(from an email received by DC Field to Fork Network and the UrbanAg List <urbanag@elist.tufts.edu>)

My name is Neeraja Havaligi, and I am a Bay Area resident, currently doing PhD candidate at Akamai University, Hawaii. I am writing to share about a my research on urban biodiversity, with particular attention to urban agricultural biodiversity which will benefit from your feedback and network of urban gardens/farms. I have worked with United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and other agencies as a biodiversity and climate adaptation expert (details at www.linkedin.com/in/biodiversity ).

My paper aimed toward quantifying urban agricultural biodiversity has been accepted  for a conference at Wageningen University, Netherlands.  The paper is due mid-March and the conference is in the first week of April, 2012. The goal of my research work for this paper is understand the extent of urban agricultural biodiversity, make a case for urban agriculture as a conservation tool, tying into its value as a contributor to local ecosystem health and food security and to map it to a open resource to serve the community.

I  request you:

1. to take a look at the survey at 
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9K8JQQ7
Survey time:  Up to 15minutes (the survey saves your feedback, if you do not close the window, so you can return to it at a later time if needed)

2. and to share it with others you know whose feedback will contribute to this research work.  Feedback from urban farmers- including community gardeners, backyard shares, school gardens, home gardens and others.practicing urban agriculture is critical for this survey. Feedback to this survey will provide data for the above mentioned paper and my dissertation.

Data generated is projected will:

1.facilitate existing resources supporting diverse interest groups viz. urban farmers, consumers and city planners, by enhancing local knowledge on local agricultural diversity,

2. emphasize on its relevance to conservation and efficient management of resources,

3.help in designing and planning urban greenery, support urban policy decisions and

4.provide avenues to network for  share and trade of local seed, produce and other resources.

Please let me know if you prefer that I call to receive your feedback for the survey or for any questions you may have regarding this work.

Look forward to your feedback and support in reaching this research work to others for their participation and feedback.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Neeraja

diversityoflife@gmail.com

The Washington Youth Garden has an opening for a part-time Communications/Media intern.

We are seeking an energetic, creative individual with strong communication and social media skills to assist small staff with managing and advancing the organization’s communication systems.  The Communications/Media Intern will have the opportunity to work on a variety of communication projects involving website and blog maintenance, newsletter development and writing, coordinating presence on social media networks, communications database development and maintenance, writing articles and organizational communications, as well as assisting with programs and special events.

If you are interested please visit the Washington Youth Garden website for more information.

Have you ever thought about what your website is actually saying about you or your organization? A fun, creative way to visualize the words that are being used to talk about your organization, your mission or values is to create a Word Cloud using www.wordle.net.

I have created one for the “About” section of DC’s Field to Fork Network website. The larger the term or the word which appears in the word cloud, the more often it appears in the selected text. You then can change the font colors, orientation, font style, etc. to fit your creativity needs.

What were the biggest terms for DC Field to Fork Network?

Food, network, field, community, outreach, fresh, fork…

Here is the DC Field to Fork word cloud:

DCF2Fwordcloud

Please check out the October 2011 Newsletter for a number of upcoming events and ways to get involved in DC’s urban agriculture and food security network!

Link to the October 2011 Newsletter

1. Children’s Hunger Service-Learning Grants- Applications due August 15

The Sodexo Foundation and Youth Service America are accepting applications for the Sodexo School Engagement grant program, which will support teachers and students, grades K-12, in learning about incidences of childhood hunger in their community, and in leading meaningful activities that facilitate access to nutritious food for all children. More information here. 

2. Youth-Led Children’s Hunger Volunteer Projects- Applications due September 16

With support from the Sodexo Foundation, Youth Service America will award twenty-five Youth Grants of $500 to support youth-led service projects in the U.S. that address the issue of childhood hunger during National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week (November 13-20, 2011). The grant program seeks to fund youth-inspired solutions to ending childhood hunger in their community. More information here.

Neighborhood Farm Initiative is currently accepting applications for two positions starting immediately!

Young Growers Assistant Leader will work with the Young Growers Education Specialist and will be responsible for assisting the Young Growers Education Specialist in facilitating lessons and hands-on gardening activities for teens involved in the Young Growers program. Please see the link below for a full description and qualifications for this position!

School Garden Liaison will work with the program director to implement aspects of NFI’s “Building Capacity in Gardens, Individuals, and Communities” work plan involving DCPS partners.  The aspects of the work plan that will involve the School Garden Liaison are as follows:

• Collaborative Meetings with DC Public Schools Partners (Ongoing)
• Pre-test Participants (June, October)
• Ongoing School Garden Maintenance (Ongoing)
• Lead DCPS garden enrichment activities (Ongoing)
• Post-test Participants (August, December)

The School Garden Liaison’s primary function is to serve as the point person the two schools who will be partnering with NFI on this project.  The SGL will work with staff at each of these schools to ensure that the garden installations, maintenance, and Garden Club activities are being performed as envisioned.

Please see the link below for a complete description and compensation for this position!

Descriptions at the Neighborhood Farm Initiative website: http://www.neighborhoodfarminitiative.org/volunteer/hiring/

Applications for both positions are due as soon as possible!

Please join City Blossoms for their 3rd Annual Proper Topper Garden Fiesta fundraiser this Thursday, June 23rd!

6:30 – 8:30 pm in the garden, Harvard & 11th Street, Washington DC, 20009

The invite from City Blossoms:

“Put on your best hat & join us for an enchanting evening in the garden, under the stars. Enjoy scrumptious delights, colorful cocktails, juicy raffle items & a proper topper hat contest!”

$15 donation is requested. All proceeds support City Blossoms’ summer programming.

Please RSVP to info@cityblossoms.org

For more information please visit www.cityblossoms.org or see the event details via facebook

Please come and visit the Field to Fork Network booth at farmers’ markets this weekend! The following F2F partners will be at the following locations. Come and learn about the work they are doing and how you can possibly help!

Neighborhood Farm Initiative at the Mount Pleasant Farmers Market

Hope to see you there!