If we continue to live vertically, we should begin to grow vertically. Vertical Farming shares this idea at the core of it’s philosophy, it occupies less space than horizontal farming and has the potential to be as beneficial if not more, than traditional forms of farming.

If we look at the tags indicating where our food is grown, we would realize that a lot of what we eat is either shipped or flown to us from different states and many different countries. The amount of energy that these modes of transportation use and the number of trips needed to deliver our food grows as our population grows. The increasing development of urban centers leaves less and less room for the growth of vegetation in our cities. This begs for a solution like the one brought forth by professor Dickson Despommier at Columbia University with his concept of vertical farming.

Until now there are several proposed projects for vertical farming in the U.S., in places like Seattle, Las Vegas (of all places), New York, and cities outside the U.S. like Toronto in Canada.

What about Boston?
Thankfully a lot of people in Boston are conscientious about where they buy their food. There are shopping centers like Harvest Co-op which buys products from local farmers and is a drop-off for CSA’s. We can’t forget Re-Vision Urban Farm in Dorchester, which we highlighted in our previous blog. Then of course, you have the Farmers Markets scattered around greater Boston which take place from May to November. Our local market is in Copley Square, but there are plenty in other neighborhoods. There are also websites like Boston Community Change which promote local small businesses.

Boston is a city that would welcome and benefit greatly from one of these projects. Having a self sustaining vertical farm to feed the urban population is something that more cities will be looking into as populations increase, and the cost of food rises. Although there are no set proposals for vertical farming in the city of Boston yet, we believe its only a matter of time before Boston has it’s first self sustaining vertical farm!

Today members of the down:2:earth team took a field trip to reVision Urban Farm, we met with Matt Kochka, the farm manager who was kind enough to answer some of our questions and gave us a little tour. Arriving at the farm we saw a vast patch of land covered with green vegetables, this scene contrasted with the Dorchester triple deckers surrounding the plot and the McMansions that are being constructed just a block away. Farms in town – what a concept!

The main mission of the farm is to give shelter and hope to pregnant and parenting homeless women. Matt said that the average stay lasts from six to eighteen months. With that mission in mind, they have managed to do so much more than give hope. They grow organic food that is then sold to locals at discount prices, benefiting the local community. The woman staying at the house can help tend to the garden and gain important working skills. The food served at the house is healthy. Local volunteers can gain a greater sense of community and experience an urban farm. reVision is able to earn 20% of it’s funding from the sales of produce.

After noting the significance of this income, Matt pointed out that they still need donations from individuals and labor from volunteers to survive. NOTE: Wednesdays are a great day to volunteer a few hours at the farm. Since they sell their produce on Thursdays, Wednesdays are busy preparing and much help is needed. Nathalie and Lorelei are looking into their busy urban schedules to see if they can get down to their roots once a week.

The farm grows collards, lettuce, tomatoes, squash, rasberries, carrots, sweet potatoes, and kale. They also have two green houses where we found Rachel Cory, their intern for the summer. We interrupted her while she was thinning seeds to plant mustard and lettuce. She is currently attending Bryan Mawr, enrolled in a program called Growth and Structure of cities, where she learns about issues of urban planning, economics and sociology. (Phew – someone is looking into this!) Her internship has been six months long and she said that she has enjoyed it very much.

Rachel and Matt both like having the opportunity to reach out to the community. The work they do at the farm is complicated in some ways, but in others it seems so fundamental. With the rise in food prices and health issues from pesticides and processed foods, this farm seems like a no-brainer. Why is it so unique? Well, it is a bit complicated and someone has to run it and fund it. If you want to donate – the parent organization is Victory Programs. You can donate right on their website.

We were very inspired by the initiative at the farm, which has been around for over a decade. We hope to go back in a couple of weeks and volunteer at the farm. Matt said that volunteers are always welcomed and participation is encouraged. You learn skills on how to grow your vegetables, and learn valuable life skills that benefit those that are interested in sustainability. And of course, you are part of a community when you volunteer. You meet interesting people and expand your world.

Thanks to the Harvest Coop e-mail newsletter, we are able to pass on the following local events.

1) Leave your car at home and reap the benefits with Go Green Streets
2) Join your community to help weatherize a neighbor’s house
(yours could be next)
3) Jump on the bus and visit the Red Fire Farm Tomato Festival
4) Expose your kid to gardening at the Growing Center Playgroup
5) Put on your best bamboo shirt and attend the Boston Vegitarian Society Dinner

1) GO GREEN STREETS
Leave your car at home on August 29! WEAR GREEN and COMMUTE GREEN (walk, bike, bus, carpool)! Check out our website for this month’s raffle items (including a $15 gift certificate at Harvest Coop) and discounts at other local businesses for those who participate! www.GoGreenStreets.org for more info or to sign up your company or school!

2) WEATHERIZATION BARN-RAISING
At the home of Steve Miller and Sally Benbasset
Sunday, August 10 3:00–6:00pm
92-96 Henry Street, Cambridge

If the federal government won’t cut carbon, let’s do it ourselves!
- Help to weatherize a neighbor’s home (a skill you can take back to your own home), while you party with neighbors.
- Learn how to install pipe insulation, a programmable thermostat and more.
- Meet the brand-new CEO of Cambridge Energy Alliance in his first public appearance. Ask him about the direction of the Energy Alliance while drinking lime rickeys!
- Enjoy live music and pizza.

A group of Cambridge-area residents has come together to form an Energy Co-op. Our goal is to work together to make our neighborhoods more energy efficient. We are also exploring possibilities for district energy systems in which neighbors share renewable local energy.
We’re looking for the next home to weatherize. You supply the materials and pizza. We do the work. Come talk to us about it.

For more information contact Steve Morr-Wineman at swineman@gis.net.

3) RED FIRE FARM TOMATO FESTIVAL
TOMATO FESTIVAL – Red Fire Farm has been putting on a tomato tasting for eight years now, and it’s grown into a huge event on the farm with three live bands, four chefs, crafters, local producers with samples, food vendors, 75 tomato varieties to taste and lots more going on. A highly recommended time to visit the farm!

Saturday, August 23rd, 12-5pm
Barn Contradance (with some of the members of Wild Asparagus, I hear!) 7:30-10:30pm
Check out the Tomato Festival page of the website for more details.

4) GROWING CENTER PLAYGROUP
Every Friday through August 29 (except July 4); 10 am-noon
Play! Play! Play!…at our drop-in playgroup. For children age 0-5 years of age and their caretakers. For more information, contact Aileen Bellwood at 617-623-0097 or growingcenter@aol.com

5) BOSTON VEGETARIAN SOCIETY DINNER
Join the Boston Vegetarian Society at Veggie Planet for a delicious four-course vegan dinner among friends new and old.

MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 2008
Veggie Planet, 47 Palmer Street in Club Passim
Harvard Square, Cambridge

6:40 PM – Arrive, check-in, socialize
7:00 PM – Chef Amy Swanson introduces the menu
7:10 PM – Dinner begins

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.
Please email Info@BostonVeg.org and give name(s).
“Plethora of Zucchini” MENU – using the freshest locally grown ingredients available.
- Salad of Zucchini and Yellow Squash Ribbons with a Fresh Herb Vinaigrette
- Chilled Zucchini Soup topped with Fried Basil Leaves
- Entrée of Baked Stuffed Zucchini with a White Bean, Local Bread and Herb Filling accompanied by a Farm Fresh Tomato Ragu
- Dessert of Chocolate Zucchini Cake and a Special Non-Zucchini Surprise

No animal ingredients
$25 includes tax and beverage. Service is extra. Pay on site after the meal. Cash or check (made out to Veggie Planet) only; No credit cards.

Meet others in BVS – never hesitate to arrive alone to a BVS dinner!

Love all the great things happening in our area!

Warning: This is a warm-and-fuzzy blog entry.

While visiting friends in San Francisco we went to their local farmers market. (Note: We drove in their spiffy hybrid. Quite a different experience from Ted’s truck.) This is a great way to get a taste of the local culture while also helping your friends with one of their weekly chores. I have been shopping at farmers markets since my mom introduced me to the concept while growing up in Portsmouth NH. As an adult I have come to realize that the beauty of going to the farmers market goes far beyond the healthy and delicious food that you bring home for your family. You get to meet the farmers and their families, generally they are outdoors, the selections change each week and there are often other cool vendors or street performers to add to the flavor of the event.

Reasons to shop at the Farmer’s Market:
1. Mom says so!
2. The food is fresh and delicious (healthy).
3. You are supporting your local farmers.
4. You can talk to the farmers about organic produce and pesticide use.
5. You will likely have fun while shopping.

Below are a few photos from the market – and our most excellent meal that followed.

We finally had our wrap-up board meeting for D2E 2008 at Lineage restaurant in Brookline. Great food and conversation kept us smiling and entertained all night. All of the hard work to make D2E happen pays off when you hear stories from attendees that left the show empowered and ready to start making changes in their every day lives. We all worked hard to bring top notch exhibitors to the show and to keep our educational programming unbiased and relevant to the everyday consumer.

PHOTO: Starting with the exceptionally talented man on the left and working our way around the table, we have: Peter Nobile, Julie Roper, Terry Swack, Andrea Atkinson, Lorelei Grazier, Ilene Bezahler, Nina Berger, Betty Fulton, Dan Ruben and Jen Baldwin.

A big thanks to our amazing board – and we look forward to the next year! Stay tuned.