It isn't easy being an urban farmer. It's not easy being a farmer period.
Well first of all there's the drought. You know there's a drought, right? The corn is nowhere near the height it should be. Well, if you don't notice now, you will the next time you go to the grocery store. And this issue makes me think about the book I’m currently reading.
I am reading the Good Food Revolution by Will Allen. He is no hip urban farmer. He is Urban Farmer Extraordinaire. Living in Wisconsin, this man has steadily changed the food scape in his community. If you are interested in true urban farming that brings people together and changes the lives of people in city neighborhoods, this is a book that must sit as a reference on your table.
What Allen has that is better than hip is Growing Power, a non profit organization that not only grows food, but also serves as an educational institution where people can learn how to grow their own food. And when I say food, I mean vegetables, fruit, and fish!
I found so many little seeds of information in this book that are ready to be planted. For example, did you know that Heifer International could serve urban farms by considering worms to be livestock? What that means for the urban areas is the potential to reclaim the soil. Worms are critical to a healthy soil that can grow food!
I'm going to combine my understanding of these seeds for thought with some other information. . . . Watch out now! I am a professional. . . . Library and information specialist in my day job. . .
If you are interested in being more than hip with your urban farm, but also interested in creating a food revolution as Will Allen has in Wisconsin, you could apply for grants.
If you have ever read the blog Free Money Ate My Brain, by Linda Koss then you know there is some good information there.
Yes! As a professional librarian and information specialist, I can offer more than just books with information but digital information. . . . blogs.
And she’s also a professional, folks, don’t try this at home. . . unless you are on your computer and using information backed by an authority! Of course, you could go to your local library. . . just sayin’. . .
If you haven't read it, well get over there right now and look for information about the Awesome Foundation. Awesome Foundation gives small grants for community gardens and even more.
Thinking about green jobs? Why not start up your own mobile composting business? Think worms, compost, soil, and food. And maybe you can find some real start up funds for that business.
I'd do it myself, but really aren't I hip enough?
Look, there's only one Hip Urban Farmer, but you could be an extraordinary urban farmer growing a food revolution!
Look into city and county land banking programs. In some cities, there are programs for urban gardening where you can lease or buy a vacant lots where you could grow your own power.
You can do this. Go on. Do it.
Grow a revolution!
