PFR: March 1st 2012

Great show yesterday! We dedicated the whole hour to urban agriculture, and got to speak with some utterly brilliant individuals along the way. I am a lucky person.

Urban agriculture is surging in British Columbia and across North America, resulting in a growing network of small-scale farms, rooftop, back- and front-yard gardens, and community gardening initiatives. The potential benefits to the gardener-farmers and communities have also become apparent—including the alleviation of poverty and waste, the promotion of sustainable development, reductions in crime, an increased sense of community, improved nutrition, and a host of ecological benefits.

Health professionals have also recognized the value of farm- and garden-scale urban agriculture [opens to PDF]—including the engagement of local citizens in work and benefits to food security, exercise, and mental health.

We speak with Javan Kerby Bernakevitch. Javan is an educator with Permaculture B.C. He’s versed in construction, natural building, environmental education, group facilitation and organic gardening.

Here is the MP3 of Javan’s interview: 384_march_01_2012_sm.mp3

The second interview was with Nicole Huska of Nicole’s Farm on the Sunshine Coast. Nicole’s Farm models a rural small acreage approach to create local living wage jobs and regionalized food sovereignty networks with superior fruits and vegetables.

Here’s the mp3 of Nicole’s interview: 385_march_01_2012_sm.mp3

The last interview with Dirk Becker. Dirk is a dedicated organic farmer on 2.5 acres in Lantzville, B.C. He has run into considerable recent opposition to his small-scale farm from neighbours and the municipality. Every time I get lazy or am feeling unmotivated, I think about what Dirk and his partner Nicole Shaw are doing, and I suddenly feel inspired to get off my ass. These two people are the hardest workers I know. Hands down. If you knew them too, You’d say “Dirk and Nicole are the hardest working people I know.” Check out Synergy Magazine– a publication from their farm in Lantzville.

Here’s the mp3 of Dirk’s interview: 386_march_01_2012_sm.mp3