Nowadays, localization is combating globalization in many
ways and bringing communities throughout the United States back together. I
read about an urban farming group called Stone’s Throw Urban Farm which I found
to be a very interesting example of how localization is fighting back against
globalization.
Stone’s Throw Urban Farms have over 16 urban farm plots
located throughout the city of Minneapolis. These plots were built on old
vacant lots and the project was started as just a hobby. But now they serve a
good portion of the areas needs as far as fresh fruits and vegetables. Stone’s
Throw Urban Farms aims to change Minneapolis’s local food scene as well as the
way people look at farming.
Some cities like Chicago and Cincinnati have dealt with
decreasing population in the past few years. Stone’s Throw Urban Farms is
helping to stop this from happening in Minneapolis because they help to give an
alternative use to vacated land, beautify the land, increased supply of fresh
fruits and vegetables to the community as well as reducing energy use and transportation
costs. They stated that their goals included: “sustainability, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and
improving access to healthy, locally grown foods.” This group is really putting
a big impact on Minneapolis, by starting something like this, they can
eventually change the way the city gets their food and the way people thik
about farming in general.
This Urban Farm group is affecting the happiness of the
community as a whole. In collaboration with each other added with participation
from the members of their community, they have created something that can help
to improve their community as a whole as well as becoming much more
sustainable.
Stone’s Throw Urban Farms seem like a very interesting organization that is focused on bettering communities, especially when it comes to food and farming. I find it very interesting that this project was started more as only a hobby and now it’s an organization that aims to change the urban farming scene. It seems like this group is really trying to make a difference in the lives of the people who live in Minneapolis. This organization definitely has the ability to affect the over sustainability and happiness of the community. They are definitely making a difference in those peoples’ lives. Very interesting information again this week. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI like the Stone's Throw urban concept that you chose because it seemed to really hit home on the topic of localization combating globalization. I enjoyed the fact that these urban farms seemed to have a duel purpose; to change how people look at farming and to combat population issues. To me,this shows a successful sustainable initiative. I also liked your image this week and how you linked everything, including your images. Regarding the content, I would have loved to hear more about how collaboration and participation were incorporated into this initiative as well as to the overall happiness of the population and "new visions of sustainable daily living". Also, what are your personal thoughts about this organization, do you think it will continue to be successful? Adding some video and more textual information may add to you blog as well. I know some people are not big fans of Wikipedia so here might be a good reference to describe localization versus globalization:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.share-international.org/archives/economics/ec_ppglobal.htm
Great information this week, I look forward to reading your last blogs for the semester!