Transition COTATI

Garden Wheel What is a Garden Wheel? A Garden Wheel is a group of people who enjoy an on-going work party where friends and neighbors can swap labor, expertise, ideas for gardens, seeds, produce, delicious food and enthusiasm. Why join a Garden Wheel? It’s fun! Additionally, it saves energy and forests. It is estimated that the average American meal travels about 1500 miles to get from farm to plate. According to Martin C. Heller and Gregory A. Keoleianthe of the Center for Sustainable Systems in Ann Arbor, MI, as much as 40% of energy used in the food system goes towards the production of artificial fertilizers and pesticides. Producing and distributing them requires an average of 5.5 gallons of fossil fuels per acre. According to American Farmland Trust, every single minute of every day, the US loses two acres of farmland and from 1982-1997, urbanized land grew by 47%. Development of farmland for other purposes means that those crops must be grown elsewhere, often resulting in the slashing and burning of rainforests to make room for more farmland. Such habitat destruction also causes climate change. Growing food in your own front or back yard relieves the pressure on the current food system, allowing less land to be consumed for agriculture. It’s also a very fun way to get to know your neighbors and people in your community, to be healthier for less money and to beautify your area. Contact Stacey Meinzen for more info: 707-238-5110 This is a project of Transition Cotati with support from Daily Acts. (Photo from Daily Acts) What is a Garden Wheel? A Garden Wheel is a group of people who enjoy an on-going work party where friends and neighbors can swap labor, expertise, ideas for gardens, seeds, produce, delicious food and enthusiasm.

Why join a Garden Wheel?
It’s fun! Additionally, it saves energy and forests. It is estimated that the average American meal travels about 1500 miles to get from farm to plate. According to Martin C. Heller and Gregory A. Keoleianthe of the Center for Sustainable Systems in Ann Arbor, MI, as much as 40% of energy used in the food system goes towards the production of artificial fertilizers and pesticides. Producing and distributing them requires an average of 5.5 gallons of fossil fuels per acre.

According to American Farmland Trust, every single minute of every day, the US loses two acres of farmland and from 1982-1997, urbanized land grew by 47%. Development of farmland for other purposes means that those crops must be grown elsewhere, often resulting in the slashing and burning of rainforests to make room for more farmland. Such habitat destruction also causes climate change.

Growing food in your own front or back yard relieves the pressure on the current food system, allowing less land to be consumed for agriculture. It’s also a very fun way to get to know your neighbors and people in your community, to be healthier for less money and to beautify your area.

Contact Stacey Meinzen for more info: 707-238-5110
This is a project of Transition Cotati with support from Daily Acts. (Photo from Daily Acts)