Urban Agriculture & Environmental Health In Detroit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2010
Contact: Leeann Drees
Phone: 313.316.1411
email: leeann@detroitevolution.com

DETROIT GATHERING FOCUSES ON URBAN AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

Detroit Abides screens Big River, A King Corn Companion & HealthyTown on Wednesday, May 19th, 7-9p in Eastern Market's Shed 5

Detroit, Michigan - May 3, 2010 - This month's Detroit Abides is a double feature focused on environmental health. Detroit Evolution, Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit, and Eastern Market Corporation are pleased to host director Bill Couzens and screen his film HealthyTown, as well as to look more deeply at the environmental impacts of large-scale agriculture with a screening of Big River: A King Corn Companion.

Detroit has been alight with discussions of and proposals for large-scale urban agriculture projects. “In addition to land use, local economic and community engagement concerns, large-scale agriculture in an urban setting provides us an opportunity to look into the environmental impact of farming” explained Gregg Newsom, one of the event organizers. After the screenings there will be an opportunity for discussion of the films and information on local groups working in environmental health will be shared.

The evening will begin with a showing of HealthyTown, a film exploring efforts to bridge Detroit's gaps in environmental health through prevention. The film features such influential local organizations as Earthworks at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Local Motion Green, Children's Hospital of Michigan, the Kresge Foundation, and Kids Kicking Cancer. Bill Couzens, the film's director, will be present to share his work.

HealthyTown will be followed by Big River, a short follow-up to the Peabody-winning documentary King Corn. Viewers will follow Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis as they investigate the environmental impacts of the acre of corn they planted in Iowa. Traveling from the Midwest to the Gulf of Mexico, the two friends will learn about the effects of pesticide and herbicide use on everything from the distant ocean to cancer patients in their own community.

After the screenings attendees will have an opportunity to discuss the films and their local relevance with event organizers, activists, and HealthyTown director Bill Couzens. Considering all of the recent interest in large-scale urban agriculture in the city, this promises to be a timely and lively conversation.

Since 2008, Eastern Market Corporation, Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit and Detroit Evolution have been partnering to present this FREE Movie Night in Eastern Market. On the third Wednesday of every month, Detroit Abides screens a movie on a sustainable topic, explores the topic at the local level through discussion and support from regional groups and businesses, and creates a space to meet like-minded people from all walks of life & grow an active, healthy community. For this casual event, attendees should bring a comfortable seat. Shed 5 is located at the corner of Russell and Alfred St. Parking is available in the lots adjacent to the Shed. For more information or to get involved call Detroit Evolution at 313.316.1411

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About Detroit Evolution - Detroit Evolution is dedicated to the health, joy and liberation of all beings. We're dedicated to sustainable practices and presents workshops on these and other topics to assist in and inspire resilient and relocalized Detroit. http://detroitevolution.com

About Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit - Bioneers comprise a network of visionary innovators working to build a sustainable, positive and creative future for the web of life. This year's Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit Conference, held October 15-17 and Marygrove College, will combine local sessions, solutions and events with international innovations. http://www.sustainabledetroit.org/bioneers/

About Eastern Market Corporation - Eastern Market is open on Saturdays from 6:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. For more information, contact 313-833-9300 http://www.detroiteasternmarket.com

A Spring Equinox Missive

I want to take a moment to recognize the turning of the Wheel of the Year and, with the utmost sincerity, the return of spring.

Sharing my birthday every other year with the Winter Solstice brought a heightened awareness of the seasons at an early age. This year, our son Aya's arrival and the rather brutal winter intensified the importance of this morning's Sunrise for me.

I hope to encourage each of you, regardless of your station or belief, to add a bit of weight and meaning to the day as well. This time around, spring can be taken as a great deal more than the already vital return of local produce and bearable, even downright enjoyable, temperatures. Spring can bring rebirth on many planes. I suggest this spring be taken as a call to action.

If you're tuned into some of the same channels we are, and a starling number are, then you're witness to a very far-reaching shift in certain aspects of our culture. Though some of this is due to regime change, the changes that resonate for me are the changes arising within and from individuals and small groups. Almost everyone we share with admits that they can almost taste the potential.

I believe Detroit is experiencing the first rumblings of an exclusive local economic and cultural heyday. This spring, as Detroit becomes thick with more farms, community-based projects, DIY micro-industries, activists and artist, we have a great opportunity to build, inspire and assist in its recreation. Our city is changing quickly and, through our active participation, the Detroit of the not so distant future can and will reflect and respect each of our personal visions.

As the Wheel of the Year turns, I also want to note the importance of diligence as we navigate the coming changes in ourselves and in our communities. We all know that spring, summer and fall lighten our load emotionally and physically, but they can also lighten our energy usage and consumption. We can more comfortably walk, ride bikes and easily lighten our diets with local produce. With many of us tightening up financially this turn can give us self-determined economic relief.

While taking advantage of this relief, I recommend being mindful of the three seasons we have to prepare for next winter. This is certainly not a gloom and doom prophesy, but rather an aspect of the call to action that this spring heralds. Learn how to grow and store food, research and implement DIY home and health care, and make your living and work space more energy efficient. A few generations ago these practices were not only common sense but also considered boons to the development of character and self-respect. I've seen the act of taking up these practices assist to change attitudes and perspectives in so many, but most importantly in myself.

Finally, I urge you to take the coming of spring as a call to get out into your community, wherever that may be, and share your skills and expand your knowledge. Take this time to adapt to the quickly changing world around you and strive to anticipate future change through active participation. Working together inspires creative genius, or what Burroughs and Gysin would call the Third Mind, and I think we can use all the creative genius we can get at this point.

For me, as inspired by Angela and Aya, 2009 is a year of reconnection, to myself, to the communities and groups I share with, to the earth and all the realms I can muster. I am honored to be connected to so many incredible people and want to express my great gratitude for each of you no matter your level of engagement. Even the most minimal attention or awareness makes all the difference in the world. I look forward to working and playing with you all in the trenches. It’s going to be a great spring in Detroit!