Posts Tagged ‘organic’

I walk past this sliver of land on New Hampshire Avenue (just off of U Street) every morning on my way to work.  While it doesn’t look like much now, by mid summer it is in full bloom, with basil, sage, and other herbs adding sights (and smells) to this otherwise “wasted” piece of land. The sign says, “We are proud to share our organic herb garden with our neighbors.  Please feel free to indulge in the deliciousness of our mint, basil, and more”.  Has anyone “indulged?”  I don’t know how you’d get in there to pick the herbs!

George Ballser writes an article about how a new Binghamton, New York non-profit is turning two vacant lots into urban farms, and selling shares in a Community Supported Agriculture project.  The article in itself is promising, but it was a comment that really got me thinking: Commenter realjournalism wrote: OMG! You have got to be kidding me. Don’t these people know that just outside the city limits, about 5 minutes away, there is thousands of acres available for farming.. why would anyone take city property to grow a garden? I sure hope this isn’t some non-profit group and they better be collecting and paying sales tax on those tomatoes!! Initially, I didn’t really know how to react to this statement.  Perhaps the commenter had some good points – there IS land outside the city boundaries that could probably be used for farming.  And what about the sales tax question?  Urban

According to Kristin McAllister of the Dayton Daily News, Miami Township announced today that it has entered into a partnership with Waste Management of Ohio to begin collecting organic waste.  It will be the first of its kind in Ohio. “The program allows residents to reduce the amount of refuse that goes to landfills by recycling organics, such as banana peels, coffee grounds, eggshells, and fruits and vegetables.” The program is volunteer, so how will city officials get people to participate?  In Miami Township,  residents pay $5.50 per bag or $11.50 per month for yard waste pickup.  Organic material will be picked up for the same price.  Lesson learned for other municipalities?  If possible, try not to make the ecological option the more expensive option. “The money they would be spending on yard waste is basically the same amount or less of what those who choose to participate will pay,”