Project Food Los Angeles

Give Thanks!_IRC New Roots Community Garden

2011-03-17T15:32:00.000-07:00

New Roots Community Farm

2011-03-17T14:28:00.000-07:00

where we shop matters -

2011-03-14T21:26:00.000-07:00

American vs. Malian Grocery store:
American grocery store = overwhelming although very clean
3rd world grocery store = accessible although kinda dirty
local farmers market = clean and accessible = win-win!

After returning from Mali at the end of last year, one of the first places we stopped was at a big box grocery store. It was overwhelming how much we really have and the reality of what that means to our culture and planet. This is where I will posit that responsibility and stewardship mean going local or eating from your own plot.

packaged waste...

2011-03-14T20:18:00.000-07:00

Consumerism has the potential to motivate how we eat and the products of what we eat. access to healthy food can be construed as stores providing healthy products which include products that are labeled USDA Organic, non-GMO, and not from cows treated with rBST, become increasingly popular. This is not meant to convey that grocery stores are bad... just how we use them and the "stuff" we generate because of them.

visit:
The Story of Stuff
to hear and read more about "stuff".

the consumerism argument, put forth by "The Story of Stuff", overlooks how we contribute to this at the grocery store.
Have you ever stopped to tally how many items you've purchased come in disposable containers and of those, how many are plastic? In other other cultures, if you need to purchase bread, you go to the baker for fresh bread. In the states, we go to the bread aisle.

we can do more to stem our impact on our planet simply by relying more on local farmers and our own backyards (and/or front yard for some!)

If possible, plant what you eat or know where what you eat was planted.

Farmers' Market Fakeries:

2010-09-25T08:58:00.000-07:00

Farmers' Sneaky Vendors and Supermarkets : Scandals : Eater National

A Tale of Two Women: Crossing L.A.'s Grocery Divide

2010-09-19T12:22:00.000-07:00

"A Tale of Two Women: Crossing L.A.'s Grocery Divide" features two women--one who lives in a food desert, the other who lives in a neighborhood with full-service supermarkets--as they switch places. The video also highlights LAANE's effort to pass a citywide policy that will bring supermarkets to underserved communities.

2010-03-25T14:54:00.000-07:00

Mudtown Farms in Watts was the site of a series of proposals for urban agriculture to interface with a series of infrastructural challenges inhibiting the free access to healthy food choices. The exhibition shows the products of the research for the site and the surrounding urban area.

Project Food / LA @ MAK Day

2009-11-05T22:03:00.000-08:00

12-1 pm: A graphic workshop with Handbuilt Studio for Project Food / LA. In preparation for the Edible Endeavors Convention, Yuju Yeo leads participants in generating foodie propaganda – banners, flyers, posters, etc.

3:30-6 pm: Edible Endeavors Convention – A survey of food advocacy practices in Los Angeles. In a rapid-fire series of presentations, a diverse set of individuals and organizations will present their work on behalf of food issues in the city.

Project Food / LA presents this part rally, part political convention, part lecture and part panel discussion. Bring the posters and banners from the earlier graphic workshop.

Keynote by Evan Kleiman, host of Good Food on 89.9 KCRW. Featuring

Presentations by:

Community Services Unlimited

Fallen FruitFed Up with Hunger, an initiative of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles

Garden School Foundation

Highland Park Coop

Locali Market

M&A Gallery

Project Food / LA

Public Matters

Root Down LA

UEPI at Occidental College

Watts Labor Community Action Committee

…and live Skype-cast to Materials and Applications in Silverlake in conjunction with its Fish Taco Party during Silver Lake Art Crawl.

Other MAK Day events:

1-2 pm: Curatorial walk-through on the exhibition Otto Neurath. Gypsy Urbanism with guest curator Nader Vossoghian

2:30-3:30 pm: Panel discussion: A discussion of exhibition and display strategies in relation to infrastructure, do-it-yourself methods, social space engagement, and graphic communication.

Moderated by MAK Center director Kimberli Meyer

Panel Participants:

Nader Vossoghian: architectural historian and guest curator of Otto Neurath. Gypsy Urbanism

Roston Woo: designer, writer, educator, and co-founder of the Center for Urban Pedagogy

Linda Pollack: artist, creator of Habeas Lounge

Alexis Rochas: architect, creator of a rooftop garden prototype SynthE Green Roof

Juliette Bellocq: graphic designer, Handbuilt Studio

Hungry Urbanism #2

2009-11-01T22:15:00.000-08:00

HUNGRY URBANISM #2

WATTS: THE POTENTIAL FOR SUSTENANCE

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3

6:30 - 9:00

Watts is outside of the area of the fast-food moratorium but faces many of the same issues. Are healthy food options available in Watts? In Watts, what are the challenges, successes, stories, and realities of the food system and the implications for prosperity, health, education, and community life?

PANELISTS:

ANNE MARIE CARTER

THE SEED LADY OF WATTS

YESENIA ERAS RN,MSN/MPH,APHN-BC

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE SUPERVISOR

DR. DAVID MARTIN

CHARLES DREW UNIVERSITY

JANINE WATKINS

CONSULTANT, WLCAC

TIM WATKINS

PRESIDENT, WLCAC

MODERATOR:

MICHAEL PINTO

PROJECT FOOD LA FOUNDER, PRINCIPAL-OSBORN ARCHITECTS, AND EDUCATOR - SCI-ARC

WATTS LABOR COMMUNITY ACTION COMMITTEE

FREEDOM HALL

10950 SOUTH CENTRAL AVENUE

LOS ANGELES, CA 90059

Hungry Urbanism #1

2009-09-28T09:56:00.000-07:00

Hungry Urbanism #1
Diagnosing the Los Angeles Food System

HABEAS LOUNGE
7+ FIG Art Space
7&FIG at Ernst & Young Plaza
735 S. Figueroa Street
Middle level
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Validated parking in 7+ FIG parking structure, entrance on 7th and 8th Streets, west of Figueroa.

Hungry Urbanism is funded in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs.

Space for this event generously donated by arts>Brookfield Properties.

2009-09-27T15:06:00.000-07:00

The City of Los Angeles is hungry. Healthful, nutritious food is not moving consistently to the people who need it. While a collective consciousness about food is increasing, the root causes of this stagnant urbanism are rarely discussed.

Urban infrastructure has evolved to conspire against neighborhoods seeking nourishment. In this discussion we will attempt to understand the Los Angeles food system and its problems. Roads, highways, rail lines, shipping lanes, markets, laws and codes contribute to the challenges and must be considered when contemplating solutions.

Hungry Urbanism brings together a diverse panel to address the question of the role of urban infrastructure in the issue of equitable access to healthy food choices in our city.

Panelists:
Kate Harvey, Urban Designer, Osborn
Mark Vallianatos, UEPI Food and Justice Program, Occidental College
James Rojas, Urban Designer, Metro
Jennie Cooks, Chef, Slow Food Movement, Food Advocate
Marcela Oliva, Mapping LA Project, Los Angeles Trade Tech College
Moderator: Michael Pinto, Founder-Project Food LA, Architect and Educator

Project Food LA is a group of educators, chefs, artists, architects, planners, nutritionists, growers, and caring individuals. This is a diverse group with a shared concern: improving access to healthier food choices for our communities.

The Southern California Institute of Architecture's (SCI-Arc) mission is to re-imagine the edge: educating Architects to engage, speculate, innovate.
SCI-Arc's, Community Programs is an active arm of the Institution that seeks to respond to specific community needs through application of architectural design research and implementation.

The HABEAS LOUNGE is a built environment created by LA artist Linda Pollack, specifically constructed to foster and animate civic dialogue. Topics of past LOUNGE series include urban planning, constitutional issues, the economy, and city history. arts>Brookfield Properties has invited Linda Pollack back to transform the 7+FIG Art Space into an incubator for ideas about Downtown L.A. The 8-week public event, called Habeas Lounge: A Pluralistic Downtown Los Angeles Investigation, is both a map based-exhibition and a space for visitors to interpolate their own ideas and visions about our shared city.

HABEAS LOUNGE
7+ FIG Art Space
7&FIG at Ernst & Young Plaza
735 S. Figueroa Street
Middle level
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Validated parking in 7+ FIG parking structure, entrance on 7th and 8th Streets, west of Figueroa.

Hungry Urbanism is funded in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs. Space for this event generously donated by arts>Brookfield Properties.

Organic farming David Mas Masumoto in LA today and tomorrow

2009-08-11T14:13:00.000-07:00

There was a great interview today on LA's KPCC Air Talk with "award-
winning author, popular columnist and spokesman for Organic farming
David Mas Masumoto about his new book, “Wisdom Of The Last
Farmer” (Free Press) that is about reconnecting to the land and how
the future of food could shape our destinies."

Here's the interview
http://www.scpr.org/programs/airtalk/2009/08/11/havesting-legacies-from-the-land/

From his website on his latest, upcoming book: "Wisdom of the Last
Farmer - Harvesting Legacies from the Land."
"Hailed by The New York Times as “A poet of farming” and the Los
Angeles Times as the “Rockstar Farmer” who “uses his farm as Thoreau
did his Walden Pond,"
http://www.masumoto.com/literary/books/wisdom_last_farmer.htm

And his earlier work:
Heirlooms: Letters from a Peach Farmer
http://www.amazon.com/Heirlooms-Letters-Peach-Farmer-Valley/dp/1597140643/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250016920&sr=1-2

He has 2 appearances in LA, today and tomorrow:
August 11 Tuesday evening 7 pm
in Pasadena, CA at Vroman’s Books
Reading and discussion

Tomorrow night, Aug 12 he will be at the Santa Monica Library at 7pm
Reading and discussion

compiled by ben clayton of south-la-green-roundtable

the science barge_floating garden lab

2009-08-10T21:45:00.001-07:00

http://www.good.is/post/the-science-barge/
http://www.groundworkyonkers.org/sciencebargepage2.html

Science Barge

Groundwork Hudson Valley is excited to have just acquired The Science Barge, a prototype, sustainable urban farm and environmental education center designed by NY Sun Works. It is the only fully functioning demonstration of renewable energy supporting sustainable food production in New York City. The Science Barge grows tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce with zero net carbon emissions, zero chemical pesticides, and zero runoff. It is now docked in downtown Yonkers just North of the Yonkers Pier.

From May to October 2007, the Science Barge hosted over 3,000 schoolchildren from all five New York boroughs as well as surrounding counties as part of our environmental education program. In addition, over 6,000 adult visitors visited the facility along with press from around the world.

The Science Barge is now open for educational programming and public tours. If you are interested in signing up for a tour or educational program please contact devon@groundworkhv.org.

To view a calendar of events click here.

We are always looking for weekend volunteers! To sign-up for our mailing list and recieve information about volunteer opportunities and fun events please send an e-mail with your contact information to emily@groundworkhv.org.

If you are interested in volunteering to help with maintenence on the Barge, we are open Thursday evenings from 6pm-8pm and Sunday mornings from 10am-12 noon. Feel free to come by, help out, and get your hands dirty on the Barge!

If you would like to be trained to volunteer as a weekend docent, our training session will be held Thursday, May 28th from 6-8pm. Please contact emily@groundworkhv.org if you are planning to come by!

food on the go...

2009-07-10T14:12:00.000-07:00

http://universalgrocer.blogspot.com/

will allen_street farmer_wisconsin

2009-07-09T23:13:00.000-07:00

http://www.growingpower.org

July 5, 2009
Street Farmer
By ELIZABETH ROYTE

Will Allen, a farmer of Bunyonesque proportions, ascended a berm of wood chips and brewer’s mash and gently probed it with a pitchfork. “Look at this,” he said, pleased with the treasure he unearthed. A writhing mass of red worms dangled from his tines. He bent over, raked another section with his fingers and palmed a few beauties.

It was one of those April days in Wisconsin when the weather shifts abruptly from hot to cold, and Allen, dressed in a sleeveless hoodie — his daily uniform down to 20 degrees, below which he adds another sweatshirt — was exactly where he wanted to be. Show Allen a pile of soil, fully composted or still slimy with banana peels, and he’s compelled to scoop some into his melon-size hands. “Creating soil from waste is what I enjoy most,” he said. “Anyone can grow food.”

Like others in the so-called good-food movement, Allen, who is 60, asserts that our industrial food system is depleting soil, poisoning water, gobbling fossil fuels and stuffing us with bad calories. Like others, he advocates eating locally grown food. But to Allen, local doesn’t mean a rolling pasture or even a suburban garden: it means 14 greenhouses crammed onto two acres in a working-class neighborhood on Milwaukee’s northwest side, less than half a mile from the city’s largest public-housing project.

And this is why Allen is so fond of his worms. When you’re producing a quarter of a million dollars’ worth of food in such a small space, soil fertility is everything. Without microbe- and nutrient-rich worm castings (poop, that is), Allen’s Growing Power farm couldn’t provide healthful food to 10,000 urbanites — through his on-farm retail store, in schools and restaurants, at farmers’ markets and in low-cost market baskets delivered to neighborhood pickup points. He couldn’t employ scores of people, some from the nearby housing project; continually train farmers in intensive polyculture; or convert millions of pounds of food waste into a version of black gold…..see link for rest of story… http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/magazine/05allen-t.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print

michael pollan + waylon lewis & michael pollan vs monsanto

2009-07-01T14:30:00.000-07:00

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2009/06/elephantjournalcom-founder-waylon-lewis-interviews-michael-pollan-re-how-to-communicate-green-to-the-masses-why-he-eats-meat-gmos-cancer-diet-swine-flu-michelle-obamas-organic-garden-s/

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2008/09/video-michael-pollan-google-dr-larry-brilliant-monsanto-hugh-grant-and-sufis/

Organic Salty Caramel Rosemary from Chef Staci Valentine

2009-06-27T21:38:00.001-07:00

Organic Salty Caramel Rosemary from Chef Staci Valentine
Originally uploaded by Project Food LA

...sharing the Meyer Lemon Basil from Pazzo Gelato

2009-06-27T21:36:00.001-07:00

...sharing the Meyer Lemon Basil from Pazzo Gelato
Originally uploaded by Project Food LA

Back for more Honey Lavender from Scoops!

2009-06-27T21:24:00.001-07:00

Back for more Honey Lavender from Scoops!
Originally uploaded by Project Food LA

Carmela's Mint Cacao Nib is delicious!

2009-06-27T21:23:00.001-07:00

Carmela's Mint Cacao Nib is delicious!
Originally uploaded by Project Food LA

Enjoying the vanilla bean gelato from Spitz.

2009-06-27T21:18:00.001-07:00

Enjoying the vanilla bean gelato from Spitz.
Originally uploaded by Project Edible LA

Staci pairs Lemon Verbana Ice Cream from MILK to it's fragrant counterpart...

2009-06-27T21:17:00.001-07:00

Pairing Lemon Verbana Ice Cream from MILK to it's fragrant counterpart...
Originally uploaded by Project Edible LA

staci valentine_cherries & edible los angeles magazine

2009-06-25T23:17:00.001-07:00

http://www.ediblelosangeles.com/Site/node/266
photos by staci valentine

green roundtable jefferson high school

2009-06-25T17:18:00.000-07:00

green roundtable jefferson high school

2009-06-25T17:17:00.000-07:00

project food/l.a. at broodwork: fragrant freeze

2009-06-24T23:27:00.000-07:00

project food/la at broodwork_creative practice, family life

2009-06-23T16:19:00.000-07:00

fragrant freeze

project food/la at broodwork_creative practice, family life

2009-06-23T16:18:00.001-07:00

fragrant freeze

project food/la at broodwork_creative practice, family life

2009-06-23T16:18:00.000-07:00

fragrant freeze

project food/la at broodwork_creative practice, family life

2009-06-23T15:57:00.002-07:00

fragrant freeze

project food/la at broodwork_creative practice, family life

2009-06-23T15:57:00.001-07:00

fresh...new thinking about what we're eating

2009-06-12T16:39:00.000-07:00

http://www.freshthemovie.com/?key=5750964

peoples grocery

2009-06-12T16:31:00.000-07:00

http://www.peoplesgrocery.org/index.php?topic=aboutus

restaurant transformable...art + installation + exploration of food

2009-06-12T15:32:00.001-07:00

http://www.rainer-prohaska.net

opening nite of food, inc documentary

2009-06-11T23:25:00.001-07:00

http://www.good.is/post/screening-opening-night-of-food-inc/

Trekking L.A. 2009: Global Feasts, Local Streets

2009-06-11T23:23:00.000-07:00

rsvp: http://www.goodmagazine.com/events/streetfood

Taste food from Southeast Mexico, Thailand, and Peru. Hear Son Jarocho music from Vera Cruz, Mexico. Make a street art installation. Support arts and culture programs in Los Angeles neighborhoods.

Trekking L.A., a project of L.A. Commons and UCLA's department of Urban Planning, is a continuing experiment in exploring local Los Angeles through food, art and music.

The Mercado La Paloma, where this event will be held, is former sweatshop and now a community project that serves as an incubator for small businesses and features some of the best street food in the city.
When

Thu 25 Jun 2009 at 06:00PM
Where
Mercado La Paloma

3655 South Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA
Who

This event is open to the General Public.
You must RSVP to this event by:

Thu 25 Jun 2009 at 12:00PM

California Continues to Lead the Way in Edible Garden Movement

2009-06-11T23:20:00.000-07:00

Sacramento, CA - Building on her continuing commitment to the creation of edible school gardens as a learning experience for children and the important role of food, First Lady Maria Shriver will plant the first edible garden at the California State Capitol grounds today. "WE Garden in Capitol Park" will serve as a way to educate and inspire Californians about the important lessons gardens teach students, children and people of all ages, lessons rooted in nutrition, healthy living, agriculture, science, history and service.

Particularly, the WE Garden project will provide ample hands-on educational experiences for the hundreds of school children that visit the Capitol each year, through the creation of a series of ten individual lesson plans to provide for ongoing instruction.

"Over the years, I have seen how gardens have positively transformed students, schools and communities in California. Gardens are a wonderful resource, and I truly believe in the life lessons they teach and the lives they touch - and that every school and community should have one. What we're doing in California goes beyond symbolism, we are truly creating a comprehensive environment for learning all around this garden," said First Lady Maria Shriver. "I'm so thrilled that since our announcement in March, California's efforts have inspired other states to plan for and plant an edible garden in their capitol grounds."

to read more...go to news blaze website ...
http://newsblaze.com/story/20090521152901zzzz.nb/topstory.html

california foundation for agriculture in the classroom

2009-06-11T23:15:00.000-07:00

http://www.cfaitc.org/

Project Food LA + Fragrant Flavor Freeze

2009-06-11T17:14:00.000-07:00

Join Project Food LA presented at BROODWORK: Creative Practice and Family Life this Father's day for:

"FRAGRANT FLAVOR FREEZE"

Sample a variety of hand made Ice Creams, Gelattos and Sorbets.
Experience where the ingredients come from and how you can "grow" your own ice cream flavors.

Eagle Rock Center for the Arts
2225 Colorado Blvd. 90041
Sunday 21 June
12:00 - 3:00

Gracious sponsers for this event:

If you are interested in sponsoring this event please see the attached documentation.

Guerilla Gardeners, the city has a place for you.

2009-06-10T15:33:00.000-07:00

We recently came across a link for those interested in community gardens in Los Angeles. If you are or were gardening "illegally" on public property, maybe they have set aside a place for you.

http://www.lagardencouncil.org/

A new prototype for the LA taco truck...

2009-06-09T08:33:00.000-07:00

As the story goes, "it appears mysteriously, late into the night. The lines of people sometimes stretch around the block." No, this isn't a "Pinks" hot dog stand. There is a mystique and the aloof cool that goes along with it; including rumors of kimchi and short ribs?
"The food is good, but the experience is great. In any area of LA, you might find yourself driving around and see what you think is an ordinary taco truck. Then, when you drive by, you realize it is something really different." It just looks different and it's not the same stereotype we've all become accustomed to. It's your LA taco truck turned Jedi... if Jedi's are Korean.
The new truck roaming town, Kogi Korean BBQ, sets a precedent for something new on the street and shows us that a great meal can come from the side of a truck. It's smart. Take your craft of the kitchen out to the people. What else might we begin serving in this way...

It is rumored that you can track its location by following its "tweets." If you're lucky to find one, take the opportunity to stop and check it out, but know that an hour wait is not uncommon. See more at their link:

http://kogibbq.com/

image brought to you by http://mycubiclelunch.blogspot.com/

Healthy nutrition, stacked odds.

2009-06-03T15:33:00.000-07:00

Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle” exposed the working conditions and sanitary practices of the food industry during the late 1800’s, specifically in the meat packing houses of Chicago’s east side. This was a critical moment in American history and set a precedent which prompted federal regulation of how our food was handled and processed to eventually land on your plate. This was done through the Food and Drug act established by the work of President Theodore Roosevelt. One hundred years later, the residual impact of similar laws, paired with laws created for the regulation of public ways in Los Angeles, impede much opportunity for the Los Angeles vending market; clearly a possible income resource for many Angelinos.
.
Mark Vallianatos from Occidental’s Urban & Environmental Policy Institute, with P.E.L.A members, meet Gregg Kettles. Gregg Kettles, visiting faculty for Loyola Law, studies public policy governing the use of public ways, zoning ordinances and county health code dictating food delivery systems in Los Angeles. This includes the L.A. taco trucks, street vending and alternative methods of food delivery.
.
As a part of P.E.L.A’s concern for food networking and delivery systems, we sat in a presentation by Gregg on this subject and discussed the obstacles we will face in regard to the distribution of food in South LA. His findings are highly insightful and reveal the ironies and idiosyncrasies of navigating the bureaucratic network of L.A.
Professor Kettles’ lecture, entitled “Regulating for Healthy Nutrition”, assesses four areas which present problems in L.A.’s street vending network:
.
1. Make room on the streets.
2. Make room in block centers
3. Shaping and channeling demand
4. Shaping and channeling supply
.
Notes of interest include the fact that County Health, City Zoning and the Dept. of Public Works all dictate the market for street vending, acting independently from one another, while the police department acts to enforce the regulations enacted by these offices. Their disjunction is cause for a complicated and costly permitting process that discourages legal street vending.
.
Conversely, this same disjunction also encourages “black market” vending with grey areas not enforced by LAPD. Consequently, vendors are working outside municipal regulations. This is an opportunity for the carts to operate on market demands where creativity and adaptability could thrive, producing largely successful operations and alternative food cultures. However, the affordability of food, limited nutrition education and a small amount of exposure to the diverse food cultures of L.A. yield products that should only be consumed in moderation. (as the USDA food pyramid encourages)
.
The end result:
.
Get your hot dogs!
Bacon wrapped hot dogs!

.

gregg kettles discussion image of new york at the turn of the century...how the street was used

2009-05-28T20:04:00.000-07:00

What is P.F.L.A.?

2009-05-15T14:07:00.000-07:00

In the spring of 2010, a project will engage the communities of Los Angeles that need healthier choices for food and groceries. These are areas with obesity rates double that of the national average which is drastically affecting children and minority demographics. A moratorium has been placed on new fast food chains opening in these areas by the LA city council to study alternative options. Supermarkets and restaurants have been challenged to diversify their offerings to create "healthier" options. We seek to interface with the problem from another point of view.

P.F.L.A. began in April of 2009 and we are working to build a coalition that will be ready to mobilize a dynamic project in January 2010 in collaboration with the Community Design Program at the Southern California Institute of Architecture. We are looking for people who feel they can contribute to the project in their own way or will be interested to jump on board when we get going.

Our point of view is that eating habits are learned, culturally generated & socially reinforced; with this notion, we ask, can community education instigate change in dietary profiles? We will partner culinary education, farmers market offerings, and other diet services in the interest of interfacing in a holistic manner to a complex issue.

Please continue to check in for future events, news and further information.