We are pleased to report that we held a tremendously successful launch event on February 23rd in downtown Cleveland at the Club at Key Center. A diverse and intergenerational crowd of over 70 energized and engaged participants attended. Our keynote speaker, Brad Masi of the New Agrarian Center, delivered an impressive oratory capturing the essence of sustainable urban agriculture and permaculture as key drivers for a local food, slow food economy.
Brad gave compelling insights into a current system in which a disproportionate share of profit and benefit travels outside this city and region and even this country. He alluded to the sacrifices made and waste and damage resulting from models of agribusiness that seek maximum yields and instant gratification at the expense of the environment and its stakeholders. He contrasted those old models with new ones that experientially educate, build community, enhance nutrition, conserve fuel, and reduce waste.
He drove home some of the key points from the film he produced and showed at the Cleveland International Film Festival last year - Polycultures: Food Where We Live. These included the great works being done by local CSAs - Community Supported Agriculture groups like CityFresh, to bring fresh organic, subsidized produce into urban and challenged communites representing 'food deserts' places with little other than junk and fast foods available for consumption. He made mention of exciting innovations that extend the growing season while providing a vehicle for community building, environmental gain, and vocational training. Two of these include hoop house construction and strawbale greenhouse construction.
The event was grounded in real-world examples showcasing real-world growers that are leading by example to both do good and do well in the communities they serve. Three minority-owned and driven social enterprises leveraging permaculture and local food innovation were highlighted and their respective owners represented wonderfully and spoke at our event, both in our introduction circle and in personal interviews with our resident photographer and camera people from area universities. I've been deeply and personally involved with all of these and have appreciated a developing partnership with Brad on this shared work. Vel Scott's Purple Oasis (site of the first strawbale greenhouse prototype we built), Vicky Trotter's Glenville Green Space (green jobs and business incubator where we will build the largest strawbale greenhouse yet), and Veronica and Mike Walton's Clear Lake Farm (a one acre farm and hoop house on site at a chemical dependency center and shelter - the Hitchcock Center for Women) were all cited and recognized by Brad as key examples of social enterprise via local food models.
Other key local organizations present and made mention of included the Green Triangle Project, which conducts local permaculture certification, and the Cleveland Greenhouse Project, which aims to emulate and advance beyond the core models of the great Will Allen of Growing Power to educate and empower students whilst producing organic quality food, compost and livestock (including worms) to be a profitable enterprise. Special thanks goes to our speaker Brad Masi of the New Agrarian Center and the Club at Key Center and its fantastic staff for providing such a great venue, delicious appetizers, and a lovely cash bar.
