Gatheryourselfpptx current (1)

Problem:The folks in the worst-

served neighborhoods are

eating Doritos and Pepsi

because in their world

there seems to be no

other choice.

Meanwhile,Fruit trees on public

property in every Chicago

neighborhood are

dropping so much excess

fruit that they’re

considered a nuisance.

Urban culturehas cast wild fruit

as an object of fear

and derision.

The foraging knowledge

of generations past

has been lost.

Food Bankscould help,

but lack local knowledge

of ripening fruit trees,

and cannot risk the legal

liability of vouching for

uninspected food.

Empowering the food-disenfranchised

to take ownership

around neighborhood

nature resources.

Real-time alerts & maps to gather community around local trees ripening with local, fresh, organic food.

In Logan Square,Christopher House

sends its kids across the street

to Corner Farm Chicago

to learn to pick mulberries.

Then kids want to pick mulberries

everywhere.

Alleysand local surroundings become

opportunities for real

engagement

mulberries

The Living Almanac & Openlands map

Financial Sustainability- Locate a restaurant, grocer or other local sponsor

focused on local / organic / foraged food- Whole Foods- Elizabeth- CSA’s- Peapod ???

- Build toward relationships with local agencies & NPO’s

Development plan- Start with the most sustainable tree fruits- Pilot in Logan Square with the Chicago Fruit&Forage

Mapping Project- Locate a restaurant, grocer or other local sponsor- Build relationships with local leaders & food pantries- Host local “Forage Day”s- Integrate social media, database, PDF generator

Value added- Tech facilitation for existing resources- Science & health education through real-world

engagement with the local neighborhood around food- Tool for neighborhood orientation / connecting- A strong motivator for getting outside, conquering

Nature Deficit Disorder, and curing Green-Blindness- Intergenerational / Community / Local crowdsourcing

The world-changing that accomplishes:

Short-term: - Real vitamins delivered as nature intended. - Healthier kids and families. - The #1 factor in student learning.

The world-changing that accomplishes:

Medium-term: - Building healthy habits around eating. - Transforming daily relationship with food, with nature,

with the rhythm of the seasons. - Curing Green-Blindness.

The world-changing that accomplishes:

Long-term: - Building a sense of place, of our local environment. - Promoting a community ethic of self-reliance, curiosity, engagement, and ownership.