The full history of Cuba’s shift to self-sufficiency with emphasis on urban agriculture…,

Peak oil and food security resources

but thinking about it as more than a business, as an attempt to get off of the grid, an attempt to build community, an attempt to do something with space that has been disregarded? yes.

The Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt corporation founded in 2004 by two Kansas City farmers dedicated to promoting urban agriculture in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Katherine Kelly (former owner of Full Circle Farm, Kansas City) and Daniel Dermitzel (former co-owner of Trailside Farm in Calhoun, Missouri) were inspired by a common vision of city farming that includes:

* small, community-based farms scattered throughout the metro, providing an abundance of fresh and healthy food to city residents,

* new opportunities for people who would like to farm and generate an income doing so,

* a new kind of urban design that turns unused, vacant and unsightly spaces to productive use and treats small-scale agriculture as an integral part of a beautiful, lively and healthy neighborhood.

To realize this vision, the Center develops training and research programs for new and experienced farmers and for city planners and community members interested in city farming. Additionally, the Center operates the Kansas City Community Farm (KCCF), a working, certified organic vegetable farm where we develop and demonstrate production practices suitable for Midwestern urban agriculture.

First of all, thanks much for putting my words out there. Much appreciated. Reading back over what I said, I now remember how ticked off I was, which is what made me dash that piece off with all that heat.

No, I’m not retracting what I said at all, but I’m glad to get a chance to emphasize a few things that may have been lost to some in the nager of what I was saying. I am not at all opposed to community gardens, and I am definitely not opposed to self-sufficiency. And the idea of turning some of these vacant lots – and other empty spaces – into productive use is verry appealing and has considerable merit. They say genius is looking at crisiss and visualizing opportunity.

Well, actually that’s what I say, but moving on…

The point is that I would never discourage any effort that is intended to uplift the community, no matter how small. Positive energy is positive energy. But gravity does exist in the real world, and we must, at some point, deal with reality. And the reality, to my way of thinking,is that we must admit our limitations. No amount of community gardens can feed an entire city of this size. To feed and clothe a full-sized urban area, we need full-sized services. And we deserve them.

I could say more, but I’ll quit here for now.

Thanks again, Lester. And by the way, I met your parents on Friday night when my wife and I were leaving River Days. Turns out your mother and my wife taught together at Spain! And your father’s a great, great guy. Really enjoyed talking to him.

Anyway…

Should all that empty space be put to good use?

there’s no “should” here, it’s only a question of “who will” put that empty space to use? and if WE don’t ACT with all due alacrity and audacity, be certain that when it IS put back into use – that WE will not enjoy the primary control or benefit that is presently in our grasp – if we would only seize the initiative..,