A group within Occupy Albany is mobilizing significant momentum for urban farming.
You may be wondering what the Occupy Movement has to do with the labor-intensive, patience-demanding work of farming. Aren't these people about yelling in the streets and trespassing in parks? When did they become so pedestrian?
Local farming is a catalyst for diverse social change. If you don't believe me, ask Michael Pollan. He comes at the issue from a different framework than the Occupy Movement, but they end up in the same place.
He cites that during the 1940s Victory Garden movement, 40% of produce consumed in the US was grown in home gardens. People in their backyards or neighborhood parks shared the work to produce enough food to share. If that's not good news for the 99% I don't know what is.
If you would like to get involved in Occupy Albany's gardening initiative, please let me know. An organizing meeting will take place in the next few weeks.