Author Archives: annagavv

Finding the Common Ground Between Defunding the Police and the Transition to Local & Organic Agricultural Practices

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Our police system and the industrial agricultural practices we have in the US are unsustainable, both in nature and in practice. They have no place in the just, peaceful world of the future. The roots of the police system make it an inherently violent institution, as it has developed from a slave catcher system.  A LONG history of criminalizing Black people, in addition to for-profit prisons in the US, broken windows policing in neighborhoods, and over militarized police have culminated in a disturbingly unjust “justice” system. As it currently functions, our justice system results in violence being disproportionately perpetuated against Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. 

Currently, I have sensed a lot of apprehension around the idea of defunding the police, a popular demand within the Black Lives Movement. Common reactions I’ve heard include the fear of anarchy and chaos, crime running rampant, and concern regarding the livelihoods of those who are currently working within the police system. I feel that these concerns mirror the concern that replacing industrial agriculture with local, organic, food-sovereignty centered agriculture would not be sufficient to feed a growing population. 

Based on what we learned in class, I would argue that yes, an immediate, complete overhaul of the industrial agricultural system we have now would not only be unsustainable, but would have some very negative repercussions for the most vulnerable populations. Lower income communities of color and Black communities currently depend on cheap, processed food that is made possible by industrial agriculture. In order to avoid disastrous consequences that a complete overhaul would pose for these communities, industrial agriculture must be dismantled while simultaneously investing into organic practices. For example, instead of having 80% of the Farm Bill go towards food stamps, what if 80% of the Farm Bill went towards conservation efforts and investing into regenerative development projects, like the Sweet Water Foundation? 

The Perry Avenue Community Farm in Englewood, Chicago. This farm is overseen by Emmanuel Pratt, the executive director and cofounder of the Sweet Water Foundation. Read more here. Sweet Water Foundation

The dismantling of the industrial agriculture system will not be sufficient without investment into critical resources. This same argument can be made for defunding, and eventually abolishing, the police. It is important for people to understand that the call to defund the police is also a demand to invest in critical community resources, like social workers, mental health resources, rehabilitation centers, housing for homelessness, and education just to name a few. The investment in these resources will lead to a decrease in violence and crime, working simultaneously to decrease the significance of a police force.

This image shows some of the thoughts behind the Defund the Police/ Abolish the Police Movements. The demands have a heavy focus on community investment. 8toabolition.com

With both of these examples it is important to understand that systemic change is a long-term goal that involves investing in the people and practices we intend to see in the future. It cannot be done overnight, but that should not stop it from being done at all. Here is to a just, sustainable, and peaceful future for all!

The Lessons I Learned from Soil & Water

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The functioning and health of our soil not only determines the vitality of the plants that grow out of it, but also has cascading effects on other socio-ecological symptoms. Soil that has a balanced amount of nutrients, a supportive root system, and is well-aerated, has the potential to prevent massive algal blooms, lessen the negative effects of flooding events, and even capture carbon. Healthy soil is the foundation of a robust and resilient food system. 

A visual demonstrating the value of a healthy soil.

Photo by: The Ecological Landscape Alliance

Through the soil & water contemplative practice, I began to make the connection between soil and our socio-ecological systems. Similar to how soil serves as the foundation of our food system, our current linear model of production, and capitalist ideology, serve as the foundation of the global socio-economic system. By enabling waste, encouraging constantly increasing rates of production, and relying on environmental and social externalities to keep prices low, we have an inherently unsustainable and unhealthy foundation. 

The failures of this system have been exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic as a series of expected self-perpetuating injustices. Although watching these negative consequences unravel has been frustrating to say the least, it is hardly surprising. The foundation of our economy is based on unsustainable, and inequitable principles, so it is expected that in the face of a disturbance our socio-economic systems do not demonstrate resilience.

Image by: LiberationNews.org

Currently, there is a push to integrate systems thinking in regard to soil health; as Alan Richardson, a member of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation says, ““Historically we’ve fertilized the crop… We’ve been interested in the crop. The paradigm shift is in thinking that you have to fertilize the system, the microbes and all that. And through that you support the crop.” This contemplative practice made me realize that if we ever want to achieve sustainability within our socio-ecological systems, this same mindset needs to be applied to our socio-economic system. By creating a foundation that is rooted in a circular model of production, and values quality of life as opposed to quantity of money, we have the potential to create a healthier, more resilient society.

Resources:

https://www.resilience.org/stories/2017-11-09/healthy-soil-healthy-plants-healthy-people/

https://grist.org/food/heres-a-solution-for-those-out-of-control-toxic-algae-blooms/

https://www.700milliongallons.org/types-of-gsi/

https://landinstitute.org/our-work/perennial-crops/

https://theintercept.com/2020/03/17/naomi-klein-and-jeremy-scahill-discuss-coronavirus-the-election-and-solidarity-in-the-midst-of-a-pandemic/

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/15/world/europe/coronavirus-inequality.html

https://www.liberationnews.org

https://www.ecolandscaping.org/about/

https://grist.org/food/the-secret-to-richer-carbon-capturing-soil-treat-your-microbes-well/

A Symbol of Resilience: Urban Gardens Amidst a Pandemic

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In response to: “Urban Gardens Combat COVID-19 Virus” by ari3

Your post peaked my interest as the COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated how crucial food sovereignty is in the face of a crisis; even Amartya Sven, someone that has claimed food sovereignty to be a “a peculiarly obtuse way of thinking about food security”, admits that in time of crisis and instability self-sufficiency is valuable.

As we’ve discussed in class, urban gardening can be used as a source of empowerment and can ensure that disenfranchised groups have access to healthy food. It is important to note that the same health issues exacerbated by living in a food desert, such as obesity and heart disease, have also led to a disproportionate amount of COVID-related deaths amongst African Americans. As the fight for a more equitable and just food system continues, the value of, and need for, urban gardens and farms has never been more evident.

With that being said, your post does bring up the important point that although the need for urban gardens is unmistakable, current public health precautions make maintaining urban gardens increasingly difficult. As a result, I have decided to highlight instances where urban gardens have demonstrated resilience in the face of the pandemic.

I would be remiss not to address my own experience with the local community garden in my neighborhood. Eager to continue operations, the volunteer coordinators quickly adapted to the developing situation, requiring all volunteers to bring a mask, their own gloves, and hand-sanitizer, while also limiting work parties to 5 people and enforcing social distancing guidelines. Food that is harvested is currently being donated to a local food pantry and is available to any volunteers in need. Other urban gardens like, Sprout Nola in Louisiana, have identified another solution by delivering seedlings started by seasoned gardeners to members of the community. Our own UW Farm, a typically student-powered operation, has continued to function on our student-less campus, thanks to the dedication of full-time manager Perry Aceworth and AmeriCorps volunteer Adam Houston.

What a work day looks like in the era of coronavirus at the Sustain DuPage garden. Photo by: Anya Gavrylko

Although current conditions are less than ideal for urban gardens and farms, these food systems have been a symbol of social-ecological resilience in the face of a crisis, and will hopefully strengthen our food system for years to come.

Sources

Amartya Sven quote: https://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/211/44284.html

A Fundamental Injustice

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The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed numerous fundamental defects in many, if not most, systems in the United States. One that has become increasingly pertinent is the agriculture industry’s dependence on undocumented workers.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s National Agricultural Workers Survey, 47% to upwards of 70% of domestic farmworkers are not US citizens.

Undocumented workers will not receive the benefits from the stimulus package, and as a result neither will their children, many of whom are citizens. This makes the decision of whether or not to go to work even more difficult, even though the risk of infection for workers is higher due to a lack of protective gear and handwashing facilities, as well as preexisting health conditions from exposure to pesticides and chronic stress.

Farmworkers in Ventura County (photo by: Juan Carlo/The Star)

However, what has most stood out to me as a matter of concern was the undeniable presence of fear. In the article Essential but Exposed by Yvette Cabrera, farm laborers shared their experiences with undertones of anxiety: “Carmelita requested that her last name be withheld because of fear of reprisals from her employer”, “Susana, who requested that her last name be withheld because she is undocumented, told Grist in Spanish”. The reluctant responses heard from farm workers do not parallel the outrage of other essential services workers not receiving proper equipment or access to sick leave, which raises a larger point of concern regarding our food system. 

It is difficult for me to imagine a scenario in which extraneous actors can successfully advocate for a more environmentally, economically, and socially just food system, when those who build the foundation of said food system are silenced by fear. The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on a fundamental injustice that until addressed, will limit the possibility of a truly sustainable world food system.

Original Article: https://grist.org/justice/farmworkers-are-risking-their-lives-to-feed-a-nation-on-lockdown/