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Urban sprawl and farms

July 27, 2009 by marian33031

Urban sprawl is a hot button issue is South Miami-Dade County. Depending on whom you speak to, they’re either strongly for it or against it. The UDB, or Urban Development Boundary, is a line drawn in Miami-Dade’s master plan that separates agriculture from suburbia. Periodically and frequently, developers petition the county and state to move the line to accommodate new development. Sometimes the line moves, sometimes it doesn’t. This dance has been going on for years. Why is the UDB important? Because it allows space for agriculture, and provides a buffer between the city and the Everglades, an important source of our drinking water. Look at Broward County. They don’t have a UDB — and count how many farms, groves and ranches remain.

Recent editorial in The Miami Herald (7/24/09):
Hold the line on development
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/1155156.html

Recent related article in the Miami Herald (6/29/09):
Infill development will help hold line
http://www.miamiherald.com/business/story/1116072.html

Posted in development, location, politics | Tagged |

Florida Small Farms Conference

July 24, 2009 by marian33031

Florida Small Farms Conference

Today is the last day to register at the regular attendee fee for the UF/IFAS Florida Small Farms Alternative Enterprises Conference in Kissimmee on August 1 and 2. You can still register after today, but you’ll pay a little more.

If you want to meet growers from Redland Organics, several of them will be presenting and/or participating on panels. On Saturday, Nick Pikarsky (Bee Heaven Farm) will give a talk on “Farm Solar Energy Applications.” On Sunday morning, Margie Pikarsky (Bee Heaven Farm) will be on the panel “Farm Enterprises to Increase Cash Flow.” Later on Sunday, Chris and Eva Worden (Worden Farm) will be on the panel “I’ll Buy from You Because…” RO members Hani Khouri of Redland Mediterranean Organics, and Gabriele Marewski of Paradise Farms will also be in attendance. Keep your eyes open for Donna Reno of Slow Food Miami, and Marty Mesh of Florida Organic Growers and Consumers Inc. (FOG).

According to the conference web site, “all Florida small farmers are faced with similar challenges of (economics: land, gas, inputs) increasing regulatory pressures, challenges of marketing, etc. so that by coming together as a diverse group, solutions can be identified.” There are six different tracks, ranging from business and marketing to horticulture to policy and regulations. If you are interested in taking your farm (or garden) to the next level, this conference will have plenty to offer.

Posted in farmer/grower | Tagged | 1 Comment »

Welcome!

July 24, 2009 by marian33031

You made the connection between food and health, and you’ve chosen to eat organic, at least some of the time. Now take the next step and connect your food to the land it came from and the people who grew it.

If you’re a South Florida locavore, you may be aware of farms in the Redland area, but you may not have had an opportunity to visit one. Now you can! This blog will document Redland Organics growers and their organic (or non-chemical) farms; and CSA members, locavores, and other interesting people in the larger landscape of local food concerns.

My name is Marian and when I ramble through Redland, I feel like I’ve come home. For several years I’ve been eating locally during season, thanks to Redland Organics CSA. Right away I fell in love with the beautiful, super-fresh vegetables and started photographing them. Next, I visited Bee Heaven Farm and met Farmer Margie and her hard working crew of volunteers and interns. Since that first visit, I’ve been coming back again and again, making friends and tasting good things, photographing veggies and filming events in and around Bee Heaven. I’ve also had the great opportunity to meet the growers of Redland Organics who provide food for the weekly CSA shares. Each and every one of them is outspoken about food, the land, or health issues. I want to share their stories using words, photos and an occasional short video.

Hopefully this blog will provide an opportunity for conversation and community among growers, CSA members and locavores. I’ve discovered that people who are attracted to local and/or organic food are passionate and knowledgeable, and have interesting things to say about food and related issues. I’ve met some of you at farmer’s market, or CSA pickup sites, or Slow Food Miami events, and I hope to meet more of you through this blog.

Originally this project was going to be a documentary film about Redland Organics CSA, thus the occasional video clips. I’ve researched and planned that project for a few years, and it might still become a film if I can raise enough funds to finish.

Posted in csa, location, locavore | Tagged , | 5 Comments »

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