UDL Part 2: Ground Up

The Urban Design Lab at Columbia University has done it again. They've taken a complex issue, compiled compelling first-hand farmer stories, detailed maps and objective analysis to shed light on the obvious mandate to get behind working landscapes. The science behind "Agriculture as an economic driver" is finally here.

Ground Up: Cultivating Sustainable Agriculture in the Catskill Region

It's no surprise that five of six farmers interviewed are Pure Catskills members in Sullivan County. The 48-page report -- a collaboration of many organizations, agencies and institutions of which the Council is honored to be among -- talks about the Big Picture, local concerns, hurdles facing regional agriculture and the What If... It's worth sitting down with a fresh cup of raw milk and reading through it.

If you can't spare the hour to read it, skip to page 46. The report outlines 10 points that politicians, consumers and farmers can take to move sustainable agriculture forward in the Catskills. You can do your part, by furthering as many of these recommendations as are applicable:

FOR POLITICIANS
* Create incentives to buy local at county and statewide scales, strengthening relationships between local food production and food consumers.
* Target incentives toward entrepreneurs interested in starting a farm or expanding a current business.
* Enact policies to reduce risk and liability for farmers who participate in agritourism.

FOR CONSUMERS
* Purchase fresh groceries from local farmers, through a CSA, or at a farmers market. Know the benefits of eating seasonally and sustainably.
* Understand the principles of organically grown food and the importance of balanced nutrition.
* Encourage children and others to learn about how and where food is grown. Take trips to local farms and ask your supermarket to identify locally grown food.

FOR FARMERS
* Sign up for distribution assistance programs, such as Greenmarkets and the Just Food Program.
* Start an apprenticeship program at your farm to teach aspiring farmers and receive extra help.
* Allocate 100% of your land to new farming strategies and techniques. Test organic approaches.
* Reach out to your end market and get to know consumers personally, to better understand their needs.