Organic Living

A vegan refers to someone who doesn't use or eat animal products. Unlike vegetarians, who don't eat meat, vegans:

don't eat any animal products: meat, dairy, and eggs
avoid cosmetics and products that test on animals
don't wear fur, leather, or wool

The Benefits

People follow the vegan diet for three main reasons:

Submitted by acstelling on Thu, 02/09/2012 - 04:04

the problem:

Food Forward attacks issues of joblessness and nutrition-related health problems. Knowing how to cook directly affects long-term eating habits. 28% of adults do not know how to cook (Huffington Post), while US obesity will increase to 50%, 7,800,000 more people will have diabetes, and 6,800,000 more will have heart disease by 2030 (Columbia University). Additionally, USA has 8.5% unemployment, but a booming food and service industry:~8,000,000 jobs with projected increase through 2018 (USBL).

vital stats:

people impacted:

people involved:

why it's important:

Vocational. Personal. Communal. Food Forward will partner with non-profits which work with specific populations (i.e. homeless, disadvantaged youth, young adults) to develop courses which cater to needs identified by the organizations. Students will gain skills to pursue personal and professional goals both in and outside of the kitchen. The programs also include a “Pay it Forward” initiative to empower participants to positively affect the local food system and teach others how to cook.

the plan of action:

Food Forward’s courses equip students with practical cooking and food business skills as well as a working knowledge of current food system issues pertaining to justice, the local economy, health, and the environment. I myself boast no expertise in working with specific populations, but I have proven myself as an organizer and advocate. I am confident in my ability to forge partnerships with existing non-profits in order to develop programs that effectively address the specific needs and desires of each student population. Food Forward also includes an apprenticeship program, whereby local chefs and producers give students hands-on opportunities equipping them for work in restaurants and artisanal production. This collaboration also provides students a “foot in the door” of the local food industry. The “Pay it Forward” initiative will train students to start their own community cooking groups to teach others basic cooking skills and garner awareness about food system issues.

how you can get involved:

n/a

project updates:

Submitted by eerohr on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 11:52

the problem:

We are educating the youth in our community about the benefits of urban farming. This includes preparation and planning, nutrition information, work ethic and neighborhood beautification. Our children do not have opportunities to participate in summer programs and spend a lot of time unsupervised during summer vacation. Our urban farming program will teach them valuable skills as well as give them a safe place spent with positive role models off the streets.

vital stats:

people impacted:

people involved:

why it's important:

Detroit is known as a food desert, with no major grocery store within city limits. Many children in our community do not get the necessary fruits and vegetables in their daily diets. By teaching them that they can grow food in their own backyard, we are giving them the power to make healthy choices and create a more sustainable living environment.

the plan of action:

We plan to host a summer camp for 15 children for 10 weeks. Children will attend two full days per week. We will spend time educating the children on urban farming and teach them how to care for their own plants.

how you can get involved:

n/a

project updates:

Submitted by PDXorganicpro on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 00:06

the problem:

Portland Organic Productions is working hard to solve problems facing community livability and sustainability. Portland Organic Productions is striving to maintain and promote a statewide sustainable communities growth through revitalization and preservation of our natural and rural areas. In keeping within the mission of the organization to promote healthy business communities, create a vibrant and diverse business districts, create sustainable and livable communities, increase social awareness of the environment and livability, encourage residents to shop local, and increase the spirit of community. Promoting economic and social common good in Portland, to create a once monthly revitalization and beautification event though out the Portland business districts, river fronts and neglected properties to cleanup litter, graffiti, and invasive plants, to install murals, to install rainwater gardens in public spaces, and water ways. This project is designed to make a direct impact on all Portland communities by helping to maintain a clean and safe space for commerce and community life.

vital stats:

people impacted:

34,198

people involved:

600

why it's important:

"I used to spend hours walking along the river bank in Cathedral Park picking up trash with a baby (Thor Foss). As a nanny and a mother I found it very rewarding, however, daunting. I had been longing to make this World a better place and create a positive global shift. My hope is that my son, whom I gave up adoption because of my young age, would be impacted by all my love and dedication to the good of humanity. I knew I could not do this alone...."

the plan of action:

The first step of action I took was going to a community meeting and complaining about the issue. I went to a Cathedral Park Neighborhood Association meeting and voiced my opinion. I was very passionate and disturbed by the abundance of litter along the river bank. when I asked the group who was in charge of the litter removal along the Willamette River the group responded in unison "You are." After just a moment of thinking about it I responded "Yes I am!"

The second step I took was working with local neighborhood activist seeking advice for sponsorship, policies and regulations (for Parks & Recreation and Sound permitting)to get this work done. I gained sponsorship though SOLVE and Metro during this first clean up. It took two months for me to plan the first clean up.

For the first year I spend around 1,000 of my own money to get things like: dumpster retails, permitting, electricity use and food and water bottles.

During the 2nd year I have spend only a few 100 dollars thanks to a sponsorship though Gunderson (a local industrial Superfund site contributor) and they started paying for the dumpster rental and food on occasion. Some local vendors started donating food upon my request.

PDXOP went about this mission by creating the Cathedral Park Clean UP (CPCU) events. These events have occurred consecutively every other month since inception. In the last two years PDXOP's events have removed over ten thousand pounds of trash, including tires, syringes, and glass off theriverside park. PDXOP has made a direct impact upon the beauty, health, safety, vitality,and preservation of St. Johns.

Now in the third year we are looking to expand the efforts of PDXOP outside of Cathedral Park and into the St. Johns business and residential district.

PDXOP has current plans to do a monthly revitalization and beautification event in the St. John's business district to cleanup litter, graffiti, and invasive plants, to install murals, to install rainwater gardensin public spaces, as well as Cathedral Park Clean Up events along the Willamette River.

how you can get involved:

We need help covering cost of supplies like: shovels, reusable waterproof gardening gloves, wheel barrels, web design and maintenance, exterior paints, paint brushes, artists time for painting murals, office space, native non-invasive rain water plants, and promotional materials.

project updates:

Submitted by syedhshabbir on Fri, 02/03/2012 - 20:50

the problem:

The BODY Community Garden Project aims to address alarming rates of diabetes and obesity in the Bronx, New York. Currently, more than 1 in 10 persons in the Bronx has diabetes and more than 7 in 10 are either obese or overweight. Access to fresh fruits and vegetables is limited which invariably plays an important role in poor health outcomes.

vital stats:

people impacted:

300

people involved:

why it's important:

Bronx, Obesity, Diabetes and You (BODY) is a group of medical and graduate students at Albert Einstein College of Medicine dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the community. We are concerned about the dangerously high rates of obesity and diabetes in the Bronx, New York and hope to address this epidemic by improving access to fresh, nutritious foods and a green, friendly space.

the plan of action:

In a little over a year, we have acquired usable land for the garden and have already engaged the community in order to better address their needs and to incorporate their vision into the garden design. We want the garden to serve as a space for exercise, a source of fresh and healthful foods, and as a common space for health and nutrition education. With strong support of the community, the BODY Community Garden will not only be a place for growing produce, but for the nurturing of healthy relationships and lifestyles for all involved.

how you can get involved:

We are always looking for donations and volunteers to help us with our project. For more information on ways to help and contacting us please visit us at our website: http://bodyateinstein.comeze.com/

project updates:

11 Must-Haves at a Super Bowl Party

The Super Bowl is right around the corner, and you might wanna avoid some sloppy mistakes when you play host. 11 things that you should have at a party are:

Submitted by Apachesprincess on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 14:13

the problem:

We have recognized the need to help bring youth together to learn responsibility and new skills by training and taking care of alpacas and llamas. We also would like to help our community be more enriched with the education of alpacas, not only throughout the general community but also in nursing homes and in daycare centers.

vital stats:

people impacted:

100

people involved:

why it's important:

I think that it is important to increase the knowledge of youth in our commmunity and increase the awareness of this unique opportunity by making it easy for youth to learn more and have hands on experiences through this program. I also think that it is important for youth to learn how to communicate effectively with elderly as well as preschoolers.

the plan of action:

We would like to be able to offer educational materials to all of the 4H members enrolled in the llama project in the county. We would like to also increase the materials available through the County Extension Office. Currently, we do not have any educational materials available to youth in the project and families are left to find information on their own.

Our plan is to also offer classes for youth and leaders to come together in an educational setting to learn. The clinics that we intend to offer include presenting at current activities and providing additional classes. We hav ea need to offer classes in obstacle course but also to have youth work on the building of these obstacle materials. We intend to provide clinics in each of the disciplines offered through the project.

how you can get involved:

n/a

project updates:

Take a break from stressful schoolwork by encouraging your family and friends to reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover around the house. Follow these easy tips to create a better world and home.

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Animal Homelessness:

Submitted by patlucien on Sat, 01/21/2012 - 17:42

the problem:

Our society today has become more aware of the environment we live in and many have been working toward educating people about our planet. In countries like Haiti, where only 1% is forested, and which relies mostly on agriculture, children are not thought about their environment and the danger of not preserving such environment. There is a need to education children to appreciate their own resources and also understand the importance of the trees around t hem.

vital stats:

people impacted:

2,500

people involved:

why it's important:

Our plan is to make agriculture and the flora part of the education of all children on the island of Ile-a-Vache in the south of Haiti. After meeting, all the school principal on the island, EDEM Foundation has partnered with the school to distribute a booklet on all the fruit trees of Haiti to all the school. The booklet will become part of the school curriculum on the island.

the plan of action:

The plan is to distribute the booklet to all 3rd grade students on the island of Ile-a-Vache, Haiti in partnership with the school principals. An agronomist will be hired to visit the schools and work with the school teachers. Nursery bags will be distributed to all the school and every school will have a fruit tree nursery. Once the nurseries are ready, 3 school garden will be established on the island where the kids will develop a tradition of setting up fruit gardens around the island.

how you can get involved:

Help us print out more copies of the book to distribute on the island.
Help us with the purchase of nursery bags to setup the tree nurseries.
Help us ship some agricultural tools to the schools.

project updates:

Submitted by sissylala1995 on Fri, 01/20/2012 - 23:24

the problem:

i am trying to solve obesity and help peolpe understand healthy living. i will take recipies that are healthy and help the people in my community to cook healthier.

vital stats:

people impacted:

people involved:

why it's important:

this is important to me because i was at the verge of obesity at one point. through self determination i lost 40 pounds. i believe everyone can live a healthy life.

the plan of action:

i plan to write out heathy organic recipies and hand them out to individuals.

how you can get involved:

others can give me any recipies they think are healthy to help advance my goals.