News
Marymount University Promoting Urban Farming!
 For updates on the Potting Kit Giveaway, go to our Facebook event page. In addition to promoting gardening in small spaces, Rooftop Roots built raised beds on Marymount University's campus, which will be maintained by Marymount's Food For Thought campus group. This garden is a Plot Against Hunger plot and the produce will go to AFAC families in need. The Marymount Farmers Market, a local producer-only market, opens for the season on May 26th. Each of the vendors grows, bakes, roasts, cooks, or prepares all of their products within 125 miles of Arlington County. When: Saturdays 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, May 26th through Thanksgiving Where: Marymount University surface parking lot, near the intersection of Glebe Rd. and Old Dominion Dr. |
Beyond Farmers Markets: A Look at Food Hubs - May 10th Presentation
Panel Moderator – Ellie Bomstein, Program Associate, Wallace Center at Winrock International
A regional food hub is a business or organization that actively manages the aggregation, distribution, and marketing of source-identified food products primarily from local and regional producers to strengthen their ability to satisfy wholesale, retail, and institutional demand. Check our Facebook event page for updates! Our Mission: Facilitating community collaboration to promote sustainable food systems for Arlington. Sponsored by Arlington County Department of Parks & Recreation |
FOUA Winter 2018 Meeting: Climate Change & New Board Members
Our Winter 2018 meeting on Climate Change, Agriculture and Our Food was well attended. Our panel presented a wide range of information on climate change impacts on food plants, pests and production, plant variety changes, techniques to address the coming changes, and the role of policy and governmental planning to steer change in practices.  Don Weber, USDA Research Entomologist, discussed changes in pests and beneficial insects and adaptive approaches to controlling pests. Don focused on how microenvironments, microclimates (such as urban heat islands) and temperature extremes impact insects the most. He also provided a list of tips for gardeners, very similar to Kirsten’s list. Click here for his full presentation. Tod Wickersham, Biodiversity for a Livable Climate and Beneficial Results, LLC, opened our discussion with an overview of climate change trends and how our weather is getting “weird.” He then highlighted how the use of regenerative agriculture and ecological restoration brings carbon back into soil and heals the climate. He highlighted ways that gardeners can bring regenerative practices to their own gardens and how people can work within their communities, and at the state and national levels to promote policies and regulations that will increase regenerative agriculture practices. Click here for his full presentation.  We want to thank Thomas Schneider, an original member of the Steering Committee and Board member, who has resigned so he can grow his nonprofit Rooftop Roots. He will continue to coordinate our Spring Potting Party with Marymount University. We thank Arlington Central Library for once again providing a great venue for our meeting. We thank Pu Wen Lee from AFAC and Kirsten Conrad for bringing displays.  |
AFAC Spring Garden Kickoff - Feb. 10th
The Arlington Food Assistance Center’s “Plot Against Hunger” program will host a Spring Garden Kickoff on Saturday, February 10th from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. The event will take place at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 4000 Lorcom Lane, Arlington, VA 22207, home of AFAC’s largest Plot Against Hunger garden. The Kickoff will feature: · Information about how Plot Against Hunger gardens provide fresh produce for AFAC clients and how to start one yourself · Short presentations on techniques for starting a garden, irrigation/mulching, pest control, and safe body mechanics for gardeners · Displays on compost bins, container and window sill gardening, cold frames, growing mushrooms, and more · Hands-on tables to practice basic gardening skills · Exhibit tables for Northern Virginia Extension Service, 4-H in the Schools, Master Gardeners, and other local organizations Free vegetables and herb seeds, seed pots and trays, coffee grounds and other compost, and containers for packaging produce donations will be available to AFAC gardeners. Light refreshments will be served. All are welcome. RSVP to https://afac.org/spring-garden-kickoff
Flyer attached. |
| Attachments:
2018 Spring Garden Kick-off invitation. final.pdf
Winter is the Time to Read a Good Book on Farming & Food
What are your favorite books? Go to our Facebook page and share them with us!  |
Climate Change, Agriculture and Our Food
Arlington Friends of Urban Agriculture presents CLIMATE CHANGE, AGRICULTURE & OUR FOOD What will change? How can we adapt? Wednesday, January 24, 2018, 7:00-8:30pm Arlington Central Library Auditorium, 1015 N. Quincy St., Arlington (Near Virginia Square/GMU, Ballston/MU Metro Stations) Networking & Display Tables at 6:30 pm. New FOUA Board Members will be elected at this meeting. Free and open to the public. Check our Facebook event page for updates Panel
A collection of books on regenerative agriculture and related topi A collection of books on regenerative agriculture and related topics.  Our Mission: Facilitating community collaboration to promote sustainable food systems for Arlington. Sponsored by Arlington Department of Parks and Recreation. |
FOUA Presentation: What Healthy Soils Mean to You -- and Beyond
What Healthy Soils Mean to You – And Beyond Saturday, September 16, 1:00pm – 2:30pm Arlington Central Library  Panelists:
FILMS Why Soil Matters - by Kiss the Ground (3.26 min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pesqtODu_XM Unlocking the Secrets of Soil -- USDA - NRCS (2.44 min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzfb-MSDEcU Soil Solutions to Climate Problems narrated by Michael Pollan (4min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxqBzrx9yIE Fair Farms: Are You Ready for a New Food Future? (1.56 min)
Facilitating community collaboration to promote sustainable food systems for Arlington - Sponsored by Arlington Department of Parks and Recreation |
| Attachments:
FOUA_Sept16_flyer.pdf
Call for Volunteers!
 July 29, Saturday - Help at Marymount Farmers Market to staff a FOUA table and the Market’s table. Get an insider’s view of running a market and promote FOUA. Time slots are 8 – 10 am, 9 – 11 am or 11 am – 1 pm. Contact Audrey Morris at agmorris1@yahoo.com. The market runs Saturdays 9am - 1pm May 27 through Nov. 18. August 18 – 20 – Arlington County Fair. Help staff a table promoting FOUA and Arlington County urban agriculture activities, for a 2-hour time slot on Friday or Saturday, August 18 - 19. Contact Audrey Morris at agmorris1@yahoo.com. |
2017 Virginia Urban Agriculture Summit Request for Proposals due July 31
 Do you have an Urban Agriculture issue or program to present that is innovative, reaches new audiences, is resourceful, or uses small budgets to achieve a big impact? Submit a proposal for either a seven-minute presentation in a 7 x 7-minute 'popcorn' style forum, or to facilitate a table at a workshop. Submit a proposal with this form => https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfc0rIkN9JABEzlXCa5tTPbna90iK57hpeeAUPXn_zN1JNCoA/viewform?c=0&w=1 More info attached to this blog. Summit website: https://vafb.swoogo.com/urbanag2017/36853 |
| Attachments:
VUAS 2017 Call for Proposals 8.5 x 14 with text 071517.pdf
Introducing FOUA’s Inaugural Board of Directors
Electing our first Board of Directors in May takes FOUA a giant step forwards. It was enabled by adoption of our Bylaws in December 2016 and replaces the Steering Committee. Our first meeting in June started with the election of officers provided for in the Bylaws. They are:
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