A Call to Farms: Reconnecting to Nature, Food, and Community in a Modern World

A Call to Farms: Reconnecting to Nature, Food, and Community in a Modern World
Author: Jennifer Grayson
Publisher: The Countryman Press
Total Pages: 224
Release: 2024-07-09
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 168268847X

Hope for the future lies with a new generation of regenerative farmers. Within a decade, nearly half of all American farmland will change hands as an older generation of farmers steps aside. In their place, a groundswell of new growers will face numerous challenges, including soil degradation, insufficient income, and investors devouring farmland at a staggering pace. These new farmers are embracing regenerative agriculture—the holistic approach to growing food that restores the soil and biodiversity—in the movement to reclaim our health and the planet’s. But can their efforts help reverse an epidemic of diet-related disease, food inequality, and even climate change? To answer that question and more, award-winning journalist Jennifer Grayson embedded herself in a groundbreaking farmer training program, then embarked on this investigative journey. The diverse array of farmers, graziers, and food activists whom she profiles here are working toward better, more sustainable foodways for all. From a one-acre market garden in Oregon to activists reviving food sovereignty in South Carolina, A Call to Farms tells the captivating story of these new agrarians finding hope and purpose in reconnecting to the land and striving to improve the future of American food.

Food and Farming Then and Now

Food and Farming Then and Now
Author: Bobbie Kalman
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2014
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 9780778702085

While today most food is bought from a grocery store, many years ago food was grown and harvested on the family farm. This informative title examines different types of foods eaten and how they were produced from the olden days to the present.

The Farm as Natural Habitat

The Farm as Natural Habitat
Author: Dana L. Jackson
Publisher: Island Press
Total Pages: 316
Release: 2002-04
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9781597262699

The Farm as Natural Habitat is a vital new contribution to the debate about agriculture and its impacts on the land. Arising from the conviction that the agricultural landscape as a whole could be restored to a healthy diversity, the book challenges the notion that the dominant agricultural landscape -- bereft of its original vegetation and wildlife and despoiled by chemical runoff -- is inevitable if we are to feed ourselves. Contributors bring together insights and practices from the fields of conservation biology, sustainable agriculture, and environmental restoration to link agriculture and biodiversity, farming and nature, in celebrating a unique alternative to conventional agriculture.Rejecting the idea that "ecological sacrifice zones" are a necessary part of feeding a hungry world, the book offers compelling examples of an alternative agriculture that can produce not only healthful food, but fully functioning ecosystems and abundant populations of native species. Contributors include Collin Bode, George Boody, Brian DeVore, Arthur (Tex) Hawkins, Buddy Huffaker, Rhonda Janke, Richard Jefferson, Nick Jordan, Cheryl Miller, Heather Robertson, Carol Shennan, Judith Soule, Beth Waterhouse, and others.The Farm as Natural Habitat is both hopeful and visionary, grounded in real examples, and guided by a commitment to healthy land and thriving communities. It is the first book to offer a viable approach to addressing the challenges of protecting and restoring biodiversity on private agricultural land and is essential reading for anyone concerned with issues of land or biodiversity conservation, farming and agriculture, ecological restoration, or the health of rural communities and landscapes.

Overcoming Food Deserts in Your Community

Overcoming Food Deserts in Your Community
Author: Cathy Harris
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Total Pages: 124
Release: 2017-06-16
Genre:
ISBN: 9781545408681

This book not only lays out several action plans to gain access to good, clean, organic foods, but it will help all family members gain access to job and business opportunities, while they eliminate food deserts in their communities. Face it we will never get back to totally living off the land like our ancestors did, but families must come together today for the sake of future generations. We need to seriously look at solutions because this is the first generation that will not outlive their parents. However, there are economically empowered ways we can feed, clothe and shelter our own families. Food is not always only about the most expedient way to suppress hunger. Many community organizations have long understood this and believe that food access and quality is tied to both racial and economic justice. Over the past few years we have heard quite a bit about food deserts, or high poverty areas where a lack of grocery stores makes it difficult for residents to purchase fresh food. However, we know far less about the food realities of people who live near stores where fresh food is sold, but because of their limited incomes, they simply cannot afford it. Affordable healthy food is an issue of both equity and justice that disproportionally affects working-class and poor people of color in cities and rural areas. Reducing the economic necessity for some to rely so heavily on food that is unhealthy, is not only a tool for fighting health concerns, there are other benefits too. Time and time again it shows when many schools team up with healthy venues and swap out soda machines and offer instead -- juices, water and low-sugar energy drinks and also prepared meals entirely free of additives and chemicals, but with abundant amounts of fresh fruit, vegetables and whole-grain breads, this have led to reduced behavioral problems, higher grades, lower expulsion rates, decreases in the use of ADD prescription drugs, and teachers are reporting that the students were more attentive and could concentrate for longer periods of time. Gaining access to clean, sustainability, grown food is a basic human right so we need venues to offer education to inspire family members to live healthy lives, by offering hands-on education in urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition and this is what this book will do.

Food Sovereignty

Food Sovereignty
Author: Annette Aurélie Desmarais
Publisher: Fahamu Books
Total Pages: 228
Release: 2011-03-31
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 9780857490292

With increasing hunger globally, people are resisting the industrialised food system and returning control to small farmers. This radical food sovereignty movement leads to increased production, safe food and agricultural practices that respect the earth.

Food Sovereignty

Food Sovereignty
Author: Hannah Wittman
Publisher:
Total Pages: 212
Release: 2011
Genre: Food industry and trade
ISBN: 9788182911086

A Place-Based Perspective of Food in Society

A Place-Based Perspective of Food in Society
Author: Kevin M. Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 279
Release: 2015-08-18
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1137408375

This book provides an outstanding collection of interdisciplinary and international essays examining the food-place relationship. It explores such topics as the history of food and agriculture, the globalization and localization of food, and the role of place in defining the broader societal consequences of this ever-changing phenomena.

Urban Ecology

Urban Ecology
Author: Ken Leinbach
Publisher: Morgan James Publishing
Total Pages: 284
Release: 2018-03-06
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1683506529

With climate change in the news, an urban core that has reached boiling point, and many children growing up without role models and with limited dreams, where is hope? There is a quiet experiment in Milwaukee that is turning heads. It starts with the simplicity of getting a city kid exploring their neighborhood park. How is it that so much life, community, and opportunity can grow from this unlikely soil? It's been called a miracle. It's contagious. It's spreading. It's exciting. And it works! This is the story of a group of ordinary people in a neighborhood who created something extraordinary. Readers will discover... the power of getting a city kid outside in nature; that kindness does work; how to say no while following the yes; the value of clarity and focus; how to find abundance within their own diverse community by simply and humbly asking for help; ten tried and tested rules for raising money (a lot of it!) while having a ton of fun doing it; a positive, believable, and very real vision for the future of the environment (we've got this!); and... how to join the Urban Ecology movement.

Growing Home

Growing Home
Author: Joanna Green
Publisher:
Total Pages: 168
Release: 2002
Genre: Agriculture
ISBN:

Rising from the Dead

Rising from the Dead
Author: Barrett Williams
Publisher: Barrett Williams
Total Pages: 117
Release: 2024-08-17
Genre: Nature
ISBN:

**Rising from the Dead A Comprehensive Guide to Sustainable Agriculture** Discover the transformative power of sustainable agriculture in "Rising from the Dead," an illuminating eBook designed to revolutionize the way we think about farming and food production. This holistic guide explores innovative practices, emerging technologies, and time-tested techniques that nurture the earth while supporting thriving communities. Begin your journey in **Chapter 1** with an introduction to the critical importance of regenerative practices and the overarching benefits they bring to ecosystems and human societies alike. Dive deep into the heart of the earth in **Chapter 2**, which covers soil health and biodiversity, offering practical insights into fostering robust soil composition and promoting diverse agricultural ecosystems. Water is life, and **Chapter 3** presents actionable strategies for efficient water management, including rainwater harvesting and watershed sustainability. **Chapter 4** guides you through crop diversification and rotation, sharing compelling case studies of successful implementations. Explore the symbiotic relationships of agroforestry and permaculture in **Chapter 5**, where you'll learn about designing systems that harmonize with nature for long-term benefits. In **Chapter 6**, uncover the principles of organic farming, the certification process, and navigate the challenges and opportunities within the industry. Urban agriculture takes center stage in **Chapter 7**, with insights into vertical farming, rooftop gardens, and community-driven local food systems. **Chapter 8** introduces cutting-edge technology in agriculture, from precision farming tools to the latest in drone and sensor applications, enabling data-driven decision-making. Adapt to climate change with **Chapter 9**, exploring climate-resilient farming practices and innovative approaches to building resilience. For those interested in livestock, **Chapter 10** offers a roadmap to sustainable livestock management, emphasizing animal welfare and reducing carbon footprints. Harness renewable energy with the guidance found in **Chapter 11**, which covers solar, wind, and bioenergy applications in agriculture. **Chapter 12** ensures a sustainable supply chain, emphasizing ethical sourcing, reducing food miles, and promoting fair trade. Navigate the landscape of policy and advocacy in **Chapter 13**, while **Chapter 14** provides insights on financial incentives, investment opportunities, and accessing funding for green agriculture. Finally, **Chapter 15** focuses on education and community engagement, underscoring the importance of agricultural extension services, community workshops, and building a resilient knowledge-sharing network. "Rising from the Dead" is not just an eBook; it's a call to action for farmers, policymakers, and consumers to embrace sustainable practices and create a better future. Dive in and start your journey towards sustainable agriculture today.