Alternative Community Farmer/WPB.FL

 "THREE WEALTHY ATLANTA SUBURBAN COUNTIES HAVE DOUBLED THEIR USE of FOOD STAMPS..." reported the New York Times in its FRONT PAGE REPORT ON FOOD STAMPS..MORE DETAILS AT THE BELOW LINK:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/us/29foodstamps.html

The news that do not find its way to us like the story of a man who worked for eight years at a company that closed down manufacturing andf moved overseas under the NAFTA regulations.

This man is a real true story.Call him the DENIED STAMPS man for a nick name.He is not yet on the news but soon a lot of people like him will blow the whistle.

His last job was back in 2001.He lived with friends.He worked the land to grow his food.He depleted his 401 K and pension and when he applied for food stamps, he was BLUNTLY DENIED.IT happened recently !How many people are denied for reasons of red tape or no reasons at all?We need someone to investigate all the DENIED CASES..There are people who have applied and they are eligible but were denied.Just like those African American  voters who were wrongly stripped of their voting rights back in the 2001 elections and now they were reinstalled back into the system.There are corrupted officials- fixtures that are manipulating the system who need to lose their jobs so that the eligible can get food stamps.Fla. Governer has called for investigations of  corrupted officials lately.

In case we do not want to go that way.

Let us create another way to help those who can help themselves and grow their own food.

My idea is this:

Create FREE COMMUNITY PLOTS VOUCHERS for those who are able to work and PRODUCE their own FOOD .Let those plots be part of the IDLE LANDS to be transformed into COMMUNITY GARDENS.We created a garden in the White House .Therefore we can create similar gardens for those who have lost their homes in foreclosures or for those who have the ability to PRODUCE their own food .

This idea has worked in the past during EARLIER DEPRESSIONS and we call it : THE VICTORY GARDENS.History is repeating itself .So, let it be a full repetition for those who HAVE and those WHO HAVE NOT!

You save tax payers money.You stimulate local economy.Your reduce unemployment.You SAVE LIVES and MONEY!

Once upon a time , I was a chain smoker .It was back in the EIGHTIES.I did not smoke after quiting and recently I  met a friend smoker who challenged me that I can not quit smoking NOW in the 21 century due to the high ADDICTIVE ADDITIVES in the cigarretes.I accepted the challenge and STARTED smoking .I did that for the first  three weeks in November and told my friend I am ready to STOP and QUIT SMOKING.He did not beleive I could do it.Here is what I did to quit smoking.Note: I did not smoke for the last one week of November and forward HOLDING GOING STRONG SMOKE FREE.Here is HOW I did it:

IMPORTANT NOTE AND DISCLAIMER:Below is a narration that represents a personal OPINION and NOT A PRESCRIPTION or an ALTERNATIVE TO SEEK MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL HELP. TO QUIT SMOKING YOU HAVE TO CHECK OUT WITH A HEALTH PROFESSIONAKL .NOT A GARDENER OFFCOURSE! I DO NOT ENCOURAGE OR DISCOURAGE ANYONE TO SMOKE.IT IS YOUR FREE DECISION TO MAKE .THIS ARTICLE IS WRITEN BY AN ADULT AND ONLY FOR ADULTS EYES.IF YOU ARE A TEENAGER UNDERAGE PLEASE QUIT READING THIS ARTICLE NOW as you were supposed to be NOT SMOKING AFTER ALL!!

1-I first started by alternating my ciggerettes from different brands.I choose the forgien full flavor ones like the "made in XYZ FOREIGN COUNTRY"

They contain less additives and addictive chemicals , by the way..I did not choose the MINT ones because some one told me they have fiber glass added to mimmick the COOL feel of mint!

2-I played a "BREATHING"  trick on my LUNGS.I found out that the lungs of people who choose to smoke usually are not FULLY expanded- due to their short breaths habits.In general , people who are stressed out take less breaths and or hold their breath more or take short ones.So smoking makes one take a DEEP BREATH ,with CO fumes offcourse!We stop fuming and become less agressive and less stressed for a moment.So we have a good time for a second followed by all the eczyma and lung cancers for LATER.NOW , I take DEEP BREATH WITH FRESH AIR FULL FLAVOR INSTEAD!EHEM!EHEM!

3-I am using my bike instead of my car to commute in town.I am going more to the movies and taking more trips using the bus instead of my car.(Smoking is not allowed there!).I am switching alliances to friends and family members who are non-smokers to hang around!

4-I am eating more green grapes to FEED MY CRAVINGS for a ciggerrete in my mouth!

5-I am drinking more spring water to quench the burning for a fire smoke in my head.

6-I am spending  more hours outdoors, and smelling more roses and flowers to replace the addiction of smelling cigerretes carbon monoxide fumes!

7-I am sweating the smell stuff out of my lungs and skin by working out more HOURS  at the GARDEN.

8-I am EATING  more salads and ORGANIC LOCALLY GROWN GREENS(Rich in LIQUID soluble and NATURAL Vitamins and minerals) .That will help the body to absorb and assimilate- especially when PH balanced!

9-I am DRINKING more green VEGETABLES.Mainly WITH :Dandelion,Collards,Parsley,Carrots included and FRUITS:Mainly included  WITH CITRUS  and APPLES JUICES (Rich in Vitamin C).

10-I am SAVING my HARD EARNED MONEY to be spent HEALTH-WISELY,not on my FUTURE MEDICAL and HOSPITAL BILLS (I have no Health Insurance)TO TREAT THE VOLUNTARY  SELF INFLICTED DISEASES from SMOKING CO- a by product of cigerrettes and known to cause health HAZARDS! 

HAPPY HEALTHY NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS!

If you subscribe in one of those magazines that tackle agricultural and horticultural news...take note!

Here in Florida we have a shortage in magazines that really tend to farmers or gardeners who choose to go the ORGANIC way.There are few magazines that are full of pictures and narrations about ornamentals and flowers .No news about Organic farmers or Organic CSA or gardeners.Why?As an Organic Master Gardener I was approached once upon a time to sign a paper by a certain agency that takes care (at least assumes to ) of agricultural services to the local community.I was asked to put my agreement in writing that I mention fertilizers and pesticides in my volunteer work .I refused to do so and altogether withdrew from the program.

Recently,I met a volunteer who supervises a community garden locally-  he was telling the gardeners and media -that it is best to  use pesticides to scare away the bugs in a community garden that he calssifies as ORGANIC. I went to that community garden that is classified as ORGANIC and asked the same person to remove the plastic and other toxic PCB and other debris that are apparent in the soil of the community garden and he answered that we are not totally organic.He pressed so hard on my hand as he was leaving that almost I felt my fingers cracking.He was angry at me being honest.

This will take me to another venue where we gardeners like to stroll the pages of the media that carry our passion.I was so excited to find that there was a full page dedicated in the HORTICULTURE magazine edition of December 2009/January 2010 to ORGANIC APPROACH /Community Supported Agriculture.I was so happy to read the article that also referred the readers to localharvest web site.Thank you!

We need more visibility and more pages to reach out to the community and teach our ORGANIC WAY of working the land.We need more help and more land dedicated to the  sustainability way of LIFE.I sent the magazine a thank you note and attached couple of articles.Would they get me published? I really must wait to next year to find out.Meanwhile check them ourt at:

hortmag.com

One of their editors :Peter Garnham contributed and wrote the article on CSA.May be we need to let them know that we appreciate that they refer their readers to our web site here at local harvest, and may be we can contribute and help out too by making them more visible to our MORE than 2500 CSA farmers here at localharvest.org.

My point is :Let us reach out not just by our hands that plant and harvest but also by our minds and hearts in writing and teaching about what we do to the the EARTH and to our LOCAL community .I personally fight GLOBAL warming LOCALLY by just spreading more GREEN SHEETS that bear organic fruits and vegetables and beautify my neighbourhood.What about you?

There are many GREEN WAYS to help out if there is  a genuine WILL to do so.Doing is the PROOF .Lot of people SAY they support the EARTH and the COMMUNITY by just moving their LIPS.It is time to move  the HANDS folks.

In France they call it " Grain DE Sel" , literally translated into the "Grain of Salt.What is this new movement about?

Well, when the "CHEAUMAGE" or unemployment reached above the 12 % scale level the French took a U turn and called it an alternative to 'MONEY".When money became scarce they did not get scared.They found a refuge in exchange .Barter is the alternative in France now on a smaller local scale.Like in Southern France for example where the bread basket comes from.farmers and local business are having trading parties.From rent to local produce .Bring in what you produce or have for a barter.

Back home...we succumb into our retreats.We shrink and shiver as the cold fronts and blizards scatter and devulge our harvest.We fail to spell the name of our neighbor and call our loved ones once a year on Christmass.Time to open our eyes.For the war on terror and the hunting of weapons of mass DESTRUCTION did really the job well enough to make DISTRACTED or in other words it diverted our attention from the wolves in our backyards that are working havoc on our lives by taking away our  :Homes,Savings,Stocks ,cars and you name it.We are spending tax payer money to bail out forieign countries like Egypt,Israel,and Pakistan.Billions of tax payers money are being sent overseas to foreign countries that have lobbies in our midst that influence our politicians .The end result is making us sore and broke.It is time to call for real CHANGE.Corruption  ,Bankruptcies ,Fraud, Foreclosures all are rampant and eating up our existance.We are being fed junk and are kept in the dark just like in movies..our best retreat from reality!

Time to take a U turn into sustainable and more real approach to solving the problems of GREED.The money is becoming scarce and we are running scared.Instead let us come together and form local networks and barter.Keep productivity on and do more exchanges.The mentality must change first.

Read the book of Jeremy Rifkin: The End of Work to get a head start.Unemployment level are reaching close by to 12 %.A local "Grain De Sel" be an alternative solution.Creating Jobs is the answer ..when money becomes scare and concentrated in the hands of FEW..the rest of us who WORK the lands for a living need to keep on the pace and barter for a LIVING!

The local  Palm Beach Post news paper reported today about another crime against workers who work out in the fields , in this instance make their living by trimming trees .

Two armed men approached three workers ,one African American foreman and two other latino workers and demanded money.When the workers ,who were engaged in trimming trees for FPL ,responded that they have nothing, they were showered with bullets from semi automatic guns.The forman died and one worker is critically injured .

This is another story about the way we look at people who work the land for a living.There is no respect for gardeners and farmers in general around here.Part of this stereotyping is lack of education to the public about the great value gardeners and farm workers provide through their services to keep the EARTH a living planet worthy for the living.

The stereotyping against certain minorities leaves no ample room to get equal opportunities or better jobs in the market place.There is work that is  looked at as menial and some people won't do it.The people who perform those "menial jobs"usually become victims to sweat shops,robberies,humilitians and discremination.No health insurance ,no benefits and sometimes dire living conditions follow this trend of employment.

The solutions are through altering the way we look at such work.Spreading the awareness through the media and schooling system could be like a starting point .

Jobs are plentiful in the field and we need to start educating our kids that farm and garden work are good choices and opportunities to take as jobs.We need to overhaul the way we think first .We need support from local and federal government to provide educational programs in addition to incentives and job opportunities.Health insurance and benefits will attract many applicants.Good or FAIR pay will do the same .It is not a SOLUTION to complain about illegal immigrants or migrant farmers who perform jobs that are menial and do not attract citizens.The solution requires action to elevate the status of those jobs so that citizens will find it attractive to apply for.

Crimes against field workers should be dealt with more punitively to eradicate them from our society.

The perpetrators who commited the crime were youth who found in their preys an easy target for quick money.Usually farm workers are known to carry cash in their pockets as they have no legal papers to open bank accounts .Doing something about this can  help reduce the crimes that target migrant farmers or other legal citizens who prefer to do such kind of jobs.

Change starts from within and raising the awareness towards a solution is just a baby step to restore respect and justice to farmers and gardeners who are the silent  keepers of our living planet EARTH.

I am now searching for a job in this field and I feel unsecure and at risk.I have lost my van to the junk yard as I could not have money to fix it.I lost couple of borrowed lands to locally grow organic vegetables .There are so many lands that sit idle and could be used to grow fruits and vegetables to support enough people who lost their jobs and are seeking food stamps and other financial help to sustain their living.This kind of using tax payer money is a non-productive approach .A better approach is" to teach a man how to fish instead of giving him or her a fish"!

There are churches and schools that have backyards that could be a potential place to create vegetable gardens.I have approached some of those churches and experienced creating a container garden at one of them.

We need to change our attitude from critical negative thinking -using our heads to calculate monetery gains and judging behaviours.We need to shift to a more PRODUCTIVE approach by using our HEARTS and compassion .I went by accident to a local agency that uses COMPASSION in their mission and vision.I found hope and help.When there is a WILL ,there is a WAY -as they say.Sometimes we need to change the WAY we think and feel in order to help bring in change to other peoples life!

Thanksgiving holliday is on the way.Make it an occasion to bring food to the needy through providing opportunities for CREATING MORE  PRODUCTIVE GARDENS that yield ORGANIC food that help feed the needy.Instead of a food stamp voucher , why not offer a voucher of a plot at a community garden to those who are employed.The burden will diminish on our tax payers and we will create opportunities that yield HARVESTS instead.We will educate people of the great value of working the land to produce food.By then may be the attitude towards gardeners and farmers will change towards more appreciation.May be, but it is worth a try!

In my work experience as an URBAN ORGANIC FARMER here in S.Florida, I have co-founded and closely helped out in establishing four community gardens.Two of those gardens cease to exist .

I like to share my observations and feedbacks to help out  in the future revitalization and remediation work process to  organic community gardens .

The Challenges.

A-POLITICS IN THE COMMUNITY GARDEN:

Personally , I advocate non-political approach to growing ORGANIC FRUITS and VEGETABLES in community gardens.Unfortunately , the situation at the ground is otherwise.I noticed that some of those gardens I tended attracted members who were POLITICALLY MOTIVATED in the first place.Their work mainly at the garden was only to extend /show their political aura or to enrich their resumes and social status as community organizers or activists .

This trend also entrenched some active or retired officials in addition to local figures of some organizations to partake just to appeal to the media and local public opinion.Others were involved through educational institutions /non-profit organizations etc , to apply for grants,bolster their community stance , keep the influence of donated GMO seeds and seedlings- FREE soils derived from treated  sludge - fertilzers and pesticides ammendments-active at the garden .Little  actual gardening work  was  done   by some of those occasional members- visitors-spectators, who mostly show up at events.

The solution:

The spirit of VOLUNTARY COMMUNITY SERVICE through productive planting and harvesting of ORGANIC PRODUCE should be the main MOTIVE.Donating to local soup kitchens and needy families must be emphassized especially NOW.Encouraging the membership of struggling families and the financially disadvataged should be a priority in enlisting members.Diversity in membership should be equally stressed along with diversity in gardening.Social dialogue through pot locks and workshop events must be introduced to enrich the communication between diverse groups of the neighboring community.Solutions to the challenges remain impotent without actual involvement with the HANDS ON learning process:ORGANIC SOIL - CLASSES and WORKSHOPS-POTLUCKS-HARVESTING and SHARING of HARVEST-SEEDS EXCHANGE.Active members must adhere to the rules and regulations set for the garden.

B-Allocating and preserving more lands for growing organic produce locally.

Some of those community gardens took decades to build their organic soil and with a change of heart are destroyed to be new locations for developments or other use.

The solution:

Advocating for the placement of new laws to protect and  preserve FERTILE agricultural lands / urban community gardens that have irreplacable organic top soil.

C-Lack of Local Programs to EDUCATE and Graduate: Organic Community Gardeners /ORGANIC URBAN FARMERS at the local school level and beyond.

Attention should be redirected from the current home-owners mentality of growing ornamentals and shrubs using fertilizers and pesticides  for the purposes of landscaping only.So many home owners are having their homes forclosed and now are renting or are displaced.

The solution:

Vouchers for continuing education and local community plotsshould be issued. Jobs for organic urban farmers should be created and promoted through educational and vocational local programs.Growing food must be the new mood instead of growing JUST GRASS! 

D-Lack of support ,recognition and appreciation to organic farmers.

Migrant farmers with their illegal status has driven the farming jobs down to its bottom.No respect and discremination are rampant.wages  and benefits are so low.Organic Community  Agriculture Educational programs are non-existing below the university level.Big Agri-Business domination of the market .

The solution:

The community garden can be the new venue for raising the awareness level by providing organic horticultural educational programs and  marketing opportunities to small farmers or community urban gardeners.A FREE green market at a Community Garden to sell and display produce can be used as an example in supporting the local economy through marketing of locally grown produce .This kind of market exists in Europe, but at a different location:The village markets or -Thursday markets.The now available farmers /green markets levy high fees and charges here ,in general  . who affords to sell at those markets are merchants of grocerystores who rent spaces to sell conventional imported produce from other countries or different states.The farmer has been replaced by the merchant at the farmers market at least here in S.Florida ,with some exceptions , offcourse!

S.Florida Community gardens are growing more , in numbers.Most of the new comers to S.Florida need some Tropical Gardening orientation as they mostly come from the cold Up-North!

Here are some suggestions for the new comers to make their toil in the soil less painful and more fruitful!

1-Put on garden safety gear when you garden.That includes sun glasses,gloves,hat,long sleeve shirt,bugs repellent..DRINK PLENTY OF SPRING WATER and always HYDRATE!

2-Double dig the soil and extract any debris or toxic substances.Know WHERE YOUR SOIL COME FROM!Avoid adding soils that have fertilizers or other contaminents like PCB,Plastics etc..

3-Trans-plant seedlings from local farmers rather than directly planting  GMO or commercial seeds that take longer to grow and harvest.Seedlings bought from SOME garden centers might have fertilizers and pesticide or herbicide contents.Choose varieties that give bountiful harvest like  cherry tomatoes !

4-Avoid using pesticides or herbicides by choosing  the prevention method rather.Plant companion pest reppeling HERBS like :Cuban oregano or Basil .

5-Choose DIVERSITY in planting varieties of plants that Co-exist and Complement!For example I grow sunflowers and corn and cucumbers or pinto beans TOGETHER , so the former can be used as natural trellis by the latter!Also I plant short term harvesting plants like arugola and lettuce with long term harvest plants like tomatoes together.Plants love to co-exist and are more productive and efficient when used as such in LIMITED SPACE GARDENING!

6-Choose SEASONAL draught tolerant NATIVE plants to S.Florida .Prefer Nutritional content over taste and flavor.Use Xeroscaping ,or the right plant in the right place:do not plant water loving plants alongside with desert loving plants!

7-Get help in ORGANIC TROPICAL GARDENING from a local urban farmer or someone who have experience in TROPICAL FARMING.It is different to garden in Florida ,but it is not difficult to adjust.There is no green or brown thumbs.There is awareness versus ignorance!

8-Use Garden ERGONOMICS Body Functional Movements .There are certain exercises for first time gardeners to strengthen certain muscles and gaurd against injuries by using properTRAINED  muscle FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENTS  !

9-Use ERGONOMIC TOOLS .Use Organic Soil.Use Organic Seeds.

10-Keep learning.Attend worrkshops and ORGANIC gardening classes.

References to check out  Organic Gardening Books and web sites:

www.Rodale Ulitmate Organic Gardening Encycloped

How to grow organic vegetables in containers

Container and small space gardening

Four season gardening

New square foot gardening

Happy community  gardening  

Alternative Community Farmer WPB/Fl

http:www.localharvest.org/farms/M20618

I was reading the article of "Climate Countdown "-

www.motherjones.com 

November-December issue .

 I wanted to share with fellow farmers what struck my attention.I suggest you read the article and draw some personal lessons as well.

"Farmers knew that their water supply could disappear at any time but the dollar signs overwhelmed the warning signs".I qoute from the article which echoes Dr.richard walker , an economic geography professor at the university of California- Berkley.He continues to say:"It is the phenomenon of collective madness,collective beleif,which is no different from Wall Street or American car companies."

As California farmers groups led by the California Latino Water Coalition march for water , we in the other side go around our business and forget that a threat to our farms as great as the water draught will take away our livlihood.We let HR 2749 and other controls go by untill the day it touches our door steps .Then we wake up.The collective acts we family farmers lack goes back to the same bottom line roots of the dollar sign.We skip reading other signs and wrtings on the wall just to follow what we have been programmed to do :Work work work !

Sometimes we need to take a break and sit down to smell the roses and have a chat with each others about common concerns.We need to connect for the common good of all.We need to re-establish the bond with each others as we connect with earth by being the Earth-keepers.

I see that those who wrote the agricultural text books and spread the ideology of Fertilizers and Pesticides ,take the lead in gathering the farmers again under the banner of Organic farming.Why do not we have our own grass root organic farmers take the lead instead?It is our beleifs that are so overwhelmed by the dollar sign that keep us to bring change from within our family farmers movement not just follow and be passive.Being active and productive is not just limited to our land work.We need to bring more representatives from within our family farms to be our voice at the House and the Senate.Let us sow the seed and talk to our kids about that may be they will be the new leaders that will represent us?Let us involve the youth in our farms and let them take the toil in the soil to college and further beyond.Let them be our future  voices  REPRESENTATIVES to Washington.