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Welcome to my page if you are reading it for the first time. I am in New York blogging on the roof top a 5 story walk up on a sunny afternoon... I see buildings as far as the eye can see. One building in the NE corner has a small coniferous tree forest growing majestically on the top of 30+ story building. This is a one of a kind city!
Here I am posting from the sunny New York. I am in the Big Apple for the first time in my adult life. It is such an energetic city environment. Far different from my rainy Portland which is like gnat to a bumble bee. I am certainly not the only Oregonian in this city siting on roof tops and looking up at thousands of apartment spaces filling the skyline. There are opportunities everywhere I go as I travel via the 4,5,6 lines too and from Manhattan I can only wonder what are the cornerstones of these communities.
My excitement is mostly leading up to the start of the 2010 Black Farmers and Urban Gardeners conference which is to be held at Brooklyn College. I hope that I can meet and learn from experienced farmers. I want to ask them what did it take for you to get started in the business of farming? What make farming so rewarding to you and your community? Are there opportunities for young people to begin working on their skills as farmers? What kind of person makes a great farmer? What does a successful urban farmer have to do to be successful?
These are just some of the questions that I will be asking while I attend this historic conference.
1. Create a viable food production program locally; 2. Build learning into our organization; 3. Produce good quality, healthy, and safe food; 4. Gain access to economic opportunities; 5. Connect locally and globally to people of color.
11.15.2010
11.10.2010
Dear Mr. President - focus on healthy food production
Dear Mr. President,
Today is a historic day for our nation. It is November 10th 2010. Historically significant in my mind. This is because it is a day when we are fighting for our right to exist as farmers. While many skilled farmers were around during the period of slavery and before that in Africa. Today there are so few black farmers in America some estimates are as low as 16,000. I don't think this is merely a black issue because family farms of all races are fighting to survive today. Challenges steam the unfair advantages of corporate industrialized system of farming which has been great for growth of our international trading power, but hard on the family farm. While some farms are not successful because of bad management, other have faced difficult circumstances based on real allegations like the Pigford case. There are many other examples of small scale farmers being discriminated against, intimidated, and abused that has occurred in this nations history. These farmers need to be respected for being such innovative people and delivering such wonderful food to our tables.
There is a purpose for us to be concerned. There is a calling that we must here. There is frustration and anger that has built up through several generations of land owners who have systematically lost their land. As far as I am concerned there needs to be more lawsuits to follow from the many thousands of people who have lost their jobs, land, and lively hood, so that justice can be served. To me as a person concerned about the environment and about the ability to access good food. This on the top of my list as one of the important justice issues of our day. I hope President Obama can help with encouraging the swift passage of Pigford settlement through congress and bring to the forefront of our future food policy. Please add this to your agenda because it is desperately needing attention and action for this countries residents.
Respectfully,
Ty Regis Cuffy Schwoeffermann
P.S. I think your are a great President Leader.
Today is a historic day for our nation. It is November 10th 2010. Historically significant in my mind. This is because it is a day when we are fighting for our right to exist as farmers. While many skilled farmers were around during the period of slavery and before that in Africa. Today there are so few black farmers in America some estimates are as low as 16,000. I don't think this is merely a black issue because family farms of all races are fighting to survive today. Challenges steam the unfair advantages of corporate industrialized system of farming which has been great for growth of our international trading power, but hard on the family farm. While some farms are not successful because of bad management, other have faced difficult circumstances based on real allegations like the Pigford case. There are many other examples of small scale farmers being discriminated against, intimidated, and abused that has occurred in this nations history. These farmers need to be respected for being such innovative people and delivering such wonderful food to our tables.
There is a purpose for us to be concerned. There is a calling that we must here. There is frustration and anger that has built up through several generations of land owners who have systematically lost their land. As far as I am concerned there needs to be more lawsuits to follow from the many thousands of people who have lost their jobs, land, and lively hood, so that justice can be served. To me as a person concerned about the environment and about the ability to access good food. This on the top of my list as one of the important justice issues of our day. I hope President Obama can help with encouraging the swift passage of Pigford settlement through congress and bring to the forefront of our future food policy. Please add this to your agenda because it is desperately needing attention and action for this countries residents.
Respectfully,
Ty Regis Cuffy Schwoeffermann
P.S. I think your are a great President Leader.
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