Occupy My Kitchen

Ok. we get it. Monsanto and other MegaFood Corporations are doing really bad things to the environment, to animals, to independent farmers, and very likely, to all humans. Just on general principal, we should try to eliminate Big Ag from our diets.

But what exactly does that mean for New Yorkers? Where can we find NonMonsanto food? Will it cost more in time and money? Can we afford it? Is it realistic to expect individual consumers to ban Big Ag from their tables?

One of our group members has decided to make it her New Year's resolution to eliminate Monsanto and Big Ag from her kitchen and will share this project with whomever wants to come along.

Project: Occupy My Kitchen or...Keep the One Percent Off My Table

Brought to you by the Food and Environmental Justice Working Group of Occupy Queens

Organic Farmers Sue Monsanto

"In an effort to protect the rights of organic farmers and the integrity of our agricultural seed stock, Maine organic potato farmer Jim Gerritsen joined the Public Patent Foundation's lawsuit against Monsanto and as President of the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association is the lead plaintiff, along with 83 other organizations, including Food Democracy Now!.

Gerritsen made his first trip to New York City to join the Farmers March to share his concern about the loss of organic seeds to genetic contamination and the threat this poses to farmers, eaters and our food supply." Read more here



Read more about the lawsuit against Monsanto:

Aroostook farmer the face of organic growers' fight against Monsanto

Bridgewater organic farmer included on list of those changing the world

Visit Jim Gerritsen's website, Wood Prairie Farm

Humans VS Monsanto

This 10 minute excerpt from a longer film shows why Monsanto is no Saint.





If you want to see the full-length documentary, go to this link: http://youtu.be/cYO2k_o16E0

Fracking Hell: The Untold Story

An original investigative report by Earth Focus and UK's Ecologist Film Unit looks at the risks of natural gas development in the Marcellus Shale. From toxic chemicals in drinking water to unregulated interstate dumping of potentially radioactive waste that experts fear can contaminate water supplies in major population centers including New York City, are the health consequences worth the economic gains?

Rural Farmers & Occupy Wall Street Feed Thousands

Although this is no longer happening after the eviction of OWS from Zuccotti Park, it's worth remembering and celebrating the possibilities that grew and flourished there.



Read more here: http://bit.ly/v2a7b2

Manoomin Vs Copper Mining

The Manoomin Project is restoring wild rice (known to Native Americans as Manoomin) to northern Michigan thru the hands of at-risk teenagers with help from American Indian guides. Over 100 teens have planted more than one ton of wild rice seeds during the past four summers thanks to guides from several Native American communities and other volunteers including from Marquette County Juvenile Court.

The wild rice project was founded by the Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, Michigan and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community to help the teenagers learn respect for themselves, nature and American Indian heritage.The teens can also learn about faith and are taught social issues like racism against Native American.

This project and the Manoomin itself is being threatened by a proposed copper mine which will poison the waters and make the rice unsustainable.





Read more at Protect our Manoomin

Morning Glory Garden VS New York City HPD

Morning Glory is a garden created and maintained by youths for years on an abandoned lot.

The week of Nov. 4th 2011 Housing and Preservation Development (HPD) came to the garden without any advance notice.  They began destroying personal property belonging to the community.



Read more about Morning Glory Community Garden at The Big Ceci.