{"id":15818,"date":"2016-08-09T14:00:59","date_gmt":"2016-08-09T18:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ilsr.org\/articles\/composting-will-help-flint-recover-from-its-water-crisis\/"},"modified":"2024-05-01T18:00:23","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T18:00:23","slug":"composting-will-help-flint-recover-from-its-water-crisis","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/ilsr.org\/es\/article\/composting-for-community\/composting-will-help-flint-recover-from-its-water-crisis","title":{"rendered":"Composting Will Help Flint Recover From Its Water Crisis"},"template":"","class_list":["post-15818","article","type-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","article_type-article","initiatives-composting-for-community","authors-linda-bilsens-brolis"],"acf":{"details":{"featured_image":6515,"background_color":"","article_type":[134],"initiative":15,"display_event_fields":false,"start_date":null,"end_date":null,"start_time":null,"end_time":null,"time_zone":"America\/New_York","virtual_event":false,"location":"","topics":false,"impact_areas":false,"abstract":"

Increasing composting in Flint will benefit residents in many ways: healthier soils for food production, pollution mitigation for contaminated soils, more opportunities for neighbors to work together, and greater community self-reliance. On July 27th, ILSR staffers, Linda Bilsens and Joshua Etim, visited with various food growing and access groups working in and around Flint to lay the groundwork for bringing ILSR\u2019s Neighborhood Soil Rebuilders Composter Training Program to the area.… Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","authors_tax":[635]},"sidebar":{"title":"\u00cdndice"},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"

<\/div>

It would be an understatement to say that Flint has been in the news a lot lately\u2014one of the most recent stories has to do with a lapsed trash collection contract<\/a> that left residents without service. The city still has a long road ahead before it can fully heal from the water contamination crisis that started in 2014: more than 8,000 children<\/a> are thought to have been effected; 6 city officials have just been charged<\/a> in connection; and Flint\u2019s Mayor, Karen Weaver<\/a>, used the podium at the recent Democratic National Convention to remind the nation that \u201cThe water is still not safe to drink or cook with from the tap\u201d<\/em>.\u00a0Like many older industrial cities, Flint also has lead and other heavy metals in its soils<\/a>, exacerbating the effects of the water crisis. As is often the case, low-income communities are more likely to be exposed to the highest concentrations.<\/p>\n

In addition to lead contamination, Flint faces other challenges common to Rust Belt communities: declining industry, rising poverty, falling population, and rampant urban blight. Poverty is a problem throughout Michigan, with 1 in 10 people<\/a> using emergency food programs. But, more than 40% of Flint\u2019s population is considered to be poor and more than half is black\u2014fueling claims that the water crisis is a clear case of racismo ambiental<\/a>. Flint has more than 20,000 vacant lots resulting, at least in part, from the overwhelming loss of manufacturing\u00a0jobs that once fueled the local economy. In order to prevent further damage to property values and to protect public health, these building must either be demolished<\/a> or otherwise managed<\/a> by the community.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\"flint<\/p>\n

The 2016 Edible Flint Food Garden Tour featured 15 of the 300+ gardens\u00a0that Edible Flint and other area organizations\u00a0support<\/em><\/sup><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But, behind the devastating national headlines exists another Flint\u2014one that embodies community self-reliance and neighborly collaboration. According to Terry McLean<\/a>, Michigan State University Extension educator, \u201cIn my experience, Flint residents have a great track record of volunteerism, resilience and community pride. I feel that we will be a stronger community as a result of the recent water crisis.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Despite the hole that losses like that of the auto\u00a0manufacturing industry have left, Flint residents are increasingly relying on a different, well-developed local skillset to put food on the table\u2014and because of the work of a number of dedicated organizations and individuals, its fresh and healthy food. Michigan’s\u00a0second largest industry is agriculture, and it is the second most diverse<\/a> agricultural producer in the nation. Flint alone boasts more than 300 gardens<\/a>, both personal and community.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Edible\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \"Edible<\/p>\n

Uni-Corn Community Garden, featured in the Edible Flint Tour, is managed by a dedicated team of Master Gardeners and grows fresh produce for the surrounding sub-division and apartment complexes<\/em><\/sup><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On July 27ta<\/sup>, ILSR staffers, Linda Bilsens and Joshua Etim visited with various food growing and access groups working in and around Flint to lay the groundwork for bringing ILSR\u2019s Neighborhood Soil Rebuilders Composter Training Program to the area. ILSR staff were hosted by local friend and fellow community composting trainer and advocate, Amy Freeman, who coordinated meetings with some of the area’s most active and influential healthy food advocates and educators.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a different Flint than the one\u00a0you hear about on the news. These are not just poor people. There is good stuff happening here. It’s not a dire situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

-Erin Caudell, healthy\u00a0food access advocate, farmer and co-owner of Flint-based The Local Grocer<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Michigan State University is providing applied research, education and outreach to develop regionally integrated, sustainable food systems through its Center for Regional Food System<\/a>. MSU professor of Horticultural Sciences, Dr. John Biernbaum,\u00a0provides educational programs and technical assistance for small-scale organic farmers\u00a0and\u00a0manages the school’s on-site vermicomposting project.\u00a0Michigan Food and Farming Systems<\/a>\u00a0connects\u00a0beginning and historically underserved farmers (particularly women, veterans, and migrant populations) to each other and resource opportunities to cultivate social justice, environmental stewardship, and profitability.<\/strong> Piedra comestible<\/a> works to support Flint residents in growing and accessing healthy food in order to reconnect with the land and each other, including\u00a0hosting an annual garden tour, which ILSR staff were happily able to attend during their visit!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"MIFFS\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\"MIFFS<\/p>\n

The Michigan Food and Farming Systems’ Women in Agriculture educational farm is hosted by the Genesys Health Systems’ at their Health Park Campus and features an in-ground vermicomposting system<\/em><\/sup><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The work of groups like these are critical to Flint\u2019s road to recovery. Healthy foods, particularly those rich in Vitamin C and Calcium<\/a>, are needed\u00a0to minimize the impacts of lead on human health. Recent studies also show that there is limited absorption of lead when ingested with food<\/a>. The impact of lead contamination is further minimized when soils are amended with compost\u2014a practice that several studies<\/a> have shown significantly dilute lead concentrations and reduces its availability. Increasing composting in Flint will have many benefits: healthier soils for food production, pollution mitigation for contaminated soils,\u00a0more\u00a0opportunities for neighbors to come together, and greater\u00a0community self-reliance. ILSR is actively fundraising alongside its local\u00a0partners to bring the benefits of the Neighborhood Soil Rebuilders program to Flint in 2017 and is thrilled to help support Flint’s homegrown revival.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"MSU\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n

Last year, Michigan State University diverted 200,000 pounds of food scraps generated on-site through its low-tech, mid-scale vermicomposting system<\/em><\/sup><\/p>\n

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