Mike Sosadeeter
Agricultural resource development + entrepreneurial spirit + family and friends = Salsa Economics (add chips and serve).
The turn of the century found me heading to Sarasota to manage the Urbaculture project for the Florida House Institute for Sustainable Development (ISD). I worked on the EPA-funded Brownfield evaluation and community development portion of the project, eager to apply community outreach, landscape architecture and Permaculture principles to the Urbaculture project in Newtown.
Following on the success of the Florida House Learning Center, ISD envisioned bringing sustainable agriculture to the forefront of the fledgling sustainability movement in Sarasota; namely, an urban agriculture demonstration/learning center complete with a community marketplace. The vision was to clean up 15 acre Brownfield site, raised bed and containerized urban agriculture and small business development. However, Urbaculture wasn't meant to be on that site, now earmarked for a Super Wal-Mart.
Having to temporarily shelve the Urbaculture project, I went to work with Resource Management Group, Inc. (RMG). I managed a grant funded Food Waste Recovery and Reuse project in Sarasota County. Jesse White, owner of RMG, envisioned the project being a model of waste recovery and reuse, adding economic opportunities to the agriculture sector of Sarasota. Food waste was to be collected at local supermarkets and restaurants, transported to the local food bank, fed to livestock and composted on local farms. Similar endeavors were well documented successes in other states. Regulatory issues caused some unworkable barriers, but All Faiths Food Bank was able to increase its collection of still-edible food from Publix Supermarkets and a small portion of food waste was collected and transported to the County landfill for composting via an in-vessel system. On farm composting of food waste, the main goal of the project, was prohibited due to environmental concerns.
Children's Haven and Adult Community Services, Inc. (CHAC), one of the partners in the Food Waste project, established an on-site food waste collection and composting project as part of its horticulture program for disabled adults. Once vermicomposting (worm composting) was established, CHAC hired me to establish and direct a small organic farm and compost operation where disabled adults could work. The farm began growing food on CHAC's 30-acre campus for use in on site residential kitchens where disabled adults live.The composting program was expanded to include a mixture of cow manure, donated mulched tree debris and food waste from on site. The farm harvested one season of produce for on site use. Funding and personnel shortfalls curbed the dream of producing enough food to sell to the 600+ disabled adults under CHAC's care as a means of becoming financially self-supportive.
With Urbaculture on hold, the CHAC farm turned to pasture and many lessons learned, I became a founding board member of the fledgling Florida West Coast Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council. After helping build a nonprofit from scratch, this year we decided to focus on Sustainable Community Agriculture (SCA). Our goals are to preserve open space, protect our rural heritage, expand the local agriculture economy and provide a more secure local source of food and agricultural goods. Initial efforts include working with Manatee County government on a farmland preservation program, facilitating the purchase of a 20-acre farm on which to establish the Geraldson Community Farm, and integrated water resource management in agricultural systems. RC&D has also worked with volunteers and County staff in Sarasota, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties on other local agriculture issues.
Salsa Economics is about building healthy, vibrant communities, coupling natural resource development with human potential. The Florida West Coast RC&D's goals embody all that Salsa Economics envisions -- making the most of local natural resources with minimal impacts, creating more diversity and stability in the local economic pie and bringing people together to celebrate life. If you wish to join RC&D's efforts call 941-723-3252 or visit our website at http://www.fwcrcd.org and become a member.
