05 October 2008

Food, glorious food!
We're anxious to try it.
Three banquets a day --
Our favourite diet!
-from "Oliver"

     Whenever I get to a new city or town the first thing I like to do, after I smell the trees and flowers, is get a bite of healthy food. Being the frugal traveler its important to avoid the overpriced restaurants and head for the markets. Lately though, even this has become tedious as my favorite one and two dollar a pound veggies, fruits, and bulk items are now being increased to three and four dollars a pound. You'd think that one could buy  fresh organic fruit inexpensively, but many of the markets and coops are citing high fuel bills as a reason for the increased cost.
    

However, If your in West Oakland any time soon (or looking for a good sustainable model) there is hope! Borrowing from a long history of subsistence farming and gardening, a group of high spirited individuals created a non-profit organization called City Slicker Farms. I had heard about this organization from friends at the student sustainability group from UC Santa Cruz, and went with them on a field trip/volunteer experience.
     City Slicker farms is made up of six small one to two acre plots and is supported by their own nursery. The farm also is heavily involved in neighborhood composting, and helps residents create backyard gardens. they also sell premade raised bed foundations. The organization has also partnered with Slow Food Nation and Garden for the Environment to transform the lawn in front of San Francisco's City Hall into the "Slow Food Nation Victory Garden".
        Another aspect of the farm is that it has an educational and anti-racist agenda. their web site states similar issues as those faced by Syracuse's residents;

    "Environmental racism is a daily reality in West Oakland. Not only are kids exposed to lead paint, they also don't get the proper nutrition to create strong bones and minds in the first place. Not only are they suffering from asthma and childhood obesity in increasing numbers, they also don't have safe places to play outdoors. Our gardens are havens where children can experience nature and begin to create healthy eating habits.

    Currently many people in our community are are suffering from mild to moderate malnutrition because they lack access to fresh fruits and vegetables and instead eat junk, frozen, and canned foods. The fresh foods City Slicker Farms provides helps reduce health problems caused by exposure to a contaminated environment by adding to our daily diet the necessary vitamins and minerals our bodies need. For example, eating calcium-rich leafy-greens we provide year round reduces the body's absorption of damaging lead from peeling paint.

    In spite of the fact that West Oakland residents have suffered greatly from economic discrimination and racism over the decades, this community still has it's own answers, knowledge, and wisdom. At City Slicker Farms, our vision is to bring together a diverse group of residents to build community connections and increase access to healthy foods. By growing food in the city, we are contributing to better eating habits, increasing the sustainability of our local food system and improving the environment."

     Upon visiting one of their sites our group was instantly amazed. The first thing we noticed was the abundance of color in an otherwise dreary West Oakland neighborhood. There was a large tarp awning covering a large display of vegetables including; carrots, peas, many varieties of greens, strawberries, squash,  turnips, and others. though the plot was small (about an acre) it was packed with companion planted raised beds, a composting toilet (in a quaint bamboo hut), a moveable chicken coop (for fertilizing soil), a cob oven, and rows of smartly planted flowers along the fences (for pollination and asthetics). the first thing i noticed when i set foot in the garden was the instant detachment from the city. i felt instantly connected with nature. there were spots in the acre where large overgrowth overshadowed even the tallest skyscrapers. The next thing I noticed was the high spirit neighbors perusing the market for summer delectables. Many of them remarking that it made them feel a sense of nostalgia for the good old days when gardens were common in Oakland. Our group spent some time in awe, and volunteering by picking weeds (sow thisle).  the prices were incredible. The farm is based on a sliding scale and offers two categories. The first, for people who can afford it, is a simple $1 for bunches of vegetables, and $2 for a dozen fresh eggs. The second price scale is simply $1 for a dozen eggs, and everything else is free.  The farm is able to offer such low costs by relying on "a lifeblood" of volunteers.  The farm also works in  collaborationwith a variety of other West Oakland organizations such as the Alameda County Food Bank, Black Dot Collective, The Crucible, Jubilee West, Mo Better Foods, OBUGS, Oakland Unified School District, and People's Grocery.  In addition to education and sales the farm also offers a variety of workshops, composting, BBQ's and other events. You can visit the farm, virtually, at their website www.cityslickerfarms.org, and send donations to City Slicker Farms 1724 Mandela Parkway, Suite 5 Oakland, CA 94607, or through their website.

- john doe is a journalist who has embraced the sustainability movement, he sees d.i.y. and reuse as our building blocks to healthy societies.

< Prev		Next >