Something Both Useful and Positive: Crop Mobs

[TalkingDog]

I ran across this non-profit organization. Basically a self-organizing collective that specializes in sustainable agriculture. This one is in NC (where I live), but if you follow the Google maps links you will see that it is nationwide in it's scope. I'm doing my part and passing the information along.

Feel free to do the same.

There goes a Crop Mob.

It’s called crop mobbing. Think of it as a Digital Age barn-raising, or Facebook-enabled farming.

Crop Mobs are a growing contingent of farmers, food activists, office workers, the agri-curious and the unemployed who choose a small farm somewhere around the Piedmont, goes out to the site and does a lot of work in a short amount of time.

They meet about once a month to broaden their knowledge about gardening and sustainable agriculture, while putting a serious dent in the farmer’s to-do list.

This can be extremely helpful to a local small farmer trying to make a living on their next harvest. It’s also useful for communities that want to start a garden, but doesn’t know where to start. It’s a community building exercise that everyone benefits from.

Organizer Trace Ramsey, 35 explained in the group’s blog at cropmob.org, “We farm because we want to, not because we need to. At some time or another, we were infected with a desire to give and take from the dirt.”

Beginners and those wanting to learn more about sustainable agriculture are gladly welcomed. Contact Crop Mob Piedmont on Facebook or though The Gardens at Island Ford to see how you can get involved.

Crop Mob Piedmont is currently looking for volunteers with agricultural experience in the Piedmont region, so that the Crop Mob will have a knowledge base to learn from. Those volunteers would be in charge of such duties as site prep, recruitment, tool acquiring, outreach, and anything else we can think of. So, if you would like to share some good knowledge, good food, good music, and good works contact Crop Mob Piedmont through The Gardens at Island Ford.

Please look through your email list and spread the word around the Piedmont.

Crop Mob Piedmont on FaceBook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Crop-Mob-Piedmont/357841342867

Join us on Google Groups: http://groups.google.com/group/cropmob

Outside the Piedmont? Use this Google Map to locate a Crop Mob near you: http://tiny.cc/sOBlR

[mod mom]

1. Sounds great, but none in Ohio.

[TalkingDog]

3. You can start one. No limits on groups just the will to do it. n/t

[TalkingDog]

4. Here's an article from HuffPo on how to start one.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/26/how-to-start-a-crop-mob_n_477982.html

[mod mom]

6. Thanks, & here's another from the NYT:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/28/magazine/28food-t-000.html

[conscious evolution]

2. Be the change you wish to see

That is what is happening here.

[Duer 157099]

5. Sort of like anti-locusts

Interesting concept

[Gman]

7. Sounds like a real live Farmtown

although I don't play Farmtown, Cafeworld, et al.

[hfojvt]

8. that's pretty cool

I wonder if we could do something like this with city parks.

[TalkingDog]

16. I think that might apply, although their focus is on food production.

Why don't you look over the .org pages and see.

[patrice]

9. OMG, how utterly and completely Cool! nt

[TalkingDog]

12. That is exactly what I said.

And hence the everybody needs to know about this.

[patrice]

13. I mean, it's down-right Beautiful! Maybe even overcome some of the differences between us by

working together on something concrete that really matters AND helps ourselves and others.

It is almost too Good to be true and kind of makes me want to cry.

Screw "warm and fuzzies" give us meaningful work!!!

[lildreamer316]

10. Hey TalkingDog..

I'm in the piedmont as well; thanks so much for pointing this out!
If you're joining or are a member, catch up with me via PM..I want to participate!! I am a stay at home mom, and there are lots of farms around here. I've already visited the Facebook page, and am checking out the other links now.

[Eyerish]

11. Wonderful!

K&R

[AwakeAtLast]

14. That would be so cool!

Thanks for the link! :hi:

[G_j]

15. the way of the future

I hope