Justice Begins with Seeds

On October 13, Vandana Shiva returns to San Francisco to present A Global Citizens Report on the State of GMOs (details in events listing below).

Vandana Shiva (http://www.vandanashiva.org/)
Vandana Shiva & event organizer Miguel Robles (http://biosafetyalliance.org/)
Ignacio Chapela of UC Berkeley (http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/chapelalab/)
Marcia Ishii-Eiteman of Pesticide Action Network North America (http://www.panna.org/). Read Marcia's coverage at http://www.panna.org/blog/seeding-justice-cultivating-democracy.

“Current Legal Climate & Challenges Surrounding GMO Crops” presentation by attorneys Daniel B. Rachiver (http://www.pubpat.org/), Rebecca Spector (http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/) & Philip Heiselmann (http://www.sustainablefoodlaw.com/).
Adam Scow of Food & Water Watch (has excellent backgrounder on GMO food at http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/reports/genetically-engineered-food/) & Ashley Schaefer of Rainforest Action Network outside sunny Valencia St. after their presentation on “Building a Powerful Political Campaign Against the Corporate Control of Seeds: Learning From Other Contexts.” Read Ashley's coverage at http://understory.ran.org/2011/09/21/justice-begins-with-seeds/
Label GMOs
Lunch
Jorge Molina of Peru
South Central Farmers (http://southcentralfarmers.com/)
“Counteracting Food Industry with Ethnic Diversification & Alternative Market Forces” panel discussion with Michael Dimock (http://rootsofchange.org/), Tezo (http://southcentralfarmers.com/), Maria Catalan (http://cuesa.org/farm/catalán-family-farm) & Cesar Gonzalez (http://mandelamarketplace.org/)

“Agricultural Diversity & Real Solutions We Need” panel discussion with Michael Dimock, Adelita San Vincente, Miguel Altieri (http://agroeco.org/) & Miguel Robles

Olivia Chumacero of Everything is Medicine Ceremony & Seed Give-A-Way
For The Free Farm, picked up some non-GE seed packets with the following descriptions: "Fava Beans (Vicia faba) can be eaten while still young & tender, raw or cooked; also can be fried, causing skin to split open, salted &/or spiced to produce savory crunchy snack; popular in China, Colombia, Peru (habas saladas), Mexico (habas con chile) & Thailand (where their name means "open-mouth nut"); plant fixes nitrogen in soil if you cut down plant when it starts flowering. Pipicha (Porophyllum tagetoides) edible as fresh uncooked green; allow seedheads to dry on plants before removing them & collecting seeds; indigenous communities use Pipicha against bacterial infections, as well as for liver cleansing & detoxification."
Non-GE Alfalfa (Medicago sativa): "edible fresh & great as juice; high in protein, calcium, other minerals, vitamins B, C, E & K; young alfalfa leaves treat disorders related to digestive tract & kidneys; cooling poultice made from seeds can be used to treat boils."
Jeffrey Smith (http://www.responsibletechnology.org/)
“Shifting Industrial Food Regime with Community Based Solutions” panel discussion with Robert Morrison & Oscar Grande (http://www.podersf.org/), John Wick (http://marincarbonproject.org/)
Doria Robinson (http://www.urbantilth.org/) & Aaron Lehmer (http://www.baylocalize.org/)
Mari Margil of Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (http://www.celdf.org/)
Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin (http://www.mayorgayle.net/) on "Political Commitments & Engagements for Alternative Food System" Event organizer Karen Swift (http://biosafetyalliance.org/)
The Free Farmers Pancho & Lynn (also Getup classmate). Read Lynn's coverage at http://lynnfang.com/2011/10/justice-begins-with-seeds-the-magic-begins/
Dinner

October is non-GMO month (http://www.nongmomonth.org/)

Thurs., Oct. 13, 2011, 12 noon A Global Citizens Report on the State of GMOs: False Promises, Failed Technologies
City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton D. Goodlett Pl, SF
Press conference featuring Dr. Vandana Shiva, elected officials and other speakers. Invitation to the presentation of the West Coast launch of The Global Citizens Report on the State of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms)— False Promises, Failed Technologies and West Coast Right2KnowMarch. Contact: Miguel Robles, 415.368.1891

Thurs., Oct. 13, 2011, 7-9 pm A Global Citizens Report on the State of GMOs: False Promises, Failed Technologies
San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center, 401 Van Ness Ave., SF
Published by Navdanya (India), Navdanya International, the International Commission on the Future of Food with the participation of the Center for Food Safety and contributions from other partners and groups around the world. Speakers: Dr. Vandana Shiva, Philosopher, Environmental Activist and Eco Feminist. Debbie Barker, International Program Director, Center for Food Safety. Miguel Altieri, Associate Professor of Agroecology at UC Berkeley and Associate Entomologist. These new reports highlight scientific research and empirical experiences from around the globe demonstrating how genetically modified (GM) seeds and crops have failed to deliver its advertised promises. The reports document and expose how contrary to the myths of feeding the world and protecting food and environmental safety, GMOs have increased the prevalence of herbicide resistant 'superweeds' and pests, have led to farmer debt and suicides from the high price of seeds, have degraded ecosystems and have benefitted the corporate industry while failing to increase food production. The reports further illustrate the alternative solutions we need to see real food security, just agricultural systems, and outline how we can act together to see this necessary transition. RSVP at http://globalstateofgmos.eventbrite.com/

Fri., Oct. 14-Mon., Oct. 17 West Coast Right2KnowMarch from SF to Sacramento
Fri., Oct. 14 at 9 am, depart San Francisco from the BART station at 24th & Mission, our first stop, will be in around 10:00 AM. In West Oakland, from there we will ride to the Rising Sun Entrepreneurs/ La Placita Commercial Kitchen in Oakland, where we will have a presentation and around 1 pm we will go to City Hall to Deliver the Report to Mayor Jean Quan's Office.
Around 1:00 PM we will be at Peoples Park in Berkeley to have a gathering and Berkeley University to pass some stickers and flyers, then we will walk to the City Hall where some members of the California Biosafety Alliance are arranging a meeting with a City Council Member, we will drop a report at the Mayor's office.
Around 4:00 PM, we will ride to The City of Richmond, where we will be making a presentation at a urban garden, then we will give a report to Mayor Gayle McLaugin and maybe we will screen a movie during the evening. We will stay over in Richmond.
Sat., Oct. 15 during the morning, we will cross Vallejo Bridge and the plan is to meet with people in Vallejo, Vacaville, Fairfield, Davis. We don't have anything confirmed yet in this area, so it would be good to have local contacts if you have.
Sun., Oct. 16 during the morning, we are riding to Sacramento to join the rally.
Mon., Oct. 17, we are delivering the report at Governor's Jerry Brown office.
Contact: Miguel Perez, 415.240.1697

Sun., Oct. 16, 2011 World Food Day Rallies for the Right to Know About Genetically Engineered Foods
More than 90% of Americans want to know when we’re eating genetically engineered (GE) food. Up to 80% of non-organic food on our shelves contains a GE ingredient. We’re concerned, and rightly so.
Much of the rest of the world — including Japan, Australia, the European Union and China — require GE foods to be clearly labeled. But in the U.S., biotech companies like Monsanto enjoy unfettered and unlabeled access to the market.
If almost everyone wants them, why aren't there labels on GE foods? Because we haven't yet built up a large enough movement to force companies, grocery stores, and elected public officials to bend to the peoples' will. That's what OCA's Millions Against Monsanto campaign is all about.
We have an opportunity now to greatly increase involvement and action in the Millions Against Monsanto campaign for labels on GE foods.
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_23862.cfm

Tues., Oct. 18, 2011, 5-7 pm “Our Daily Poison” screening
Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley, 2607 Hearst Ave., Berkeley
Meet muckraking documentarian and The World According to Monsanto author Marie-Monique Robin in U.S. premier of her latest documentary. “Our Daily Poison” (http://icarusfilms.com/new2011/pois.html) is a documentary film that reveals a broken safety system concerned more with protecting trade secrets than human health. The film shows that the main cause of the epidemic of cancer and neurological diseases is environmental: it is the result of the 100,000 chemical molecules that have invaded our environment, and primarily our food, since the end of the Second World War.
https://www.foodfirst.org/en/Our+Daily+Poison

We are the 99%

After checking in with workday leader Hannah, I began harvesting kale while enjoying this mural panel illustrating our food sharing

Even with the Blue Angels noisily flying overhead today, The Free Farm remains a sanctuary. Great to return to The Free Farm after a 3-week absence: attending Justice Begins with Seeds conference during Hunger Challenge Week (I survived!) and then conducting nutrition education outreach at Bayview Health Fair (picked up lots of info on asthma!) and World Veg Festival were intense and a bit crowded, but I’m passionate about promoting public health and meeting like-minded souls so there I went.

Sharing food gets complicated

During my absence, it seemed no news was good news at The Free Farm. But there was a bit of drama at our sibling Free Farm Stand. On the last day of the Justice Begins with Seeds conference, Pancho showed up and mentioned that Parks and Rec wanted Free Farm Stand to vacate Parque Ninos Unidos because it lacked a permit. What?! After operating for the past 3 years, why would Parks and Rec suddenly seek to enforce the permit requirement? To collect a permit fee? Government agencies are so short-staffed that they usually wait to receive complaints before taking action.

In these times of rising food prices and poverty, Free Farm Stand is providing food to anyone willing to stand in line. Apparently, SF Chronicle’s mention of Free Farm Stand in a front page article about crop swaps over Labor Day weekend attracted more people to form the longer queue that was crowding the park so complaints were made to Parks and Rec. Next, SF Health Department notified Tree that Free Farm Stand cannot “give away” prepared foods unless it satisfies Health Code requirements. This made me wonder why the complainants didn’t just speak directly with Tree, a very considerate person who would have reasonably addressed their concerns – just like Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood where neighbors peacefully work out their differences? I also wonder: People will stand in line for free food, but will people stand in line to grow with us at The Free Farm? I personally appreciate stuff more if I’m involved in its creation.

Nonetheless, I still support what Tree is trying to accomplish at Free Farm Stand so I contacted the best sharing lawyer, Janelle Orsi (see http://thefreefarm.blogspot.com/2011/07/imagine-sharing-all-world.html). I asked Janelle: Is “sharing food” considered a “food give-away program” subject to local health laws because it takes place in a public space and/or offered to members of the public at large? Janelle’s response included a link to http://www.nlchp.org/content/pubs/A_Place_at_the_Table.pdf with her comment “It addresses some of the barriers to feeding people for free.” Lo and behold! The Free Farm is featured on page 21 in the section, “Constructive Alternatives to Food Sharing Restrictions.” Follow http://freefarmstand.org/ blog for updates.

Pia & Daniel greet visitors to The Free Farm

Workday leader Hannah suggests activities for Newbies

Byron, Claire & volunteer care for compost piles

Byron aerates compost

Tim & Colin carry lettuce to farm stand

Snail blends in with tomato stalks (click photo to enlarge)

Our summer intern and current Stanford Glean President Tim returned to The Free Farm with fellow gleaner Colin. They brought back canvas tote bags loaded with apples (tribute to Steve Jobs!), figs and oranges gleaned the previous day from their campus.

Wrenn is the apple of father Mike's eye

Returning volunteer Kevin organized a volunteer group of 15 from SF Newbies Meetup http://www.meetup.com/San-Francisco-Newbies/events/34955722/

99% + 1% = We the People all need good food

While going around introducing ourselves before lunch, SF Newbies in the 20s Meetup organizer Kevin said “I am the 99%” (referring to 99% of Americans subject to the wealthiest 1%, who control more than 40% of the nation's wealth; see http://wearethe99percent.tumblr.com/) which got us chuckling in solidarity, “me, too!”

Our conversations began about Occupy Wall Street (OWS) and Occupy SF (http://occupysf.com/). Some critics say that OWS protestors need to make specific demands, not just list their grievances about social and economic injustices caused by corporate greed. But problem-solving involves issue identification, then analysis. OWS protestors were so thoughtful to include the following grievance relating to food: “They have poisoned the food supply through negligence, and undermined the farming system through monopolization.” (http://nycga.cc/2011/09/30/declaration-of-the-occupation-of-new-york-city/) Interesting to note that OWS protest was inspired by the Arab Spring, which was provoked partly by food inflation.

This recognition of food’s importance reminded me of Article 25 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food . . .” But while most Western governments generally recognize civil liberties and political freedom as human rights, they have not always extended the same to economic, social and cultural rights (such as the rights to food, clothing, housing and health care).

When government and corporate powers fail to provide, it's very empowering when we the people can grow our food at The Free Farm! Thanks to all our volunteers, whether you're 99% or 1%, we're all in this together because we all need to eat good food :-)

Tree chats with journalist Laura (http://twitter.com/#!/lhauta) & Betsy (returning volunteer who’s visiting from Wisconsin where she works for a seed co.)

Farm stand visitors

Clara, Luisa, Daniel, Candace, Kevin & Colin at farm stand

Pancho gives Wrenn a wheelbarrow ride

Newbies plant garlic

Newbies plant lettuce

Stanley & Sophie paint signs for compost corner

Bay School student visits The Free Farm for inspiration in starting school garden

Public Service Announcements:

Oct. 10-14, 2011 National School Lunch Week
Cooking with California Food online cookbook at http://www.ecoliteracy.org/cooking-with-california-food

Tues., Oct. 11, 2011, 5-7 pm Incubating Green Coops on a Shoestring with Timebanks
PODER, 474 Valencia #120, SF
Linda Hogan and Terry Daniels of hOur World (http://hourworld.org/) and the most prolific Timebank in the US - Hour Exchange Portland have been developing green worker coop microenterprises and community projects for many years on a shoestring using Timebanks to provide the social capital. Their home weatherization program renovates 1000 low income homes per year in Portland, Maine and trains unskilled workers for high paying green worker coop jobs. Join us for a revolutionary presentation on how to create empowering jobs from the bottom up. Free and open to the public, please distribute this announcement widely. For more info, contact mira@sfbace. org.

Tues., Oct. 11, 2011, 7-9 pm Frances Moore Lappé Cultivating the EcoMind to Transform Our Food System Lessons learned from 40 years of the Food Movement
Memorial Auditorium, Stanford University, Stanford
Free registration at http://foodsummit.stanford.edu/

Thurs., Oct. 13, 2011, A Global Citizens Report on the State of GMOs: False Promises, Failed Technologies
http://globalstateofgmos.eventbrite.com/

Fri., Oct. 14, 2011 at 9 am–3:30 pm Viewing Party: Harvesting Change: Farmworker Rights
Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland.
The first ever TEDxFruitvale conference (an independently organized TED event http://www.tedxfruitvale.org/) focused on Farmworker Rights. "Harvesting Change" will bring together farmworkers, farmers, activists, artists, students, professors, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs to celebrate the people upon whom we depend to harvest our food. In three sessions, titled Meet, Movement, and Money, 18 speakers will provide a 360-degree view of farmworkers today and throughout history; compare labor's progress with other social justice movements; and end by discussing fair labor practices from a business standpoint. Three special musical guests will perform for each session. Sponsored by the Bon Appetit Management Company Foundation. You are invited to attend the viewing party, hosted by the Institute for Civic Leadership, Office of Student Activities, Diversity & Social Justice Resource Center, Lokey Net Impact at Mills College, the Mills Botanic Garden. As the conference itself is already filled up, this viewing party gives you the chance to view the conference live and be part of the discussion. Free, but you must RSVP at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dHhPT003WVJwSFBzSFNsQ3poYmZJVlE6MQ#gid=0

Om, Great Space!

On September 17, when Occupy Wall Street began to protest corporate greed, Kris took these cool photos of The Free Farm. Just viewing these photos reminded me how nature can bring serenity into an intense world.
















According to Clare Cooper Marcus, professor emerita in landscape architecture at UC Berkeley, nature helps reduce stress because it puts our mind in a state similar to meditation. Think Om, as in Organic matter :o) in our compost!

Plus, The Free Farm meets her criteria for a Great Space (http://www.pps.org/articles/grplacefeat/): it’s “accessible; people are engaged in activities there; the space is comfortable and has a good image; and finally, it is a sociable place: one where people meet each other and take people when they come to visit.”