#CommunityGardens help fill the gap with rising grocery costs

by Carlee Bronkema Mar 10, 2025

#SpringfieldIL - "When grocery bills start climbing, fresh fruits and vegetables are often the first to go. But community gardens in Springfield are hoping to help fill the gap, and provide healthy choices for the community.

"'We not only have the produce available, but produce of a quality that really makes us proud,' said Yves Doumen, Founder and Director of Motherland Gardens Community Project. 'We started this as a response to food insecurity during COVID... we really have a lot of issues with food supply in the community where we are.'

"Motherland has already started growing several varieties of vegetables, using a green house on the property. They have an area with personal plots, where community members can 'rent' a bed to grow plants in. They also have communal plots, where they grow the food they provide to community members.

"The Enos Park community Gardens also provides a similar service in Springfield. They have a mix of both communal and personal plots in their garden space. Manager Carey Smith says they have a large waitlist for their personal plots, and believes it could be due to the cost of fresh produce in the store.

"'In our neighborhood we have an expensive grocery store so a lot of people do shop for their groceries at the dollar store, which is not ideal,' said Smith. 'To be able to supplement with fruits and vegetables from out garden is really helpful. We also see people who come from the hospital who are told to change their diets immediately and they go to the grocery store and can't afford that.'

"In 2024, the Enos Park has 2,300 visitor and volunteer engagements. They provide their produce to their volunteers, a food pantry and a community center. They also host few farmer's markets on Saturdays once summer produce starts kicking in.

"Smith and Doumen both say they think demand will increase in coming months due to tariffs, rising costs, and the end of food-related aid programs.

"Motherland starts providing produce at the end of June twice a week. As more plants start to grow, they will provide food to whoever stops by when it is available. They also hold events to educate community members about growing their own food, cooking with local produce, and handing out surplus supplies."

wandtv.com/community/community…
#FoodSovereignty #FoodSecurity #BuildingCommunity #CommunityGardens #SolarPunkSunday

Ich möchte wie viele von amerikanischen (und großen Monopolen) Konzernen wegkommen.

Ein zentrale Herausforderung für mich ist dabei #Amazon

Das hat m.E. verschieden Gründe

Der erste und schwerwiegenste ist Verfügbarkeit (oder Auswahl)

Ich lese viele englische (Fach)Bücher, speziell Software Entwicklung und Cybersicherheit. Leider kenne ich da keinen deutschen oder europäischen Anbieter der eine ähnliche Auswahl hat. Bei Computer Zubehör ist es ähnlich.

Zweite Grund: Preis
Bei den oben genannten Bücher kommt noch dazu, dass der Preis bei anderen Anbietern (oder auch dem lokalen Buchhandel) deutlich höher ist (5-10€ pro Buch). Ist ja auch verständlich, wenn sie es extra bei einem ausländischen Großhändler bestellen müssen, tut aber trotzdem weh.

Dritter Grund ist vielleicht etwas überraschend,
PDF Rechnung

Ich finde es so angenehm Rechnungen in einem digitalen Format (an der selben Stelle) vorliegen zu haben. Kein Verlieren von Thermopapier Belegen wenn man die dann irgendwann aus dem Portemonnaie geholt hat. Kein Rätseln wofür der fast unleserlich Beleg war, wenn man die Steuererklärung macht.

Oh, es gibt noch einen 4 Grund
Und der ist, Umtausch/Rückgabe (speziell bei Computer-Zubehör). Leider ist das bei lokalen Geschäften ist katastrophal. Ist ist keine Rückgabe möglich ist nur gegen einen Gutschein. Das ist bei Dingen von denen ich nicht weiß ob die so funktionieren wie ich es will ein Ausschlusskriterium. Z.B. spiele ich mit den Gedanken mit Powerline Adapter anzuschaffen um mein neu zu verbessern. Ich weiß aber nicht ob sie funktionieren werden und wie hoch die Übertragungsrate ist.
Und ja, Amazon wird bei Rückgabe schlechter und es ist absurd dass viele Artikel nach der Rückgabe einfach vernichtet werden

Bin für Tipps dankbar
(Und kenne codeberg.org/phranck/Amazon-Al…)

#unplugtrump
#fedipower

Absolutely amazing news! After Friday's bargaining was held over into Saturday, a settlement was reached for about 4,000 Education Workers in Edmonton and Fort McMurray! About 1,000 workers in Fort McMurray have been on strike for 5 months, and about 3,000 workers in Edmonton for over 2 months, holding the line in the worst freezing cold Alberta can offer.

CUPE president Rory Gil reflects my feelings for our education workers the best:

“I’m in awe of the workers in Edmonton and Fort McMurray who stood their ground, in weather as cold as minus 51 degrees, to win a fair contract,” said Gill. “Their fortitude, their determination, and their solidarity won the day.”

“Education support workers are critical to our school system, and today they finally won the respect they deserve,” said Gill.

Education workers in Edmonton are expected to return to work on Wednesday or Thursday, after the settlement is ratified by CUPE members on Monday or Tuesday. No details will be shared until the members have had a chance to see them, but I'm sure if the bargaining team is satiated then the members will be too!

This fight should never have been needed, as having enough respect for our most important educational workers, who support all of our children, to give them a living wage should never be in question.

Yet here we are, in a fight against Capitalist interests who see human beings as a worthless commodity, and the government who seeks to cut and slash public services to defund and privatize them, handing them over to these same profiteering interests.

These job actions have not ended. About 2,000 Education workers in Calgary and Parkland county have more recently joined the strike lines and have not yet reached a settlement. Strikes and labour actions are striking up all across the country, as we have reached the point of end-stage capitalism and they have taken far too much from us for far too long. This profiteering and hoarding of wealth by the few is not sustainable for the many who are struggling and unable to live. This exploitation must come to an end, and it will not end without COLLECTIVE ACTION!

Pubic sector workers across Canada have been organizing, from postal workers to education workers to health workers. Private sector union workers in the United States, home to the world's most powerful monopolies, have been organizing and striking back! If your workplace is not organized, it's time to start. A non-unionized job is an UNSUSTAINABLE job. No matter how much you love your job, it will not love you back. Protect your future.

In solidarity.

alberta.cupe.ca/2025/03/15/dea…

#union #unionstrong #abpoli #yeg #yyc #ymm #solidarity #labour #education