* I am a Sustainable Urban Produce Grower, specializing in small residential growing sites, small crops, and small farm chemical-free, naturally grown urban agriculture. I am also a Chef/Instructor/Consultant who specializes in educating private clients and public classes in internationally inspired special diet cuisine. I have spent years studying the foods and cuisine of around the world as it might provide healthful nutritious options for people living with food allergies, intolerances or limited food resources.
* As a leader in cross-culturally inspired special diet cuisine from an international focus, I have worked with Whole Foods Market as a Chef Instructor for 2+ years, assisted hundreds of people living with food allergies and intolerance since 2006. I spent over 390 work-hours as an Intern Urban Sustainable Produce Grower learning valuable farm management skills and growing sustainable produce and making it available in urban neighbourhoods in the city of Chicago (Bronzeville and Garfield Park).
* I also have years of transferable skills (such as managing/leading projects, multi-tasking, collecting of data in great detail, troubleshooting and problem solving, effective communication) earned while I was employed as an Implementation Project Manager for a software company. I successfully managed the implementation of hundred thousand dollar contracts throughout the United States.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
What is the Global Community Knowledge Project (GCKP)?
This project works with the goal of helping: local communities gain access to healthy food, helping foreign, local and urban farms better utilize their resources to reach goals and/or help with agricultural challenges. My research will include learning about edible plants, medicinal plants, traditional (culinary) recipes and techniques using natural ingredients.
The purpose broadening perspective through education for those who live without access to this information. My efforts will also assist a wide range of people. From those without access to healthy food, those who are living with illness, food allergies and/or intolerances or cultures negatively impacted by the effects of monoculture and poverty.
The objective of this research trip, is to have collected a range of data on traditional agriculture (related to fertilization, irrigation, pest management, post-harvest handling and storage) as well as food and medicinal recipes and techniques that have been passed down through generations. It is important that this information be shared by way of demonstrations, local support initiatives such as establishing community/urban gardens, online and written publications - before it is lost forever.
The purpose broadening perspective through education for those who live without access to this information. My efforts will also assist a wide range of people. From those without access to healthy food, those who are living with illness, food allergies and/or intolerances or cultures negatively impacted by the effects of monoculture and poverty.
The objective of this research trip, is to have collected a range of data on traditional agriculture (related to fertilization, irrigation, pest management, post-harvest handling and storage) as well as food and medicinal recipes and techniques that have been passed down through generations. It is important that this information be shared by way of demonstrations, local support initiatives such as establishing community/urban gardens, online and written publications - before it is lost forever.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
GCKP: Preservation of Traditional Foods and Growing Techniques
“In 1996 the FAO reported that the world depends on too few crops and that many thousands of genetic varieties (landraces) have been lost, mainly due to the spread of modern commercial agriculture. The report lists the main causes of plant genetic erosion in 154 countries, and in over 80 of them, 'replacement of local varieties' came top. In maize, for instance, Costa Rica, Chile, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand have documented widespread genetic erosion due to monocropping.
What has been almost entirely overlooked is that throughout that vast continent [of Africa] can be found more than 2000 native grains, roots, fruits and other food plants. These have been feeding people for thousands of years but most are being given no attention whatever today.”
Source: US National Research Council, 1996
Other examples: Amaranth and quinoa -grains that originally came from the Andes and were holy to the Incas of Peru and the Aztecs of Mexico - are being reevaluated. Both are versatile and nutritious. They are also hardy: amaranth thrives in hot climates; quinoa is frost resistant and can be grown as high as 4 000 metres. Many more traditional foods await development and wider use.
What has been almost entirely overlooked is that throughout that vast continent [of Africa] can be found more than 2000 native grains, roots, fruits and other food plants. These have been feeding people for thousands of years but most are being given no attention whatever today.”
Source: US National Research Council, 1996
Other examples: Amaranth and quinoa -grains that originally came from the Andes and were holy to the Incas of Peru and the Aztecs of Mexico - are being reevaluated. Both are versatile and nutritious. They are also hardy: amaranth thrives in hot climates; quinoa is frost resistant and can be grown as high as 4 000 metres. Many more traditional foods await development and wider use.
GCKP: Goals & Objectives
My mission, in both culinary and agricultural training to: EDUCATE - INSPIRE - EMPOWER.
To educate communities of the options that exist,
to inspire communities to continue to remain open to trying new practices & foods that may help them reach their goals.
to empower by way of 'how to' or hands-on knowledge to contribute towards self-sufficiency.
It is important to demonstrate by way of example, specifically for those who live with a limited diet due to lack of access to healthy food, illness, allergies and/or intolerances that is it's not a matter of what one can't eat, it's about all the foods that exist in the world we can. This perspective is equally valid within the context of my sustainable agriculture research. It is not a matter of focusing completely on what can't be grown at any specific site or the limitations of the growing environment - but what else exist that can develop successfully within those same conditions.
One of my favourite quotes which inspires this perspective is:
"The law of floatation was not discovered by contemplating the sinking of things, but by contemplating the floating of things which floated naturally, and then intelligently asking why they did so.". - Thomas Troward
One of my goals are to balance a mutually successful and productive relationship with my host in foreign countries:
* by providing no-cost labour hours (working their crops to learn their existing practices)
* where applicable - offering assistance in strengthening their communities using collected sustainable agricultural experience in the areas of integrated pest management, soil testing and fertilization methods, efficiency, cultivar choices and overcoming other challenges - which have been learned/recorded from other growing sites.
* A focus on collecting and growing of traditional, endangered and rare seeds and grains are one way to help restore balance to the damaged caused by the heavily dominant, commercial agriculture industry.
* by gaining experience and knowledge from the cultural perspectives of old-world and indigenous groups which continue to enjoy:
> traditional diets
> sustainable growing practices for different all sorts of produce, including endangered, traditional seeds
> further advance my skills in being able to show people how to prepare natural foods
My research will benefit the global agricultural community from the most far away rural farm lands to the small forgotten sites practicing sustainable urban agriculture in the low-income neighbourhoods throughout America.
To educate communities of the options that exist,
to inspire communities to continue to remain open to trying new practices & foods that may help them reach their goals.
to empower by way of 'how to' or hands-on knowledge to contribute towards self-sufficiency.
It is important to demonstrate by way of example, specifically for those who live with a limited diet due to lack of access to healthy food, illness, allergies and/or intolerances that is it's not a matter of what one can't eat, it's about all the foods that exist in the world we can. This perspective is equally valid within the context of my sustainable agriculture research. It is not a matter of focusing completely on what can't be grown at any specific site or the limitations of the growing environment - but what else exist that can develop successfully within those same conditions.
One of my favourite quotes which inspires this perspective is:
"The law of floatation was not discovered by contemplating the sinking of things, but by contemplating the floating of things which floated naturally, and then intelligently asking why they did so.". - Thomas Troward
One of my goals are to balance a mutually successful and productive relationship with my host in foreign countries:
* by providing no-cost labour hours (working their crops to learn their existing practices)
* where applicable - offering assistance in strengthening their communities using collected sustainable agricultural experience in the areas of integrated pest management, soil testing and fertilization methods, efficiency, cultivar choices and overcoming other challenges - which have been learned/recorded from other growing sites.
* A focus on collecting and growing of traditional, endangered and rare seeds and grains are one way to help restore balance to the damaged caused by the heavily dominant, commercial agriculture industry.
* by gaining experience and knowledge from the cultural perspectives of old-world and indigenous groups which continue to enjoy:
> traditional diets
> sustainable growing practices for different all sorts of produce, including endangered, traditional seeds
> further advance my skills in being able to show people how to prepare natural foods
My research will benefit the global agricultural community from the most far away rural farm lands to the small forgotten sites practicing sustainable urban agriculture in the low-income neighbourhoods throughout America.
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