Tilth Alliance’s Post

Our new blog, and an introduction from Hank Cauley:

Watch this program. Just one of the reasons why I've joined the blue economy.

The level of detail is astounding

The Marine Education Initiative educates the next generation on sustainable agriculture while combating food insecurity across South Florida. They bring in students to the #aquaponics center for field trips, and adults for volunteer workshops, explaining how the center works and why aquaponics is important for the community and environment. The tour for students and volunteers continues into a separate area where a contained system is growing produce – vertically. "Microgreens are a much more nutrient-dense product than other crops because we're able to harvest in the first few weeks of the life of the plant," explains founder @Nicholas Metropulos. "It gets to the end consumer faster. And we don't have the fertilizer pollution associated with traditional farms." This is the HyperLocal Farms side, where about 40% of the produce in the 480 trays gets donated and the rest is sold to restaurants and supermarkets mostly in the Miami area. Learn more in our latest On-Site, linked here: https://lnkd.in/e4pvTKRS #OpportunityMiami #Sustainability #Resilience #Innovation #Talent #Farming

“Growing food is stressful,” explained Jade and Carrie of the artist-led Black Radish Urban Farm in Minneapolis. “It’s also a beautiful thing. Local food can build community.” Working from their own home and 12 other yards in south Minneapolis, Jack and Carrie cultivate fruits trees, maintain chickens, nurture potatoes, and battle jumping worms. This installment of the MTMM local food series explores a different vision of what a farm can look like. Over 40 families benefit from their efforts through The Black Radish’s CSA. Since founding their urban farm in 2018, they now distribute a 12-14 week share of organically-grown produce. “We’re amazed at how growing food in our urban area has brought so many people together,” said Carrie. “We wanted to do something that would bring our community together after years of working in the art world,” shared Jade. Living about a mile from George Floyd Square, Carrie and Jade sought to create a space for community healing. “The upheaval of the past few years really drove our mission to build something different, something for everyone to share,” said Jade. The Black Radish’s CSA members visit the backyard shed each week to choose from the bounty on display. Members may have the shed to themselves, allowing for a moment of gratitude at what’s on offer. “Our farm in non-traditional in every aspect,” shared Carrie. “We feel like it’s more community art than farming. We want to be able to replicate our model and grow into other neighborhoods. More people should be able to come together in their own community through food.” Visit theblackradishmpls.com to learn about membership levels. Pricing reflects The Black Radish’s goal to provide equitable access to membership. Become a sponsor to fund tools, plot conversion, and a greenhouse to extend their growing season. Contact [email protected] for information on 2024 shares. Full feature at meettheminnesotamakers.com Comment Radish below and I’ll send you the link to the article. #urbanfarm #urbanfarming #minneapolis #minneapolismn #sustainablefarming #csa

Growing Communities Inc./ Crop Swap LA is a majority BIPOC-and-women-led agricultural non-profit organization that operates micro farms in the urban neighborhoods of Leimert Park and Crenshaw in Southern Los Angeles, CA. Crop Swap LA is implementing innovative projects, transforming underutilized spaces for efficient food production using rainwater harvesting and sustainable farming practices to bring food access, environmental, and economic benefits to local residents. With a $5,000 grant they will develop a new micro farm site that will allow them to grow an additional 5,000 pounds of food every year, increasing the amount of food distributed across the 75 families currently on the organization’s member list. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4an0SpI

Honoring Our Harvesters: Celebrating the Vital Role of Farmers Farmers are the backbone of our food system, yet their work often goes unappreciated. By celebrating their achievements and raising awareness about the importance of farming, we can give farmers the recognition they deserve and help raise their social status. Know more about what land acquisition may bring to you here: 🍃 https://lnkd.in/gGvYYmKW #FarmLand #JAMLandRealty

On the latest episode of Down to Earth, Mike Bollinger, executive director of Seed Savers Exchange, joins us to discuss the small nonprofit that's making a big difference. For a half century, they've been saving seeds, getting them out into gardens, telling their stories — and cultivating biodiversity that has been badly diminished with the rise of corporate agriculture and seed production. It may seem counterintuitive, but the best way to save seeds is to plant them, according to Mike Bollinger. While the non-profit does maintain a seed bank, much of their work is devoted to getting seeds out into the world, into gardens and farms where they can thrive and multiply — and nourish those who grow and share them. Located in Decorah, Iowa, Seed Savers has a large farm where they cultivate genetic diversity, including vegetables, flowers, fruits, and even heritage livestock. You can get and share seeds through their exchange and their seed catalog. Listen now: https://lnkd.in/gC3zXCQm

🌱 Farmer Spotlight 🌱 Meet Cindy and Steven Scott, the faces behind Glen Elgin, a property in the Lower Slopes region of the Riverina. They manage a number of properties in the Lower Slopes region of the Riverina, and the majority of their income is from cattle, particularly the sale of seedstock breeding cattle. Their home property is Glen Elgin with others close by at Henty and Munyabla. The Scotts face challenges of erosion from previous extensive clearing on the farm, as well as severe droughts. To achieve a sustainable business in these conditions, they manage stocking rates to reduce pressure on the land, and undertaking practices to increase landscape rehydration, such as planting trees. As part of the Riverina project, they are planting native shelterbelts with a mix of trees and shrubs across the farm. Beyond the aesthetic contribution to the farm, they have chosen this practice to offer sun and shade protection to their Angus cattle, create extensive wildlife habitat, and provide erosion control. Joining the Riverina Drought Resilient Soils and Landscapes projet is helping them to achieve their commitment to 10% revegetation and a diverse farm ecosystem. As part of the project, they are also implementing a soil monitoring program and making in-field observations to track changes over time. Read their story https://loom.ly/7WofUJs And subscribe to our newsletter to stay tuned as Bert and Liz share more about their progress and insights in early 2024! This project has received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Local Land Services NSW Sustainable Farms #FutureDroughtFund #regenerative #riverina #soils #farming #soilhealth #soilsforlife