Session 5: Sustainable Agriculture and Dealing with Waste

Reading: Please read chapters 11 & 12 of "The Natural Step for Communities" before meeting with your study circle for Session 5.

Questions: Please consider the following questions while reading the relevant chapters of the book, and use them to guide discussion during your study circle.

Questions related to sustainable agriculture:

  1. Using the four sustainability objectives as a guide, discuss what sustainable agriculture and food production and provision means. What might these look like in your region?
  2. Do you or have you ever had a vegetable garden? If so, describe the experience of growing and eating your own food.
Questions related to dealing with waste:
  1. Identify and discuss some of the "take-make-waste" patterns in your community, your business, and your household. First, are any of these unnecessary - that is, can they be avoided in the first place, or at least reduced? Next, using the eco-cycling principle that sees waste as a resource, how could some of these patterns be changed?
  2. A growing number of businesses around the world are engaging in industrial ecology - that is, using the by-products of other businesses as raw materials in their own processes, and vice versa. Are there examples of any businesses in your region that are doing this?
  3. Discuss ways in which your community's waste systems (i.e. sewage treatment, land fills, etc.) conflict with the cycles of nature. Given the solutions you read about in the Waste chapter, which solutions do you think your community could change most easily to make its waste systems better fit the natural cycles?
  4. The authors in the book note that "dealing with waste also means changing the patterns of consumption." How might your community begin to encourage people to change their patterns of consumption? What are some steps to change your patterns of consumption?

Local Community Supported Agriculture

CSA is a relationship of mutual support and commitment between local farmers and community members who pay the farmer an annual membership fee and receive a weekly share of the harvest during the growing season. The goals of CSA support a sustainable agriculture system which provides farmers with direct outlets for farm products and ensures fair compensation.

Study Guide Chapters

Select from the sections below to view questions:

  • Overview: Guideines, Facilitators, Openings and Circle Questions
  • Session 1: Introducing the Natural Step Framework and Sustainability (Chapters 1, 2 & 3)
  • Session 2: Changing to Renewable Energy Resources and Alternative Transportation (Chapters 5 & 6)
  • Session 3: Eco-Housing and Green Building/Business (Chapters 7 & 8)
  • Session 4: Eco-Economic Development and Ecological Schools/Education (Chapters 9 & 10)
  • Session 5: Sustainable Agriculture and Dealing with Waste (Chapters 11 & 12)
  • Session 6: Protecting Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use and Planning (Chapters 13 & 14)
  • Session 7: What Gets in the Way of Change and Three Change Processes That Work (Chapters 15 & 16)
  • Session 8: Steps to Change and Process Leader (Chapters 17 & 18)
 
   
 
Photo by Ann Bliss
 

Further Resources and Readings

Seacoast Farmers Markets: In summer, you can call the hotline at 603-778-6003
www.seacoastgrowers.org

NH Farm Stand Directory
www.agriculture.nh.gov

 

Maine Farm Stands, CSAs, etc.

http://www.getrealmaine.com/index.shtml

 

Seacoast Eat Local

Seacoast Eat Local works to connect consumers with sources of locally grown and locally made foods. We advocate eating locally for ecological, social, cultural, and environmental reasons. In addition to the annual Eat Local Challenge, Seacoast Eat Local hosts several winter farmers' markets, co-produces an annual local foods resource guide, and works to gather and share sources of local food via our website.

http://www.seacoasteatlocal.org/

 

Slow Food Seacoast

What if all of our food were good (tasty), clean (safe for people and the environment), and fair (supporting the people who make and grow it)? Together, we can make it happen. Take the time. Enjoy life. Appreciate food. Share, learn, taste, and celebrate with Slow Food Seacoast.

http://slowfoodseacoast.blogspot.com/

Slow Food International

http://www.slowfood.com/

 

The Way We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter, by Peter Singer and Jim Mason (2006)

Home Grown: The Case for Local Food in a Global Market
Woldwatch Paper No. 163, Worldwatch Institute (2002)
www.worldwatch.org

NeighborNation.net: A neighborhood-based program that helps neighbors connect for giving away unwanted items, sharing stuff, offering services or starting or joining a group.
www.neighbornation.net

Freecycle: Similar to NeighborNation.net and Craig's List, Freecycle is just awesome
www.freecycle.org

Junk Mail: Reduce unwanted junk mail by writing to the Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service at:

P.O. Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512

Ask for your name to be removed.