UB Undergraduate Academies- Spotlight on the Weekly Themes: Green Farming: September 6-12

Green Farming: September 6-12

Have you ever thought about where and how your food is produced? It sometimes isn’t as simple as you would think. Take this fact for example: New Yorkers grow 990 million pounds of apples a year, but only eat 135 million pounds of apples- however will still import apples. Industrial farming and agriculture shape the environment and contribute to global warming. Green farming, which actually uses the techniques of farming that humans have used since the birth of agriculture, has made its way back into the practice of growing our food.

Learn More about the Weekly Theme:

Definitions:

Local vs. Organic: Local produce is produced in close proximity to its consumers. Food that is produced organically was grown without the use of harmful pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers. Organic livestock are those animals that have not been injected with growth hormones. It is important to note that local production and organic production are not mutually exclusive. Local food can be produced non-organically, while organic food can come from hundreds of miles away.

Benefits for Local Food: decrease in transportation costs and pollution, increased investment in the local economy, the person who supplies your food has a face,

Benefits for Organic Food: no harmful chemicals used that can have an effect on individuals and the environment

Which type of Agriculture do you prefer?

Urban Agriculture: farming that takes place with in cities. Many times, food can be grown on vacant or abandoned lots in community gardens

Compost: organic material that can be used as a soil amendment or as a medium to grow plants

http://www.howtocompost.org/

CSA: Community Supported Agriculture. This system involves farmers selling shares of their food to citizens in their local community. It is a way for them to sell produce directly to people and not to major corporations.

Vermiculture: is a method of composting involving worms to break down organic waste into fertilizer

GMO: Genetically Modified Organism- the United States uses many seeds that have had their DNA altered to grow bigger produce quickly

Information on this week's speakers:

Dr. Samina Raja:

Dr. Raja’s research focuses on planning and design for healthy communities and the fiscal dimensions of planning. Her research on healthy communities examines the influence of the food and built environments on obesity and physical activity. Given the interdisciplinary nature of this topic, Dr. Raja collaborates with colleagues from UB’s School of Medicine and the School of Public Health and Health Professions. An ongoing multi-year study, conducted in collaboration with the School of Medicine, examines the effect of the built environment on obesity among youth, and has received over a million dollars in funding from the National Institute of Health.

Massachusetts Avenue Project:

The Massachusetts Avenue Project proudly hosts the Growing Green Program, a youth development and urban agriculture program about increasing healthy food access and revitalizing the Buffalo community through urban farming, healthy nutrition, environmental stewardship and social enterprise. In addition to its urban farm Growing Green also hosts a youth enterprise, a farm to school initiative, a mobile market and runs various workshops related to urban agriculture.
www.mass-ave.org

Videos and Other Resources:

The Future of Food:

Urban Farms Spark Renewal:

A list of Erie County Farmers' Markets

Farming as therapy for recovering Addicts

Polyface Farms: Old School Agriculture

A Farm on Every Floor