The soil requires Affiri Kramer’s close interest. After clearing his forehead, the thirsty food and gardener activist tends to his back in a shovel to add a new layer of compost to the customer’s garden. However, it is not a rented hand – its main goal is to produce as much food as possible for the largest possible number of people, regardless of their economic conditions.

Cramer is a self -designed urban farmer who saw an opportunity in a crisis. In 2020, the subscription’s gardening service grew from 5 to 20 families. Since then, the number of subscribers has increased more than 50, which has led to what many consider a hobby in an institution that extends the province of San Diego. “By the end of the year, we want to grow food on 100 small farms,” ​​says Kramer.

It is intended to harvest 100,000 pounds of organic products by the end of the year

He dubbed his efforts to the joint harvesting institution, as he benefits from the sprawling squares of San Diego neighborhoods in cutting vegetables capable of feeding dozens of families and senior citizens who live on a fixed income. While it tends to plots of gardens ranging from a few dozen square feet to large residential property, it intends to harvest 100,000 pounds of organic products for human consumption by the end of the year. To reach this goal, it is also planned to employ additional employees, which doubles the number of CHF to four.

A little more than two years ago, he was not satisfied with his sales job in the renewable energy sector, making other plans. Cramer launched a program from the garden to the table with the intention of breaking the intensive carbon process of choosing fruits, vegetables, packing and charging hundreds of miles away. At the same time, plans to feed families through the economic spectrum.

The hypothesis is simple: cut the carbon cycle and feed people. According to A recent study by the International Government Committee on Climate Change (IPCC)Agriculture and other forms of land use produce 23 percent of carbon emissions attributed to global warming. Climate experts claim that carbon emissions are required by each community sector to maintain global temperatures from the increase of 1.5 ° C by the middle of this century. This is a comprehensive challenge to governments charged with adhering to the worst aspects of harsh weather and high sea levels. One of the possible solutions to reduce carbon fingerprint in the agricultural sector is to grow food near urban areas where most people live, all over the world.

Newly harvested products from community dining farms.

In addition to anxiety about the phenomenon of global warming, another issue is struck closer to the home: food security, which is defined as a reliable arrival state into a sufficient amount of food at reasonable prices. While CHF provides a key solution to the intensive operation of the employment of installing a vegetable garden for customers on time or energy, which charges modest fees to convert the pattern space into a high plant family, it is expected that the organs will donate 51 percent of the fruits and vegetables cultivated on their property to the bank of food and to get their green waste simultaneously to adjust the soil. This development creates an exchange that benefits individuals, societies and the planet.

Kramer said: “We measure our success through the four pillars: health, environment, education and the functions that we offer.”

It was established as a non -profit organization, and the tax appointment allows CHF members to address their participation in the cooperative as a tax opponent, which in turn covers the operating expenses of the company and the salary of a CRAMER employee full time.

Marcus Siloter (the forefront) of the farm executive, CEO, Affiri Kramer, tends to crops in the home of food farms

Cramer also maintains low operating costs through partnership with local organizations that intersect with CHF – from community fertilization program to local social service agencies that focus on people feeding. Cengle, building materials and plants are donated, enabling Cramer to fix vegetable beds with the least expenditures. “We want to share the largest possible number of ROOTS organizations, so we distribute food in a variety of sites.”

By doing this, he joined the legions of food activists who are trying to treat food security by creating alive -backed food systems, including fleet farms in Orlando, Florida and New Roots Urban Farm, creating edible landscapes in the areas that are ignored and often unstable, such as neglected and dizzy squares. Although the ways to achieve these goals differ from one place to another, the result helps societies with prosperity through cooperative effort.

(From left to right) Marcus Siloter, Isabella Alyzandrini, Nikki Helms and Every Kramer stand in front of the birth center. Helms is the manager, and is midwife, from the Community Welty Center in San Diego, who has partnered with San Diego Co-Frestest to provide healthy food to expect mothers and the neighboring community.

In San Diego, the neighborhoods in a few miles reveal the blatant contrast between families. In archaeological coastal societies, large homes for prosperous families dominate the scene. On the other side of the 5th Highway, the conditions of people’s lives vary greatly. The internal driving is a few miles away and access to fresh products at reasonable prices are not given. In fact, many families are struggling in San Diego while getting enough food to eat and make rent.

A lot of what we do is about enabling people to develop their food

At least twice a month, CRAMER offers new bags of products grown in the PT Pet hills. Loma to the Bayside Community Center is located in Linda Vista, which serves a low -income alive consisting of migratory families.

Kim Heinal, CEO of the Bayside community, said where she was about food insecurity and empowering people to develop their recently harvested food and delivered to the distribution center, where it was about food insecurity and enabling people to develop their food.

Marcus slaughter the local community refrigerator with fresh products from the participating harvesting partners.

Although the epidemic has calmed down, the public health crisis revealed chronic inequality in the diet. In the United States, nearly one in five families of food insecurity suffer regularly. A report published by the Sanch of San Diego alliance refers to one in three residents who suffer from food insecurity on a daily basis. Despite the best efforts made by food activists such as CRAMER to treat food security, the data indicates that a lot of work still has to do.

The Chif frame is an example of what is possible outside the current model of how to grow and distribute food in the United States. But it has the ability to prosper, if there are more urban areas and consumers they adopt, and if individuals like Cramer are ready to break the ground.

Isabella Alyzandrini reaps the pamphlet flowers from the garden of the birth center.

Enrique Jelly is an independent writer based in San Diego, covering environmental issues in Sawtondand and abroad. It focuses on the intersection between nature, science and technology with the development of food policy. Bylines Kceet, BBC News, DW Global Ideas and Zagat, among other things. Twitter: @gili92107

Amanda Lopez is an American Mexican image and a photographer of its headquarters in Los Angeles. Whether it is on a mission or photographing members of her family or friends, the Lopez camera is looking for a balance between beauty, strength and perseverance. Her work has been published in time, Washington Post, and the new republic. You can contact her on Instagram Snapshotlopes And see more of her work in www.amandalopezphoto.com

Additional resources:
A Map of food insecurity From San Diego
Report on climate change By the international government committee concerned with climate change
on Urbanization Written by Hanna Richie and Max Roser for our scientist in data