Apparently it is the season for communities to come together to discuss local food issues in Kentucky. We attended the Community Farm Alliance meeting in Louisville last week called Everybody Eats, and we came away with some great new ideas. Then there was the Bluegrass Food Security Conference a few days ago in Lexington, which we did not get to attend but that this article gives a great background on. It seems that the concepts of eating and shopping locally are alive and well in Kentucky and we are pushing hard for them to take root in Glasgow.
The Sustainable Glasgow team is working hard on plans for Bounty of the Barrens Market this year. As always, we are looking for more volunteers to help us pull off an even greater market this year than we had last year. Of course, we are also looking for new and returning members. All of you should have gotten an email invoice for your 2010 Sustainable Glasgow membership. For those of you who have already responded with a check for 2010, Thank You. For those of you who have not yet responded, we really hope you will renew your membership and make a donation toward this essential work we are doing.
Finally, if you have not yet started to participate in Facebook and have not yet discovered our very active Sustainable Glasgow Facebook page at this link, you really are missing the latest and most robust way for us to stay in touch. Please click on the link above and become a fan of our Facebook site!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Let's Do More Than Talk About Alternate Transportation
This post was originally created as a discussion on our new Bicycles of the Barrens Facebook page at this link. It is reposted here for those who do not yet use Facebook.
Anyone who has occasion to drive around the south side of Glasgow on a school day between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. knows it is time to start the discussion that we created the Bicycles of the Barrens group to conduct. It is time to discuss the need for a master cycling/jogging/walking route plan and the need to secure a commitment from local governments for annual funding for the plan. Nearly every day when the schools are in session, the southern end of the 31E Bypass is just as gridlocked as a southern California freeway. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of vehicles destined to and from WKU Glasgow, the Barren County HS/Trojan Academy Campus, South Green Elementary, Red Cross Elementary, Christian Academy, and Glasgow Montessori all seem to be delivering one child at a time. As a result, traffic is totally locked up between the many traffic signals that exist within a half mile radius of South Gate Shopping Center. This is a wasteful, dangerous, exasperating mess and it repeats itself again later in the afternoon when schools release students and every day when school is in session.
If we had a simple network of cycling/jogging lanes that connect the schools, parks, and residential areas, as well as connecting to the new Veterans Outer Loop, we might have the foundation of a solution. Parking in outlying areas along the cycling lanes might encourage students to drive in with bicycles on racks, park in the outlying lots, and ride in to schools and work. The schools might provide incentives for students arriving and departing on bicycles or on foot. Maybe, just maybe, some of the students who are determined to live a sustainable lifestyle might begin to arrive on bicycles and maybe the idea might catch on. Stranger things have happened, right?
If you look at a map of Glasgow, it is notable that the new Outer Loop will intersect all routes into Glasgow from the westernmost to the easternmost extremes of the city. Beginning in front of South Green Elementary, South Fork Creek similarly runs all the way to an intersection with the new Outer Loop to the east. If we built a multi-use pathway along that scenic creek from South Green to the Outer Loop. Then if we got the Transportation Cabinet to use the broad shoulders of the new loop to paint a bicycle lane all the way around from that point to its eventual intersection with KY 1297 on the west side of Glasgow (and if we could convince the city and county to maintain that pathway by simply sweeping and vacuuming it regularly), we would have a nearly 20 mile loop around the community complete with the exception of a missing segment on the south west side of town. Eventually, Cleveland Avenue will need to be rebuilt from the Bypass to the new Loop, and it can be planned and built with a cycling lane, completing a dream alternate transportation/fitness system around our community. This would benefit our happiness relative to transportation snarls and make a great impact on our overall health, by encouraging us to walk, jog and cycle.
Then if we complete the aforementioned system of internal spokes to that "wheel" with a variety of painted lanes and improved sidewalks over the years we will develop a real cycling/jogging infrastructure capable of actually relieving traffic pressure on many of our existing roadways. With that network in place, 15,000 people will have access, and the option of walking or cycling for 90% of their trips to run local errands of three miles or less (which happens to be what most trips in town actually are). If we got our local governments to commit something like 5% of the existing budget for construction and maintenance of the roadway network, we could have this system totally in place in a few years.
What do you say? Ready to start advocating during this year's budget cycle?
Anyone who has occasion to drive around the south side of Glasgow on a school day between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. knows it is time to start the discussion that we created the Bicycles of the Barrens group to conduct. It is time to discuss the need for a master cycling/jogging/walking route plan and the need to secure a commitment from local governments for annual funding for the plan. Nearly every day when the schools are in session, the southern end of the 31E Bypass is just as gridlocked as a southern California freeway. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of vehicles destined to and from WKU Glasgow, the Barren County HS/Trojan Academy Campus, South Green Elementary, Red Cross Elementary, Christian Academy, and Glasgow Montessori all seem to be delivering one child at a time. As a result, traffic is totally locked up between the many traffic signals that exist within a half mile radius of South Gate Shopping Center. This is a wasteful, dangerous, exasperating mess and it repeats itself again later in the afternoon when schools release students and every day when school is in session.
If we had a simple network of cycling/jogging lanes that connect the schools, parks, and residential areas, as well as connecting to the new Veterans Outer Loop, we might have the foundation of a solution. Parking in outlying areas along the cycling lanes might encourage students to drive in with bicycles on racks, park in the outlying lots, and ride in to schools and work. The schools might provide incentives for students arriving and departing on bicycles or on foot. Maybe, just maybe, some of the students who are determined to live a sustainable lifestyle might begin to arrive on bicycles and maybe the idea might catch on. Stranger things have happened, right?
If you look at a map of Glasgow, it is notable that the new Outer Loop will intersect all routes into Glasgow from the westernmost to the easternmost extremes of the city. Beginning in front of South Green Elementary, South Fork Creek similarly runs all the way to an intersection with the new Outer Loop to the east. If we built a multi-use pathway along that scenic creek from South Green to the Outer Loop. Then if we got the Transportation Cabinet to use the broad shoulders of the new loop to paint a bicycle lane all the way around from that point to its eventual intersection with KY 1297 on the west side of Glasgow (and if we could convince the city and county to maintain that pathway by simply sweeping and vacuuming it regularly), we would have a nearly 20 mile loop around the community complete with the exception of a missing segment on the south west side of town. Eventually, Cleveland Avenue will need to be rebuilt from the Bypass to the new Loop, and it can be planned and built with a cycling lane, completing a dream alternate transportation/fitness system around our community. This would benefit our happiness relative to transportation snarls and make a great impact on our overall health, by encouraging us to walk, jog and cycle.
Then if we complete the aforementioned system of internal spokes to that "wheel" with a variety of painted lanes and improved sidewalks over the years we will develop a real cycling/jogging infrastructure capable of actually relieving traffic pressure on many of our existing roadways. With that network in place, 15,000 people will have access, and the option of walking or cycling for 90% of their trips to run local errands of three miles or less (which happens to be what most trips in town actually are). If we got our local governments to commit something like 5% of the existing budget for construction and maintenance of the roadway network, we could have this system totally in place in a few years.
What do you say? Ready to start advocating during this year's budget cycle?
Monday, March 1, 2010
Twenty Minute Talk says it all
Once a year some of the greatest thinkers on the planet come together for the TED conference to examine a wide variety of topics. This year, the hands down best talk of the whole conference was delivered by Jamie Oliver. He talked about food, the American diet, and how our lives are being taken in the name of cheap and fast food. You owe it to yourself to take twenty minutes to watch this video at this link
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
C'mon Barren County Dairy Farmers -- Copy This Idea!
Today's Courier-Journal has a great article linked here written by Marty Rosen about the Schrock family and their local dairy products to consumer operation in Logan County. As the article explains, these folks decided to dump the dairy model that is giving all of our local dairy farmers so much pain because of the low prices being paid by the wholesalers. They set up an operation to process raw milk into excellent finished products which they sell directly to the consumers at a few farmers markets and a few small grocery stores, thus, cutting out several middle men and hundreds of miles of transportation costs.
They also sell their milk in glass bottles that people return for reuse! I know Barren County is bound to be full of folks who could do the same thing. I know for sure that if they do, we would love to help them sell the products at Bounty of the Barrens Farmers Market! So, here is the link again, read the story and then find a local dairy farmer that we can convince to make this bold move. This is the sort of localism and commitment to locally produced goods that Sustainable Glasgow is striving to promote. Can we make this happen?
They also sell their milk in glass bottles that people return for reuse! I know Barren County is bound to be full of folks who could do the same thing. I know for sure that if they do, we would love to help them sell the products at Bounty of the Barrens Farmers Market! So, here is the link again, read the story and then find a local dairy farmer that we can convince to make this bold move. This is the sort of localism and commitment to locally produced goods that Sustainable Glasgow is striving to promote. Can we make this happen?
Friday, February 19, 2010
More on the Market for 2010
While the sun is peeking out for a few minutes and thoughts of spring are bouncing around, it seems like a good time to bring everyone up to speed on the latest Sustainable Glasgow happenings.
First of all, everyone should know that plans for the 2010 version of Bounty of the Barrens Farmers Market are well underway. Last weekend we held our annual vendors meeting to discuss the market with vendors and over fifty folks showed up to discuss the plans for our second year. We have revised the layout of the market some and we will post the new layout right here as soon as we get final approval from BB&T for our new plans. The new layout provides for more vendor spaces as well, and we really think that we are going to need that space for many new vendors this year.
We are also planning a “food court” area of the market where we hope that a number of local restaurants will set up shop on Saturday mornings and sell us some of their specialties every week. Can’t you just smell breakfast and lunch cooking at the market? Yummm! Near the food court we are hoping that BB&T will give us permission to place several picnic tables so everyone will have a convenient spot to consume the food purchased from the local restaurants, and those tables will also be close to another feature we are planning for this year – a really nice permanent stage facility to be used by the local musicians that come to perform! If you are one of those musicians that wants to perform on that stage, please contact us so we can start arranging dates for this year.
Another really great feature we think is secured for this year is that we will have an ATM/EBT terminal at the market in the Sustainable Glasgow tent. That means we will be able to scan your debit card and give you tokens to use to purchase goods at the vendor tents. No longer will you be going home with only a few food items because you forgot to bring cash! Also, we were just notified by USDA that we are approved to use that same terminal to accept USDA SNAP cards and other food program vouchers.
SNAP helps low-income people and families buy the food they need for good health. This is the modern day version of the old Food Stamps Program. Benefits are provided on an electronic card that is used like an ATM card and we will be able to accept them at the market. That means that a whole new segment of our local populace will start getting access to real, local, nutritious food. The SNAP helps clients learn to make healthy eating and active lifestyle choices and Bounty of the Barrens Farmers Market is proud to be able to be a part of this program.
Finally, at the meeting Dr. Jerry Ralston delivered some thrilling news about the plans, starting with North Jackson Elementary School, for the creation of Edible Schoolyards projects in the Barren County School System. He told us of the excitement which is building among the educators and children in the Barren County Schools about this project which will involve elementary students in the planning, planting, tending, and harvesting of real food on the grounds of their schools. They expect the programs to last through the summer and, hopefully, will include the kids bringing their produce to the market so that they can also learn about the business of retailing food to the public. It is hard to believe that all of this is coming to pass so quickly, but, it truly is. Sure, it has been a long cold winter for us all, but the market will be opening before you know it. I can’t wait!
First of all, everyone should know that plans for the 2010 version of Bounty of the Barrens Farmers Market are well underway. Last weekend we held our annual vendors meeting to discuss the market with vendors and over fifty folks showed up to discuss the plans for our second year. We have revised the layout of the market some and we will post the new layout right here as soon as we get final approval from BB&T for our new plans. The new layout provides for more vendor spaces as well, and we really think that we are going to need that space for many new vendors this year.
We are also planning a “food court” area of the market where we hope that a number of local restaurants will set up shop on Saturday mornings and sell us some of their specialties every week. Can’t you just smell breakfast and lunch cooking at the market? Yummm! Near the food court we are hoping that BB&T will give us permission to place several picnic tables so everyone will have a convenient spot to consume the food purchased from the local restaurants, and those tables will also be close to another feature we are planning for this year – a really nice permanent stage facility to be used by the local musicians that come to perform! If you are one of those musicians that wants to perform on that stage, please contact us so we can start arranging dates for this year.
Another really great feature we think is secured for this year is that we will have an ATM/EBT terminal at the market in the Sustainable Glasgow tent. That means we will be able to scan your debit card and give you tokens to use to purchase goods at the vendor tents. No longer will you be going home with only a few food items because you forgot to bring cash! Also, we were just notified by USDA that we are approved to use that same terminal to accept USDA SNAP cards and other food program vouchers.
SNAP helps low-income people and families buy the food they need for good health. This is the modern day version of the old Food Stamps Program. Benefits are provided on an electronic card that is used like an ATM card and we will be able to accept them at the market. That means that a whole new segment of our local populace will start getting access to real, local, nutritious food. The SNAP helps clients learn to make healthy eating and active lifestyle choices and Bounty of the Barrens Farmers Market is proud to be able to be a part of this program.
Finally, at the meeting Dr. Jerry Ralston delivered some thrilling news about the plans, starting with North Jackson Elementary School, for the creation of Edible Schoolyards projects in the Barren County School System. He told us of the excitement which is building among the educators and children in the Barren County Schools about this project which will involve elementary students in the planning, planting, tending, and harvesting of real food on the grounds of their schools. They expect the programs to last through the summer and, hopefully, will include the kids bringing their produce to the market so that they can also learn about the business of retailing food to the public. It is hard to believe that all of this is coming to pass so quickly, but, it truly is. Sure, it has been a long cold winter for us all, but the market will be opening before you know it. I can’t wait!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
"Jammin' at George J's" on Friday, February 26
Sustainable Glasgow is partnering with our good friends at George J's restaurant to present the inaugural "Jammin' at George J's" on Friday, February 26 from 6:30 to 8:30PM. Our first performer will be Josh Johnson with his trusty sideman Ty Bowles. Josh plays acoustic guitar and sings and Ty plays bass and mandolin. They perform a great set of acoustic favorites from blues to country to folk to rock and everything in-between. Josh played at the Bounty of the Barrens market twice this summer and was a favorite of the patrons and vendors.
I hope you can make it for this evening of food, fun and great live music right on the square in downtown Glasgow.
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