Category: Urban Food Systems

One thing is certain, whether you are a right of way agent or an engineer working on a pipeline project,  People can get pretty testy about an easement across their property.  So here are five things to consider before you decide to pull the nuclear option and file an eminent domain suit.  Consider the logical…

Isn’t it time we allow Tulsa Community Gardens to be in excess of one acre?  Currently, Community Gardens are limited to an area of less than one acre.  With pockets of food insecurity all across the City, shouldn’t we open up the opportunity to grow local high quality fresh produce?  There is a national trend…

How do we strengthen Tulsa’s rich sense of community? What if . . . Using urban agriculture, we can establish Tulsa as a nationally recognized food system innovation district combining the existing initiatives of farm to table, buy fresh, buy local, urban farming, new urbanism, intentional communities, and STEM? Create entrepreneurial opportunities while providing education…

Diversity Focuses on Differences and not Commonalities I don’t like the word diversity.  I like the word unity better.  Merriam Webster defines diversity plural diversities 1 : the condition of having or being composed of differing elements : variety; especially : the inclusion of different types of people (such as people of different races or cultures)…

The Business Case What if you could . . . . Working together on 100 acres of land in you could create a food system innovation district generating $10,000,000 in annual revenue and 220 jobs and over $100,000,000 and 2,200 jobs over the next 10 years? Provide access to fresh produce to your congregations? Provide…

Why Incubate? Nonprofit organizations are considering worker-owned business development as a  tool for community economic development.  Worker-owned businesses and cooperatives often align with the mission of the nonprofit organizations that are seeking to build economic empowerment and opportunity.  For more information about the ins and outs of using a non-profit cooperative as the sponsoring organization…

Community A community of poverty, as previously discussed is comprised of a series of broken relationships.  The key to solving an equation is finding the common denominator.  The common denominator works in math and life relationships.  For a system of poverty, community is the common denominator.  Merriam-Webster defines “community” as “1 :a unified body of…

There is an old saying around the farm “The chicken may be committed to making breakfast, but the pig, well he’s dedicated.”  The point is to be successful farming, one has to be dedicated, not just committed. Passion for Lifestyle Emily’s second observation has been that not everyone has a passion for farming.  That’s okay,…

Regarding barriers to entry, the big buckets that act as barriers to becoming a farmer include equipment costs, land costs, transportation costs, knowledge, and passion.   I met with Emily Oakley of Three Springs Farm yesterday.   Emily acknowledged the equipment and transportation barriers and went further stating two barriers often overlooked. Need for Knowledge Emily acknowledged…