Joining the People's Garden Project
The first People Garden will be organic said,
Sec of Ag Tom Villsack,
"and it will be organic. We will not use
fertilzers, or pesticides." Secretary of Agriculture
Tom Vilsack said when he broke ground on the first
People Garden.
I want to make sure that the original intent of
the People's Garden Project Initiative
does not lose its compass in light of recent
events, including the Deregulation of Genetically Engineered Alfalfa
and other crops.
In joining forces between each of being an Organic Uprising,
I want to align and support the People's Garden Project Initiative
in staying organic. My sense is that we have reached a tipping
point where each of us are being asked to regain our beat with
nature. This comes even growing a single organic beet in a pot.
We need to return to being a nation of gardeners.
In doing so, we will make correct choices in harmony with
nature.
Standing Up for Nature's Original Technology--
this is the message for now.
Date: 4/15/2011 2:43:43 PM ( 13 y ) ... viewed 1595 times
I set out to join the People's Garden Project Initative
today. Our Enchanted Garden Intentional Community
qualities on the three counts that we provide food for wildlife,
we are a collaborative garden, and ...we do composting....
We are also organic....these needs to be underscored,
as this was the intent of the first garden;
however, because we are a private residence,
we do not qualify.
I would like to see this redefined....
I want to see a nation of gardeners,
even one pot an Enchanted Gardener does make!
I FEEL WE HAVE LOST OUR BEAT WITH NATURE
I am having stress...justaposing the recent
deregulation of Alfalfa from the President's desk
with the thought that these gardens are intended
to be organic.
There truly needs to a Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Food.
I need to talk to the president about this.
I am going to call Jerome Ringo about this now.
He is a friend of the president...
Biotechnology
Welcome to the USDA's Agricultural Biotechnology Website
USDA supports the safe and appropriate use of science and technology, including biotechnology, to help meet agricultural challenges and consumer needs of the 21st century. USDA plays a key role in assuring that products produced using biotechnology are safe to be grown and used in the United States. Once these products enter commerce, USDA supports bringing these and other products to the worldwide marketplace. For the USDA Agricultural Biotechnology website click here for information on:
"As we celebrate National Gardening Month,
there’s no better time to reiterate how important agriculture
is to our economy and our diets —
even the kind in your own backyard."
--Tom Vilsack, Sec of Ag
DATABASE OF PEOPLE'S GARDEN PROJECTS
Those beginning a People’s Garden can also request a sign.
To view the interactive People’s Garden map and access the database, go to http://www.pubinfo.usda.gov/garden
Note: Gardens located at private residences are NOT eligible to become People's Gardens.
Our garden here would not quality for this reason....
but the New Root Community IRC Farm would.
Community Gardens would....
OUCH!
2:04 pm
April 15, 2011
I am having stress attempted to justapose
the intent of the People's Garden Initiative
that aimed to be organic with the recent
Deregulation of Alfalfa....
I want to join The People's Garden Initative
here at home....
I would like a friend in the USDA that I can talk to
to get updates...
JOINING THE PEOPLE's GARDEN PROJECT
I See and Seed that the People's garden Project
be aligned with Standing Up for Nature's Original Technology,
each of us an Organic Uprising!
INTENTION:
THE PEOPLE GARDEN INITIATIVE
WOULD BE ORGANIC
Q: What will be planted in the vegetable garden?
A. USDA will plant several types of organic vegetables, culinary and medicinal herbs and pollinator friendly plants. Because the garden also is an educational demonstration, USDA will plant some unique types of fibers, such as the flax plant used to make linen, and grains, such as sorghum and millet, to raise public awareness regarding agriculture.
In early spring, USDA has planted organic cool weather crops. Specifically, broccoli, kale, collards, seed radishes, cilantro, parsley, seed carrots, seed parsnips, hull peas, sugar snap peas, lettuces, beets, chard and spinach. Other organic crops are planned for late spring, late summer and mid-Fall.
Q. Will the vegetable garden be organic?
A. Yes, the vegetable garden will be organic. USDA has begun the process to have the vegetable garden certified organic. The process typically takes 3 years to complete. During this time, USDA will share the steps of this process and actions being undertaken to help raise awareness about organic standards and develop educational tools to assist farmers in the certification process.
The organic vegetable garden demonstrates what individuals can do to embrace organic practices and healthy eating regardless of where they live or work. The People's Garden illustrates container gardens for small urban spaces, raised beds for community plots and larger field plantings for schools, institutions and farms. USDA is planning to replicate many of these garden features at USDA properties throughout the United States.
FIRST PEOPLE'S GARDEN SETS AN INTENTION TO BE ORGANIC
"...and It will be organic, We will not use
fertilzers, or pesticides." " said Sec of Ag Tom Villsack
at the ground breaking ceremony for the First People's Garden
at the USDA.
eb 13, 2009
Groundbreaking of "The People's Garden" at USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack speaks about how The People's Garden will help reduce pollution to the Chesapeake Bay.
KATHLEEN MERRIGAN
A VOICE FOR FARM TO SCHOOL WITHIN THE USDA
12:43 pm
April 15, 2011
ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today "broke pavement" on the inaugural USDA The People's Garden during a ceremony on the grounds of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) commemorating the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln. The Secretary declared the stretch of pavement permanently closed and returned back to green, and encouraged other Administration officials and the general public to join in to protect the Chesapeake watershed.
"It is essential for the federal government to lead the way in enhancing and conserving our land and water resources," said Vilsack. "President Obama has expressed his commitment to responsible stewardship of our land, water and other natural resources, and one way of restoring the land to its natural condition is what we are doing here today - "breaking pavement" for The People's Garden."
The dedication comes on the 200th anniversary of the birth of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln founded the Department of Agriculture in 1862 and referred to it as "The People's Department" in his last annual message to Congress.
The commemoration of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial is only the first step in the Department of Agriculture's celebration of President Lincoln's life. During today's ceremony, Secretary Vilsack announced the goal of creating a community garden at each USDA facility worldwide. The USDA community garden project will include a wide variety of garden activities including Embassy window boxes, tree planting, and field office plots. The gardens will be designed to promote "going green" concepts, including landscaping and building design to retain water and reduce runoff; roof gardens for energy efficiency; utilizing native plantings and using sound conservation practices.
The USDA People's Garden announced today will eliminate 1,250 square feet of unnecessary paved surface at the USDA headquarters and return the landscape to grass. The changes signal a removal of impervious surfaces and improvement in water management that is needed throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
The new garden will add 612 square feet of planted space to an existing garden traditionally planted with ornamentals. The garden will showcase conservation practices that all Americans can implement in their own backyards and green spaces. As a component of the garden, pollinator-friendly plantings will not only provide important habitat for bees and butterflies, but can serve as an educational opportunity to help people understand the vital role pollinators play in our food, forage and all agriculture. The garden plot is adjacent to the site of the USDA Farmer's Market.
About 100,000 streams and rivers thread through the Chesapeake's 64,000-square-mile watershed, which is home to almost 17 million people in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, New York and the District of Columbia. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in North America, with a length of 200 miles and 11,684 miles of tidal shoreline, more than the entire U.S. West Coast. The Chesapeake Bay supports more than 3,600 species of plants, fish and animals.
USDA leads efforts on public and private lands to help reduce the impact of nutrient and sediment pollution on wildlife habitat, forest lands and water quality, as well as supporting community involvement in managing natural resources, urban green space and land stewardship. For more information about USDA, the People's Garden, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and other conservation and agriculture related programs available in local communities, visit a USDA Service Center or go to the USDA Web page at http://www.usda.gov.
Complementary education materials such as the distance-learning project MonarchLIVE and partnerships with schools and the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign which will extend the impact and reach of the USDA garden initiative are available at http://na.fs.fed.us/spfo/ce/content/special/links/index.cfm.
And backyard conservation and other materials also can be obtained by dialing 1-888-LANDCARE.
fROM THE APPLICATION
Regardless of type or size, each People's Garden must meet the same eligibility requirements. Before adding your garden to the database, please review the three criteria listed below to ensure your garden meets the eligibility requirements.
1. Benefits the Community: Gardens can benefit communities in many different ways, such as:
Creating spaces for leisure or recreation
Fostering pride through beautification
Providing a harvest to a local food bank,
Providing food or shelter for wildlife
Serving as a demonstration site to educate the public and raise awareness of issues such as:
natural resource conservation, nutrition, healthy eating, sustainable agriculture, forestry, etc
Other
2. Is a Collaborative Effort:
The garden was created and/or is maintained by a partnership of individuals, groups, organizations, state or federal agencies.
3. Incorporates Sustainable Practices: The garden must include practices that nurture, protect
or enhance natural resources, such as but not limited to:
Utilizing rain barrels for irrigation, or using water efficient irrigation systems
Xeriscaping
Composting, mulching, or use of cover crops
Planting native species
Encouraging beneficial insects
Erosion control
Stormwater management
Other
Note: Gardens located at private residences are NOT eligible to become People's Gardens.
Before proceeding with your application, you must certify that the garden(s) you would like to enter in the database meet the necessary criteria to be recognized as a People's Garden and that you can provide the supporting information. You will be asked for more detailed inforamtion later in the process. There is no cost associated with any part of this application or registering your garden. You will receive an email regarding your application that will provide more information and instructions on next steps.
Thank you for being a partner in this effort.
SHIFTING THE NATURE OF OUR WORLD
MY MEETING WITH DR. ROBERT FRALEY...
The Father of Round Up Ready...
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