RSS feed for the OCA Michigan forum http://organicconsumers.org/forum/index.php Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:56:30 -0800 5 http://organicconsumers.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=3423 I'm looking for people in metro Detroit who would like this to happen. If we are successful we could approach other stores.
Also I am looking for a list of local farms who would like to sell to these stores.]]> Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:30:09 -0700 http://organicconsumers.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=3423 http://organicconsumers.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=3237 If we boycott Whole Foods Store, where can we get organic foods? Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:02:35 -0700 http://organicconsumers.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=3237 http://organicconsumers.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=2918 http://www.ethicurean.com/2009/07/26/michigan-animal-laws/

Bills in Michigan would legislate industrial animal rearing
By Ethicurean @ 10:36 am on 26 July 2009.

Meddling in Michigan: The meat, dairy and egg industry in Michigan is trying to push a package of bills through the state legislature that will make their businesses much easier to run by reducing the public’s ability to oppose agricultural projects, weaken animal welfare protections, impose industrial animal production methods on small operators, and preclude local control of agricultural operations (a similar law in Iowa has made small towns helpless against CAFOs that want to move in to their area). In an Op Ed, Michigan State law professor David Farve brings up a number of important points, including this one: “…this legislation creates a presumption that compliance with industrial standards adopted as state regulations does not constitute cruelty to animals. The only reason for placing such a provision in the bill is the concern that present animal industrial practices do indeed constitute criminal cruelty to animals.” (Lansing State Journal, via Paul Shapiro’s and Edible SF’s twitter feeds)]]> Mon, 27 Jul 2009 04:49:23 -0700 http://organicconsumers.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=2918 http://organicconsumers.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=2617
QSR Magazine

Preliminary plans for a newly developed urban farm within the city of Detroit will utilize vacant land and abandoned property to create Hantz Farms, the world’s largest urban farm, announced John Hantz, CEO of Hantz Farms.

“Detroit could be the nation’s leading example of urban farming and become a destination for fresh, local and natural foods and become a major part of the green movement,” says Hantz, a Detroit resident.

“Hantz Farms will transform this area into a viable, beautiful and sustainable area that will serve the community, increase the tax base, create jobs and greatly improve the quality of life in an area that has experienced a severe decline in population.”

Phase 1 plans utilize more than 70 acres of underutilized vacant lands and abandoned properties on Detroit’s lower east side.

Hantz Farms plans to grow natural, local, fresh, and safe fruits and vegetables to help meet Michigan’s increasing demand for locally grown produce. In addition to food and trees, Hantz Farms will harvest wind energy and utilize geothermal heat and biomass fuel from recycling compost.

Hantz Farms is working directly with Michigan State University to add its expertise on agricultural and soil sciences and consulting with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, a national leader in community-based food systems.

“It makes great sense to utilize the blighted and abandoned land in the city to produce fresh, nutritious food for local consumers,” says Rick Foster, vice president for programs at the Kellogg Foundation.

“Urban development projects like this one not only create good food and connection to nature, but serve as an economic development anchor for others in the community.”

“Urban agriculture is an opportunity to provide an effective economic development program for the Detroit community. MSU’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources has been providing expert advice to Hantz Farms along with the MSU’s Michigan Agriculture Experiment Station and MSU Extension to develop a productive outreach and engagement program as part of the proposal,” says Jeffry D. Armstrong, dean of the Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “This is a challenging and exciting opportunity.”

Heading up Hantz Farms LLC, will be Matt Allen, a Detroit resident and advocate for Hantz’s vision.

“The combination of land consolidation, blight removal, conservation of city services and the beautification of the city itself are just some of the byproducts that will come from our commitment to urban farming,” Allen says.

“We’re very excited to be able to make strides in helping to make Detroit a progressive, world-class leader in providing fresh, locally grown food that’s safe and purely Detroit.”

Once the project is approved by Detroit city officials, work would begin immediately and the farm would be operating within six months.]]> Thu, 09 Apr 2009 04:34:14 -0700 http://organicconsumers.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=2617 http://organicconsumers.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=2509 As an executive committee member of the Sierra Club's South East Michigan Group (SEMG) and delegate to our Michigan Chapter, I know that these are issues we like to address. Please let us know if you are making progress, and your best methods and info.

We look forward to hearing from you here, welcome!!!

Yours,

Hal Newnan]]> Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:18:45 -0800 http://organicconsumers.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=2509