Farming in the Big City

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As a changing climate and urbanizing population continually alter the landscape of the US, many of us are asking the question: what is the future of food production? Increasingly, answers to that question include some aspect of urban agriculture, especially in Detroit, a globalized recognized hub of urban agriculture. To learn a bit more about this side of food production, It’s Hot In Here hosts sat down (virtually) to speak with Naim Edwards, the director of Michigan State University (MSU) Detroit Partnership in Food, Learning and Innovation. 

After graduating from Morehouse College, Edwards became intrigued by food systems and the power of local economies during his time as a Peace Core Volunteer in Ecuador. Upon the completion of his volunteer service, Edwards returned to school to receive his M.S. from the University of Michigan’s School of the Environment and Sustainability (formerly the School for Natural Resources and the Environment) where he specialized in urban garden management. Since 2018, Edwards has acted as the director of the Detroit Partnership program which saw its first year of operations in 2019. As director, his responsibilities include the development of the physical space as a center for urban agriculture and forestry research, conducting and facilitating said research, as well as public outreach. 

The Partnership is located at a site leased by MSU from the city of Detroit that holds both arable land as well as a learning center. This combination allows the site to house a diverse set of research opportunities and community programs. Ongoing research projects are examining the usage of biochar in compost, the conservation of perennial fruit pollinators, and native plants while the learning center hosts programs around financial management, food preservation, home ownership, nutrition, counseling, job preparation, 4H youth programs, robotics, etc. Edwards notes that this is part of their commitment to sharing their resources with the public.

Edwards also breaks down some of the characteristics that distinguish urban agriculturalists from traditional rural agriculturalists. Since urban agriculture is defined by population density and small scale, this creates a set of challenges unique to this type of agriculture. Urban farmers must be mindful of the potential noises, smells, risks, and overall public impact that these spaces might have, a problem more rural farmers don’t have. He notes that successful urban agriculturalists require social skills and the ability to resolve any conflicts that arrive with the surrounding community. Being in an urban center also means that urban farms or gardens must adhere to the policies or ordinances laid out by the city which are generally stricter than in rural areas, presenting another set of issues for urban agriculturalists. 

Nonetheless, the field urban agricultural is only expanding as a response to issues such as food deserts and poverty that disproportionately affect communities of color. Looking forward, Edwards’ philosophy – that everyone should be able to access good food – points him to potential ways we can think about the future of urban agriculture. These include engaging the residents of urban areas in food production, developing a more defined set of best practices, normalizing edible landscapes, and reframing our most basic ideas around food. 

A Meditation on Juliana v. United States

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A Meditation on Juliana v. United States
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In August 2015, 21 plaintiffs, ranging from 8-19 years old at the initial hearing, filed a landmark lawsuit against the United States as well as many specific members of the Federal Government. In short, their claim was that the U.S. Government had knowingly violated the rights of the plaintiffs and future generations, by encouraging, subsidizing, and permitting activities relating to carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions. The consequences of these actions will infringe on the plaintiffs constitutional rights to life and liberty. They further asserted that, since most of their generation does not yet have the right to vote, they had been robbed of their future before they even had a say.

Remarkably, the case made its way through the legal system to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals before it was dismissed there and is currently pending on appeal, which many hope could be won such that it would move forward to the Supreme Court in 2021. In the meantime, the Juliana v. US case has sparked a litany of opinion pieces, amicus curiae briefs, and academic attention.

It has even grabbed the attention of Lisa Heinzerling, the Justice William J. Brennan, Jr., Professor of Law at the Georgetown University Law Center. Heinzerling is an award winning professor and researcher, as well as an expert in the fields of administrative law, environmental law, food law, and torts. She has also published several books, notably: Priceless: On Knowing the Price of Everything and the Value of Nothing.

In this “meditation,” Heinzerling takes us along on the journey of Juliana v. US, as only an expert can. Explaining the complexities of the case and its many appeals in common language, Heinzerling notes how fascinating this case truly is, its impact after its dismissal, and the future implications of climate law. Ultimately, Juliana v. US was dismissed on a technicality, and even then it was dismissed 2-1. By comparing this case to one with a related one: Exxon v. Healey, Heinzerling explores the possibility that this may be only the beginning of this sort of lawsuit and expresses her dissatisfaction with the dismissal of Juliana v. US.

Part of the Environmental Law & Policy Program Lecture Series. 

Financing a Sustainable Future

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In the coming years, climate finance and sustainable investing will likely be some of the most transformed sectors in the world. David Blood, co-founder and Senior Partner of Generation Investment Management (GIM), joins the University of Michigan community to share his expertise and 30+ years of experience on the cutting edge of sustainable finance.

Chairman of Dialight, one of the co-chairs of The World Resources Institute, board member of several organizations, such as: On the Edge Conservation and The SHINE Group, David Blood has one of the most impressive resumés and investment portfolios in the world. In a talk given at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, Blood outlined his past experiences within the investment sector and where he sees the field moving in the near future.

From education to child psychology to finance to leading the world in sustainable investing, David Blood came to the forefront of the investing world when he left an 18-year long career at Goldman-Sachs to join Al Gore in founding GIM. A mission driven institution, GIM has lead the charge on divestment, redefined best practices, and incorporated social justice and equity throughout their portfolio. They are now one of the most successful investment agencies in the world.

In the past, investing has revolved around two aspects: risk and return. Impact has traditionally been viewed as a side effect of the process, not a consideration. However, as Blood notes, “all investing has impact,” and whether that be positive or negative is the “fiduciary duty” of the investor. GIM has set the bar for incorporating impact into their mission.

“All investing has impact.”

– David Blood

Blood believes that sustainability and climate are current and future drivers of economies and that the shift towards a “green economy” will happen sooner than people think. Cautioning the public not to assume that what has happened in the past will also happen in the future, Blood predicts that the coming years will entail “the most significant economic shift in history.”  

“It cannot be incremental, it must be transformational.”

– David Blood

Following Blood’s talk, a panel of experts convened to discuss sustainable finance and divestment within the state of Michigan. The panelists were:

The panel discussed transitioning to a sustainable economy, the potential of a carbon tax, what a just transition would entail, and some obstacles that prevent sustainable investing. Using real data and their collective decades of expertise, the panel predicted what urgency in the economic sector will look like over the next few years. The evening concluded with a Q&A section.

Appropriate Technology Collaborative

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Ever heard of the triple bottom line: people, profits, and planet? Ever wondered what a business model that priorities all three would look like, if it’s even possible? Look no further than Appropriate Technology Collaborative and the future of equitable, sustainable development. John Barrie, a “recovering architect” and co-founder of Appropriate Technology Collaborative (ATC), and Monika Goforth, co-founder and executive director of ATC, join us once again in the It’s Hot in Here studio to talk about the future of solar energy and bottom-up, women-led business models. 

Founded in 2008, ATC, as the name suggests, is a collaborative geared towards creating “opportunity by design.” Now, ATC is an award-winning, globally-recognized organization working out of the U.S. and Guatemala. Shedding the skin of traditional “charity-minded” organization, ATC follows a social business model founded in equity, community engagement and leadership, and “radical transparency” on all fronts. 

Members of ATC install rooftop solar panels in Guatemala.
Photo Credit: Appropriate Technology Collaborative

ATC defines “appropriate technologies” as simple technologies that greatly improve the quality of life for low income people using widely available resources that are affordable and accessible to anyone. This includes a variety of different products, such as solar-powered water pumps and food dehydrators. ATC also is focused on providing practical, direct training (e.g. financial management, technical skills, sustainable business management, etc.) for individuals in Guatemala to learn how to grow their own businesses and utilize new technologies.

“Our purpose is to design, develop, demonstrate and distribute appropriate technological solutions for meeting the basic human needs of low income people worldwide.” 

– Appropriate Technology Collaborative Mission Statement 

John and Monika go on to discuss the ways in which they have structured ATC to prioritize gender and racial equality within the collaborative, how technological collaboratives work, as well as some personal stories about their experiences. With the Mayan Power project and, more recently, the Detroit Solar project, the two co-founders of ATC have seen their ultimate goal realized which is local people having the resources and the investment to become self-sustaining and solve local problems. 

Join us in the studio as John and Monika talk the future of sustainable technology applications, specifics about their business model, ongoing projects, and how they measure success. Want to get involved? Check out ATC’s careers and volunteer opportunities or check out ATC’s humanitarian carbon credit program. This allows individuals to subsidize personal carbon emissions (i.e. from commuting, flights, etc.) by donating money that directly funds a solar grid for a family in Guatemala. 

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion with Sonia Joshi

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In 2016 the University of Michigan embarked on a five year strategic plan to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) more comprehensively throughout the campus. Now in the fourth year of the initiative, Sonia Joshi, the first DEI program manager for the University of Michigan’s School for the Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), sits down with our hosts to discuss where we’ve come from and where we’re going now. 

What is DEI to you?

“Working to ensure
that people who have
been underrepresented
due to injustice and
prejudices have
access to the same
opportunities and
resources and are
valued.”

– Sonia Joshi in the University of Michigan’s DEI Strategic Plan Report

Sonia Joshi joined the University’s DEI team 3 years ago and has been embedded within the SEAS program ever since. As the first ever DEI program manger of SEAS, she’s been pivotal in the creation and implementation of DEI programming and training within the school. In this week’s show, Joshi begins by breaking down the differences between diversity, equity, and inclusion, explains how she picks her battles so to say, and addressing the “moment” DEI is having right now, specifically in academia.  

Joshi also walks us through a bit of the history of DEI and why it is so crucial by reflecting on the history of the United States and the legacies of traditional research. As she notes, all science has bias since all scientists have bias, and traditional structures have prioritized some forms of knowledge and research over others. Now, DEI practitioners, advocates, allies, scholars, etc. ought to be moving away from tokenism and performative or surface-level DEI incorporation. Instead, we should work on ensuring systematic change and solutions by leveraging our partnerships and privilege in substantive ways. It’s ultimately the goal of DEI initiatives to ensure that people aren’t just at the metaphorical table but are also having their input and their voices heard, understood, and given weight. 

Looking forward, Joshi explains her optimism regarding the DEI field and its endless intersections with other disciplines, specifically the environmental field. As she puts it, the coming years of DEI will continue to ground DEI in reality, support frontline communities, center and empower historically-marginalized voices, and work on changing culture in meaningful ways. 

For information or support, contact the SEAS DEI office here:

SEAS Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Dana Building
Second Floor, Office 2575, 440 Church St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1340

Phone: 734-936-0900

Email:  seas-dei-office@umich.edu

Or connect with the University’s campus-wide DEI office:

Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Fleming Administration Building
Third Floor, Office 3084, 503 Thompson Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1340

Phone: (734) 764-3982

Email: diversitymatters@umich.edu

Elders Climate Action

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Elders Climate Action, a ‘spinoff’ of Elders Action Network, is an organization focused on promoting the environmental activism of older folks, making sustainable behaviors more accessible, increasing the visibility of elders working in the environmental field, and providing a space for elders to organize. The organization is growing rapidly with 9 chapters around the country and several more in the process of being recognized. Founded in 2017, the Ann Arbor Chapter of ECA has focused on educating, mobilizing, and engaging with local elders and their families on several fronts. 

Joe Ohren, co-founder and chair of the Ann Arbor chapter, life-long environmental activist, grandfather of 7, retired college professor, and “amateur expert” on composting joins our hosts in the studio to discusses his role in the organization. Drawing on his years of expertise in the field of local government management and his experience with political protest, Ohren speaks on his time as a community leader and advocate. 

A key focus of the ECA Ann Arbor Chapter has been removing the barriers of participation for communities to participate in sustainability efforts and environmental activism. A prime examples would be the recent food composting project, made possible but a grant from the Sustaining Ann Arbor Together program. Though this project, ECA is working to increase access for local people to compost and promote education about the process. 

Reports have indicated that, in the United States, between 30-40% of all food produced ends up in landfills. This leads to massive amounts of waste and methane gas in landfills. A potential solution to this issue is composting, however the City of Ann Arbor currently only collects compost for 8 months of the year (mid-March to mid-December) and also exclusively serves single family homes, not commercial properties nor multifamily buildings. Furthermore, many residents remain without composting bins or the knowledge of how to compost. This campaign targets all of those issues through policy advocacy, educational materials, and subsidizing composting tools. 

“…like many people, I feel some sense of responsibility for how we got to where we are…”

Looking forward, Ohren notes that the elder community is working for the future of our grandchildren. He explains that elders may have the time, ‘the wisdom to make good decisions’, and the motivation to actively participate in change on a much wider scale than is currently acknowledged. To address this and affect change on a larger scale, ECA’s new promote the vote campaign seeks to grow political efficacy of environmentally minded non-voters to increase. The first step towards collaboration with other organizations, local engagement, effective mass mobilization, and coalition building may just be realizing that “there’s a lot of people like Joe out there.”

To connect with Joe: joe.ohren@gmail.com

To get more information about ECA and how to get involved: info@eldersclimateaction.org

For information on composting food waste.

Drew Lathin on Creating Sustainable Landscapes

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You’ve probably heard the phrase “native plants” before, but what does that really mean? How long does a plant need to be around to be considered “native”? Drew Lathin, a life-long gardener and founder of Creating Sustainable Landscapes LLC was kind enough to join us in the studio to talk to us about the benefits and importance of native plants and provide some recommendations for local Michiganders who want to set up a more sustainable landscape in their own yards. 

Drew Lathin founded Creating Sustainable Landscapes LLC in 2012 to promote a return to and reestablishment of sustainable landscape design. A focus of his is on native plants, or those that were here prior to European colonialism. Lathin points out the seemingly endless benefits of native plants, the legacies of indigenous land stewardship, how we might rehabilitate and foster the health of natural areas, and what #BigHorticulture doesn’t want you to know about the native plant movement. 

Drew Lathin with It’s Hot in Here hosts Prachiti Dhamankar and Isabelle Brogna.

As Lathin explains, a return to native plants and a more sustainable landscape can promote a healthy ecosystem from the bottom up, support pollinator populations, protect endangered populations, and provide for native wildlife. They can also look beautiful, save you time and money, and it’s easier than you think! As we face a mass extinction, it’s more important than ever to going the movement, tune in to learn where to start!

NY Times: The Insect Apocalypse is Here

The Guardian: Plummeting insect numbers ‘threaten collapse of nature’

The Sunrise Movement: Youth for a Green New Deal

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“The status quo has failed us.”

The Sunrise Movement, founded in 2017, is a youth movement that grew out of the need to organize and mobilize young people around the country and promote political activism. The organization became well-known for staging protests and sit-ins in the offices of politicians around the nation, such as Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senator Dianne Feinstein. Now, Sunrise Movement has hundreds of autonomous “hubs” around the nation and hundreds of thousands of members. Sunrise Movement leaders Naina and Thalia sit down with us to discuss their experiences as young activists and leaders. 

As Naina points outs, the youth of America have had almost no hand in creating the systems that have led to global climate change, yet they will live with the consequences for their entire lives. Paying homage to civil protests of mass non-cooperation, the Sunrise Movement seeks to empower young people (many of whom cannot yet vote) through coalition building with frontline communities and their core strategies which include: peaceful protest, communities organizing, mass mobilization, and promoting political activism. The focus of the Sunrise Movement is to stop climate change, namely through the adoption of the Green New Deal. 

The Green New Deal, championed by politicians such as U.S. House Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders, is a proposed legislation package that would focus on moving America towards 100% renewable energy and net-zero carbon emissions over the next 10 years. It is also focused on creating millions of jobs in the clean energy sector and promoting climate justice. This would be the most ambitious legislative plan since FDR’s New Deal. Naina and Thalia touch on some criticisms of the plan and address both congressional parties’ unwillingness to act on climate change. The two also discuss how critical it is that bold, transformative action be taken.   

With the official endorsement of Senator Bernie Sanders for the 2020 Democratic candidacy, Sunrise Movement is now focusing on the upcoming presidential election and building a “coalition of the left.” A priority for them is making climate change action accessible to the non-scientific community via storytelling that personalizes issues of climate change. In order to get ordinary people to mobilize, the information has to be digestible. 

Naina and Thalia also speak to their experiences as young constituents and the ‘shocking’ treatment they have experienced on the part of their own representatives. Looking towards the 2020 election, there are several ways that you can participate in the Sunrise Movement. If you want to get involved, plan a launch party, find a hub near you, donate to the cause, or learn more information, head to their website. Also follow Sunrise Movement’s social media to learn about more opportunities. 

Sunrise Movement National:

twitter: @sunrisemvmt

insta: @sunrisemvmt

facebook: @sunrisemvmt

Sunrise Movement Ann Arbor Hub:

twitter: @sunriseannarbor

insta: @sunriseannarbor

facebook: @sunrisemvmtannarbor

Latino Outdoors: José González on Representation in the Outdoors

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Latino Outdoors: José González on Representation in the Outdoors
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“None of us are well, until all of us are well.” 

José González returns to his alma mater, University of Michigan’s School for the Environment and Sustainability (formerly School for Natural Resources and Environment) to speak on Wayfinding Cultural Connections: From Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to Decolonizing.
Photo credit: SEAS Office of DEI

José González, award winning outdoor educator, Founder and Director of Latino Outdoors, and University of Michigan alum joins the It’s Hot in Here team this week to discuss his work with host Prachiti Dhamankar. Join us as José discusses underrepresentation in the outdoors, the Green 2.0 report, art, community, and identity. 

Latino Outdoors was founded in 2013 to address the lack of Latinx representation in the outdoor, conservation, and environmental education fields. Now, Latino Outdoors is a Latinx-led community and organization (in that order) that is focused on building family and celebrating culture and heritage in the outdoors. Latino Outdoors has grown to operate around the country and is open to all people who wish to celebrate diversity and inclusivity. Discussing his personal experiences growing up in México and the central valley of California, José shares his take on engaging with diverse audiences, access to natural spaces, and building senses of community and belonging. In exploring his own identities and experiences, José addresses the cultural gaps regarding the use of natural spaces. 

The ideas and mission of José and the Latino Outdoors team seem particularly salient in the wake of reports such as Green 2.0 which have pinpointed discrepancies of representation in the outdoors. Discussing the ideas laid out in this report, José eloquently navigates the concepts of unconscious bias, lackluster effort, and the Green Ceiling and how we might address them. 

José presents storytelling and art as means by which to connect to histories and cultures, celebrate diversity, and explore self-identities. As an accomplished artist himself, José examines his inspirations (from Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera to modern comic illustrators like Paul Pope) and speaks about expression in a world of social media and trolls. In envisioning the future, José discusses how his ideas may be both radical and revolutionary, and how Latino Outdoors continues to build bridges, empower local leadership, and promote equal access. Finally, José discusses how we may lean into discomfort and grow via challenging conversations. 

Examples of José González’s artwork examining indigeneity , identity, and culture.
Art credit: José González

If you’d like to learn more or get involved with Latino Outdoors, see more of José González’s artwork and writings, or explore the Green 2.0 report, check out the links below!

Latino Outdoors

José González

Green 2.0 Report

The Changing Recycling Landscape, with Bryan Weinert of Recycle Ann Arbor

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The Changing Recycling Landscape, with Bryan Weinert of Recycle Ann Arbor
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Recycle Ann Arbor (RAA) is known for its curbside recycling in Ann Arbor, among its other services (the Reuse Center, the Drop-off Station, the Recovery Yard for construction waste, and a myriad of education and zero-waste events). It started Michigan’s first curbside recycling program, which was also one of the first such programs in the nation. Director of Strategy Bryan Weinert talks with hosts Isabelle Brogna and Prachiti Dhamankar about how RAA is adapting to the changing landscape of recycling in Ann Arbor.

Some of these changes are general to recycling, such as concerns about quality versus quantity of the recyclable materials collected. As recovery rates of recycled goods increases, contamination with non-recyclable goods tends to also increase, for a couple reasons: people who know they should start recycling don’t know what is recyclable; and “mainstream” recycling service providers (like typical waste management companies) aren’t as proactive as RAA on keeping contaminants out of the recycling stream. RAA prides itself on not only increasing recovery rates where it can, but also increasing the quality. It increases recovery rates, for example, by servicing apartment buildings, which are more difficult to service than single-family homes. RAA increases quality of the recycling stream by educating individuals along each route who repeatedly have non-recyclable material in the recycling bins.

Bryan shared with us some critiques of Ann Arbor’s 2019 Solid Waste Plan. Bryan, and RAA, feel that the SWP doesn’t go far enough, even if it does have some good recommendations. In their eyes, it should be more of a zero-waste plan, “fundamentally rethinking the way that we handle waste, and not just to maximize recovery rates but also reduce the amount of waste ultimately that’s being generated.” The Plan also included a recommendation to municipalize curbside pickup, reasoning that the City could provide the same service for less than RAA. RAA has convinced the city to put curbside recycling out to bid instead of immediately bringing it under the purview of the city. RAA is convinced that their services were undervalued and that the city’s costs were underestimated in the Plan analysis.

In other news, RAA will be reopening Ann Arbor’s Materials Recovery Facility (MRF, pronounced “murf”). Shut down a few years back due to safety concerns, the MRF has since been open only as a transfer station, where recyclables are unloaded from the curbside pickup trucks, loaded into semi-trucks, and transported 250 miles to a MRF in Cincinnati. Having a local MRF reduces the carbon footprint of the recycled materials, as well as provides local jobs. RAA has found partnerships and end markets in the region for its recycled materials, and being a non-profit and mission-driven organization, it is excited about reopening the education center associated with the local MRF.

As Bryan mentioned in the episode, check out the A-Z Recycling Guide for all your recyclable questions! And remember, when in doubt, leave it out. If you don’t know for sure about whether a material can be recycled, it’s best to leave it out of the recycling bin. This ensures that the bulk of the recyclable materials are at a high enough purity to be sold on the market.