It’s been a bumpy couple of weeks with multiple mass shootings and Jim Crow era voting bills signed into law, but there’s one thing that makes us feel better about the state of the world -- planting fruit trees. This week, we planted 12 fruit trees at The Mohammed School in DeKalb County to support their vision for an edible soccer field!
Roots Down donated the trees which were delivered to the school by our friends at Servescape. We also donated mycelium spores and a mushroom kit to the school so the students can learn more about the value of mushrooms, while improving the health of their soil. Alongside members of the school garden led by Sister Terry Ali as well as DeKalb County Commissioner Ted Terry, we planted, learned and grew together after the storms passed on Friday morning.
You can expect to see more updates like these as we embark upon the Fruitful Communities initiative here in DeKalb County. Thanks to the support of Commissioner Terry, we’ve identified three projects in District 6 that we’re excited to get started on, as well as a library initiative in District 5 thanks to the support of Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson. It’s our dream to make DeKalb County a more fruitful place to live, and we’re well on our way thanks to these community champions!
Here are this week's links:
Black farmers speak out against the 'festering wound' of racism in agriculture - “This festering wound on the soul of agriculture must be healed,” said congressman David Scott of Georgia, who was born on a farm in South Carolina owned by his grandparents and now serves as the first ever Black person to chair the committee.
Agriculture secretary: Under Trump, 0.1% of COVID farm aid went to Black farmers - https://news.yahoo.com/agriculture-secretary-under-trump-0-115206091.html
These Lego-Like Bricks Make Building a Raised Garden Bed a Snap - https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/oldcastle-wall-blocks-raised-garden-bed/
How one indoor farm is changing how food is grown — and building a new future for Appalachia - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/indoor-farming-appharvest/
USDA Increases SNAP Benefits Up To $100 Per Household with Funding from American Rescue Plan - https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2021/03/22/usda-increases-snap-benefits-100-household-funding-american-rescue
Why Covering Canals With Solar Panels Is a Power Move - Scientists in California just ran the numbers on what would happen if their state slapped solar panels on 4,000 miles of its canals, including the major California Aqueduct, and the results point to a potentially beautiful partnership. Their feasibility study, published in the journal Nature Sustainability, finds that if applied statewide, the panels would save 63 billion gallons of water from evaporating each year. At the same time, solar panels across California’s exposed canals would provide 13 gigawatts of renewable power annually, about half of the new capacity the state needs to meet its decarbonization goals by the year 2030.
Major climate polluters accused of greenwashing with sports sponsorship - Report reveals more than 250 deals between high-carbon industries and leading sports teams.
Atlanta neighbors quickly pool $188K, hope to win historic building at auction - Capitol View aims to address gentrification ills with Masons hall redevelopment, but starting bid is $300K
You Can Eat 17-Year Cicadas Emerging In Georgia - https://patch.com/georgia/atlanta/you-can-eat-17-year-cicadas-emerging-georgia
The Coal Plant Next Door - Near America’s largest coal-fired power plant, toxins are showing up in drinking water and people have fallen ill. Thousands of pages of internal documents show how one giant energy company plans to avoid the cleanup costs.
PATH Foundation Announces Opening of the Westside BeltLine Connector - https://whatnowatlanta.com/path-foundation-announces-opening-of-the-westside-beltline-connector/
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