comment

For all of you students who are home this summer and can’t believe your parents don’t recycle or compost…… here are some tips! Click here for the story.

Food Policy and Advocacy

Botanical Gardens highlight “just food”

July 27, 2010 jgerber123 Leave a comment

Check out this New York Times article about how Botanical Gardens, long known for their amazing floral displays and specimen plants, are now growing food plants and highlighting locally grown food! A sign of the times! Read it here.