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Urban Farms Sprout Up in New Orleans: From Blight to Bright

by on September 12, 2014

My friend Mitch Danese is part of spearheading a movement through Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans. They are allocating empty lots which haven’t been slated for construction to grow food.  These mini-farms are growing fresh food for the local restaurants and making the neighborhoods brighter at the same time. It’s a win-win for the city and […]

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Thumbnail image for Net Neutrality: Meaningful to All

Net Neutrality: Meaningful to All

Today is the “Internet Slowdown”. Take a moment and read up on net neutrality if you don’t understand all of the ins and outs of it. This is a very important topic. At the very basic level, internet providers should not be able to pick and choose which websites get more bandwidth.  It’s the same […]

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Creating Greener Pastures with Sustainable Livestock

I had the pleasure of speaking with Will Harris, awarded a 2014 NRDC Growing Green Award for his sustainable agricultural methods used on his farm.  White Oak Pastures has been owned and operated by his family since  1866, a quintessential family farm.  After decades of raising cattle using conventional methods,  in the mid-1990s’s he began to move toward more […]

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Thumbnail image for Saving the Monarch Butterflies: NRDC 2014 Growing Green Award Winner Chip Taylor

Saving the Monarch Butterflies: NRDC 2014 Growing Green Award Winner Chip Taylor

I had the pleasure of interviewing Chip Taylor, ecologist and founder of MonarchWatch.org. He recently received the the NRDC 2014 Growing Green Award for his work with the monarch butterflies. Our monarch butterflies are in trouble. Last year there were approximately 30 to 35 million monarchs overwintering in Mexico. In 1996, there were over 1 […]

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Thumbnail image for 2014 NRDC Growing Green Interviews on UrbanFig Coming Soon!

2014 NRDC Growing Green Interviews on UrbanFig Coming Soon!

NRDC and Berkeley Food Institute Announce Winners of the 2014 Growing Green Awards I had the pleasure of interviewing each of the winners last week.  Stay tuned for the interviews – posted here soon. It’s always amazing to speak to people following their passion and doing wonderful work for the world simultaneously. Awards honor leaders and […]

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Label or Ban GMO’s?

Here are a few excerpt from this excellent article from Organic Consumer’s Association regarding genetically modified food. What do you think? By Ronnie Cummins Organic Consumers Association, March 6, 2014 Excerpt: Farmers Sound the Alarm about GMO Contamination Between 1994-2012, the number of acres in the U.S. planted in GMO crops has grown significantly. Today, […]

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TedX Live: Changing the Way We Eat

        Don’t miss the TedX talk “Changing the Way We Eat” ON SATURDAY, MARCH 1ST FROM 10:30am – 6:30pm EST. “Changing the Way We Eat” (www.tedxmanhattan.org) will feature a dynamic group of speakers addressing issues in sustainable food and farming. As in the past 3 years, TEDxManhattan will promote innovative work being […]

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5 Simple Ways to Save Water

Here in California, we’re in the middle of a drought. Here are a five simple steps to conserve water. 1. COMPOST not the disposal: Every time you put food down the disposal and run water, gallons of water are wasted. The average tap outflows 2.5 gallons per minute. Instead, throw those scraps into a composter […]

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Recycled Pallet Idea

        A little inspiration from a South African jewel called the Karoo Cafe.  Take some pallets and make a tiny garden deck and table.

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Give the Gift of a Garden

The holidays can be a frenzy, but at the same time it’s also full of family, friends, hot chocolate, mocha lattes, glittery ribbon, twinkly lights, thoughtful gift buying, excited children, ice-skating, sing-a-longs, busy kitchens and delicious food and drink. As you begin your search for the perfect gift for your loved ones, consider the gift […]

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Thumbnail image for Creating Community with Gardens: One At A Time

Creating Community with Gardens: One At A Time

The Social Justice Learning Center in Inglewood is building gardens for the community one home at a time. The program not only teaches people how to grow food, but also provides the soil, seedlings and fertilizer to get the family started. They also manage the community garden at Queen Park. Neighbors are welcome to use […]

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Thumbnail image for Can GMO’s Feed the World?

Can GMO’s Feed the World?

  Messaging about GMO’s can be confusing.  Some say it’s good, some say it’s bad.  At UrbanFig, we love technology, but also think that nature should be revered. We should work with nature rather than trying to reinvent her. Check out this excellent mythbusting video that separates fact from fiction.      

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October gardening

Confessions of an Organic Container Gardener

  I must admit, I’ve been pretty busy this past summer and my garden has limped along due to my admitted neglect. Remarkably, the prolific Sun Gold cherry tomatoes have done well along with swiss chard, thyme, green onions and King of North peppers. Definitely give these plants a try the next time it’s their […]

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Growing Tomatoes: Savor the Moment

  Growing your own food, I admit, can be addictive. But oftentimes, no one mentions the wait time. You prepare your pot or garden bed soil, plant your seed or seedling, water and wait. And wait. And wait.  But while your little tomatoes are growing and doing their thing, this is a fantastic opportunity to […]

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aquaponics

AQUAPONICS – THE NEW THING

Aquaponics is one of those remarkable discoveries based on nature and put into practice. The technology is simple. The fish do their normal thing (eat and poop) and this in-turn fertilizes the plant roots drinking up the water. It’s a brilliant system and one that you can even do at home. We came across this […]

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raising chickens

Raising Chickens in Your Urban Garden?

It’s rare for a vegan to write about raising chickens. But I’ve recently begun spending time with a few clucky chicks who live in my local community garden. It’s not a farm. In fact, it sits right on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. If you’re into the urban farming and gardening revival that’s taking hold […]

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garden, yard

Cleaner Air: Benefit of Trees and Gardens or Civic Duty?

Growing a garden full of fruits and veggies. Planting a tree. These are things we do to make our homes more comfortable. They’re rituals. They yield fresh food, shade, beauty, aromas. But one of the forgotten—yet most important—benefits of trees and plants: they also provide us with clean air. With so many people now growing […]

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Urban farm

The Urban Farming Revolution Has Arrived

It’s hard to calculate exactly how many urban gardens and farms have popped up around the country in recent years, but we can be sure of one thing: the interest in urban farming is showing no sign of slowing down. With more people now living in urban environments rather than rural settings, urban agriculture makes […]

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mason jar herb garden

Beyond the Beds: 3 DIY Garden Projects

The Garden is the ultimate DIY project. Bursting with yummy fruits and veggies, gorgeous flowers, fragrant herbs and hopefully lots of inspired moments, few projects can rival the rewards of a well tended to garden. But why stop in the dirt? Have you explored some other ways to enjoy your DIY gardening green thumb? Growing […]

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