(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

Rooting DC 2012 was a success!

Thank you for sharing your energizing feelings of friendship, creativity, inspiration, connection, love, and support to make this event possible! Here is to a great kickoff for the 2012 season!! 

The Beet Street Gardens clan at Rooting DC 2012

Come party with Beet Street Gardens, Saturday Evening, February 11th as we celebrate the end of our 2nd season and gear up for an exciting 3rd! This midwinter gathering will feature many local flavors —  nourishment for your belly, warm beverages for your spirit, along with garden photos and live tunes.

We are jazzed to focus this season’s local growing/eating around building edible forest gardens and an outdoor kitchen. Your donations will help make that possible!

Questions: email info@beetstreetgardens.org

See you on the 11th!

Beet Street Gardens

www.beetstreetgardens.org

When: January 12th, 2012 from 5-8 pm

Where: Madam’s Organ, 2461 18th St NW in Adams Morgan

What: Neighborhood Farm Initiative fundraiser to support Rooting DC 2012. Suggested donation of $15 includes entrance see and a Rooting DC t-shirt. Come to Madam’s Organ to eat, drink and enjoy the company of fellow RDC supporters. Madam’s Organ will graciously donate $1 per drink (including soda and juice) that is sold during happy hour, as well as 20% of all food sales! As always, seeds will be available from NFI!

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.

The Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture is looking for interns! Check out the position descriptions for the following gigs - Farm Educator Internship and Sustainable Farm Internship – and pass them along to interested folks.

Arcadia is a new non-profit organization serving the Washington, DC area. Arcadia’s programs raise awareness about healthy food and its sources, and establish innovative connections between sustainable local farms and consumers.   We’re a small staff, so we truly rely on great interns and volunteers to make our programs run and our farm grow.

The deadline for applications is January 9, 2012.

Next week will mark the first Food Day celebration with events occurring across the United States. According to the website FoodDay.org, Food Day “seeks to bring together Americans from all walks of life—parents, teachers, and students; health professionals, community organizers, and local officials; chefs, school lunch providers, and eaters of all stripes—to push for healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way.”

It is a “people-powered” movement that provides the avenue for celebration, education and access to food and nutrition-centered events, cooking demonstrations, volunteer (and eating) opportunities. There are numerous events planned, taking place all across the Washington Metropolitan Area for you and your family to be involved in Food Day 2011. Please ask your local church, school, farmers’ market or town hall for more information about what will be going on in your area.

Another great place to go for resources is the Food Day website, FoodDay.org. Here you can search for events near your neighborhood, whether you live in Washington DC or outside the beltway. There are also resources for you to get an event started if you want to do something yourself. Take a moment to check out the website and see what will be happening near you!

The purpose of Food Day is to promote six central principles:

1. Reduce diet-related disease by promoting safe, healthy foods

2. Support sustainable farms and limit subsidies to big agribusiness

3. Expand access to food and alleviate hunger

4. Protect the environment and animals by reforming factory farms

5. Promote health by curbing junk-food marketing to kids

6. Support fair conditions for food and farm workers

(for more information on the 6 Principles, please refer to Food Day – 6 Food Day Principles)

By conducting a quick search for the Washington, DC area, I was able to find almost an endless list of events that are planned including speakers, neighborhood garden open houses, food truck culinary appreciation, nutrition education, university sponsored events, and the list goes on! If you go to the FoodDay.org events page, enter your zip code or address to find something that is going on within your neighborhood. Among a few of my favorites include:

- Food Day Proclamation

- Food Day Food Truck Festival (13th-17th St and K St NW)

- Food Day Extravaganza

- Inaugural Bike Blender Smoothie Sale

- American University’s 3 Day Celebration also click here for more details: AU’s Food Day 2011 Celebration AUFood Day

And so many more!!

Check out the website, find what is going on in or around your neighborhood, and go celebrate Food Day 2011!

oct1stflyer