Sustainable agriculture Sustainable agriculture viability projectviability project

inspired by the Agenda 21 preambleinspired by the Agenda 21 preamble

► Humanity stands at a defining moment in history. We are Humanity stands at a defining moment in history. We are confronted with a perpetuation of disparities between and confronted with a perpetuation of disparities between and within nations, a worsening of poverty, hunger, ill health and within nations, a worsening of poverty, hunger, ill health and illiteracy, and the continuing deterioration of the ecosystems illiteracy, and the continuing deterioration of the ecosystems on which we depend for our well-being. on which we depend for our well-being.

► However, integration of environment and development However, integration of environment and development concerns and greater attention to them will lead to the concerns and greater attention to them will lead to the fulfillment of basic needs, improved living standards for all, fulfillment of basic needs, improved living standards for all, better protected and managed ecosystems and a safer, more better protected and managed ecosystems and a safer, more prosperous future. prosperous future.

► No nation can achieve this on its own; but together we can - in No nation can achieve this on its own; but together we can - in a global partnership for sustainable development (UN a global partnership for sustainable development (UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2004, 1.1).  Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2004, 1.1).  

Social MovementsSocial Movementsproducing producing alternative alternative products, products, outlets, and outlets, and farming farming techniques techniques have been have been defined by defined by various various researchers: researchers: sustainable sustainable agriculture agriculture (Allen et al (Allen et al 1991; 1991; Hassanein Hassanein 1999), 1999), alternative alternative food initiatives food initiatives (AFIs) (Allen et (AFIs) (Allen et al 2003), civic al 2003), civic agriculture agriculture (Lyson 2004).(Lyson 2004).

Gordon Whitted fromWeatherbury Station at the King’s Drive Farmer’s Market

Core beliefs Core beliefs Three concerns predominate: Three concerns predominate:

the integration of agriculture the integration of agriculture into the industrial economy, into the industrial economy, ecological degradation, ecological degradation, and social justice. and social justice.

Opposition to mechanized Opposition to mechanized agriculture, corporate agriculture, corporate domination, and domination, and globalization of agriculture globalization of agriculture are convictions held by are convictions held by members of the movement. members of the movement.

Food systems planning: Food systems planning: why is it so visionary? why is it so visionary?

PothukuchiPothukuchi and Kaufman surveyed 22 planning and Kaufman surveyed 22 planning agencies agencies and asked planners why their planning departments and asked planners why their planning departments paid so little attention to food systems. Planners paid so little attention to food systems. Planners responded as follows:responded as follows:

Significance to Planning? Significance to Planning? AwarenessAwareness

► It’s not our turf. Several planners felt that the food system It’s not our turf. Several planners felt that the food system only indirectly touched on the built environment, the only indirectly touched on the built environment, the primary area that their agencies worked on…primary area that their agencies worked on…

► It’s not an urban issue, it’s a rural issue…It’s not an urban issue, it’s a rural issue…

► The food system is driven primarily by the private market...The food system is driven primarily by the private market...

► Planning agencies aren’t funded to do food system Planning agencies aren’t funded to do food system planning…planning…

► If it ain’t broke, why fix it?If it ain’t broke, why fix it? (Pothukuchi and Kaufman 2000, 116-117)(Pothukuchi and Kaufman 2000, 116-117)

Justification for Sustainable Justification for Sustainable Agriculture Promotion in NC: Agriculture Promotion in NC:

►In 2004 North Carolina lead the In 2004 North Carolina lead the nation with 3000 farms lost nation with 3000 farms lost

►In 2005 North Carolina lost 1,000 In 2005 North Carolina lost 1,000 farms, tying Florida and Alabama farms, tying Florida and Alabama for losing the most farms in the for losing the most farms in the country (NCDA&CS 2007). country (NCDA&CS 2007).

PurposePurposeThe intention of this The intention of this study was to assess study was to assess

the state of the the state of the sustainable sustainable agriculture agriculture

movement and movement and perceptions of perceptions of

community food community food systems from within systems from within the movement, and the movement, and from planners and from planners and policy makers in policy makers in North CarolinaNorth Carolina

MethodsMethods► Because of the limited scope of this project, Because of the limited scope of this project,

twelve people were interviewed: none were twelve people were interviewed: none were planners or policy makers. planners or policy makers.

► The group included six farmers who were also The group included six farmers who were also vendors, two local businessmen, a farmer’s vendors, two local businessmen, a farmer’s market manager, a non-profit program market manager, a non-profit program coordinator, a county extension agent, and coordinator, a county extension agent, and an office facility supervisor. an office facility supervisor.

► Before commencing with the interview Before commencing with the interview process, permission to conduct the study was process, permission to conduct the study was obtained from the Internal Review Board (IRB)obtained from the Internal Review Board (IRB)

ProcedureProcedure► The first four interviews were conducted by The first four interviews were conducted by

the interviewer with paper and pencil as the the interviewer with paper and pencil as the sole recording instrument. sole recording instrument.

► All subsequent interviews were tape All subsequent interviews were tape recorded from a digital recorder at the time recorded from a digital recorder at the time of the interviews. of the interviews.

►Handwritten notes and tape recordings were Handwritten notes and tape recordings were transcribed into a single word document. transcribed into a single word document.

►General themes were selected and used for General themes were selected and used for major categorizations with a response from major categorizations with a response from each individual subject under each heading. each individual subject under each heading.

ResultsResults

This study has located, identified, and This study has located, identified, and qualifiedqualified successful local entrepreneurs in successful local entrepreneurs in the sustainable agricultural movement the sustainable agricultural movement

while tracing the while tracing the alternative distribution alternative distribution systemsystem: finding its strengths and : finding its strengths and weaknesses. weaknesses.

Matthews Community Farmer’s Market was an essential discovery.

Many special elements are there:

an authentically historic small town identity with original infrastructure, thriving small businesses, vested community team members.

ResultsResults

Tim Groody, Executive Chef at Tim Groody, Executive Chef at Sonoma Modern AmericanSonoma Modern American

Photo excerpted from Matthews Farmers Market Website, 2007

Most of all, this is a true local community, something not found easily among the many suburban neighborhoods anymore.

Ebenezer Howard’s Garden Ebenezer Howard’s Garden CitiesCities

Linked system of garden cities surrounding a larger central city whose populations are limited by farming greenbeltsfunctioning as urban growth boundaries

Matthews Community Farmer’s Market Vendors Map

Conclusions Conclusions Reserves of agricultural land in the metropolitan region will Reserves of agricultural land in the metropolitan region will

continue to diminish as prices of land continue to escalate continue to diminish as prices of land continue to escalate beyond the means of farmers beyond the means of farmers

However, there are pockets of successful small farms that are viable However, there are pockets of successful small farms that are viable and even thrivingand even thriving. .

The food system is respatializing The food system is respatializing

Food systems planning is largely absent Food systems planning is largely absent

Until pressures increase, planners will continue to deny Until pressures increase, planners will continue to deny its inclusion into their practicesits inclusion into their practices

ImplicationsImplicationsPlanners can alleviate processes causing disintegration of the Planners can alleviate processes causing disintegration of the

predominant paradigm by attenuating to social and economic forces predominant paradigm by attenuating to social and economic forces that could be harnessed, in order to facilitate sustainable developmentthat could be harnessed, in order to facilitate sustainable development

Non-hybrid seedsNon-hybrid seeds

Thanks especially toThanks especially toDavid Blackley and Pauline WoodDavid Blackley and Pauline Wood

Photo taken at Renfrow Hardware 2007

ReferencesReferences► Goins, Dana. 2007. “The Changing Composition of Farming in North Carolina.” Goins, Dana. 2007. “The Changing Composition of Farming in North Carolina.”

Charlotte, NC: UNC-Charlotte Geography Department. Charlotte, NC: UNC-Charlotte Geography Department.

► Howard, Ebeneezer. 1898. Howard, Ebeneezer. 1898. Garden Cities of Tomorrow. Garden Cities of Tomorrow. In “Bracknell Forest In “Bracknell Forest Heritage Website”. Available at: Heritage Website”. Available at: http://www.bfheritage.org.uk/library/images/md_gardencitiesoftomorrow_20050http://www.bfheritage.org.uk/library/images/md_gardencitiesoftomorrow_20050415143259.jpg415143259.jpg. Accessed on May 16, 2007.. Accessed on May 16, 2007.

► Matthews Community Farmers’ Market. 2007. “Recipes: What’s Cookin’ at Matthews Community Farmers’ Market. 2007. “Recipes: What’s Cookin’ at Market this Season”, Picture and recipe by Tim Groody. Available at: Market this Season”, Picture and recipe by Tim Groody. Available at: http://http://www.matthewsfarmersmarket.com/Recipes.htmlwww.matthewsfarmersmarket.com/Recipes.html. Accessed on October 20, . Accessed on October 20, 2007.2007.

► North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 2007. “North North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 2007. “North Carolina leads nation in loss of farms … again”. Carolina leads nation in loss of farms … again”. Available at: Available at: http://www.ncpirg.org/reports/North_Carolina_Heritage_3.pdf. Accessed on Marchttp://www.ncpirg.org/reports/North_Carolina_Heritage_3.pdf. Accessed on March 10h 10, 2007., 2007.

► Pothukuchi, Kameshwari, and Jerome L. Kaufman. 2000. “The Food System: A Pothukuchi, Kameshwari, and Jerome L. Kaufman. 2000. “The Food System: A Stranger to the Planning FieldStranger to the Planning Field..”” American Planning Association JournalAmerican Planning Association Journal 66, no. 66, no. 2: 113-124.2: 113-124.