I'm being evicted.
Yes, my roommate and I always paid our rent in full and on time. No, we did not violate our lease in any way. Yes, we signed a 12-month lease that doesn't end until September. No, we did not engage in illegal activities or any provide our landlord with any other reason for eviction.
We are being evicted because rotten wood/mold was found in the structure of the building and the landlord deemed it a hazardous living situation (hmm, forced asthmatic cough + litigious society...do I smell lawsuits coming???). So now we've been given a month to leave. While there are a few empty apartments in the complex we could move in to, there are definitely not enough vacancies to house the 20+ apartments that are being emptied.
My frustration with the situation is the lack of choice and the lack of control. A few days ago I was discussing people's fear of flying with a friend and we decided that it is the complete lack of control that scares people. Once you are on the plane, you can't get off...and you can't help steer. Right now, I feel like I'm on that plane and, although I'm sure we'll get through this without a crash landing, the current turbulence certainly makes me want to vomit.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Food Stamps and Farmers Markets
One of my current projects is working to get an EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) machine for the Wheat Ridge Farmers Market.
When food stamps program (now officially called SNAP or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) was created, recipients got actual pieces of paper to redeem for food at local supermarkets, convenience stores and markets. However, in the late 1990s, physical coupons were phased out in favor of this debit-card swipe system known as EBT. There are some significant pros to this change: less fraud, less stigmas attached to using food stamps, etc.
However, one of the negative impacts of this shift was that it became drastically more difficult for farmers markets to continue accepting food stamp benefits. Many markets lack the funding to buy an EBT machine and, even if they are able to get their hands on one, there are monthly fees associated with using the machine, difficulties accessing an electricity source (or paying for a wireless machine) and challenges with creating a centralized system so each vendor does not have to purchase his/her own machine. For reference, a wireless EBT machine costs around $1200.
Despite these challenges, I am working with the Wheat Ridge Farmers Market (run through the Metro Denver Farmers Markets), the Colorado Farmers Market Association, the City of Wheat Ridge, Jefferson County and a non-profit called LiveWell Wheat Ridge to acquire an EBT machine (we will likely rent it) and set up a sustainable system that allows individuals and households who receive food stamps to buy produce at the market.
I'm excited by this project but recognize the significant challenges that lie ahead. Although we have a grant to cover all of the costs of this program for 2010, we will have to find another way to fund it for 2011. Additionally, we need to make sure that we find a responsible and honest volunteer who can help run the machine on market days. And we need to make sure that there will be someone at the Conservation District, or another organization, who will ensure the project continues in 2011 and beyond. And we need to educate all the vendors about how the program works. And, and, and...
There has to be a better way.
When food stamps program (now officially called SNAP or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) was created, recipients got actual pieces of paper to redeem for food at local supermarkets, convenience stores and markets. However, in the late 1990s, physical coupons were phased out in favor of this debit-card swipe system known as EBT. There are some significant pros to this change: less fraud, less stigmas attached to using food stamps, etc.
However, one of the negative impacts of this shift was that it became drastically more difficult for farmers markets to continue accepting food stamp benefits. Many markets lack the funding to buy an EBT machine and, even if they are able to get their hands on one, there are monthly fees associated with using the machine, difficulties accessing an electricity source (or paying for a wireless machine) and challenges with creating a centralized system so each vendor does not have to purchase his/her own machine. For reference, a wireless EBT machine costs around $1200.
Despite these challenges, I am working with the Wheat Ridge Farmers Market (run through the Metro Denver Farmers Markets), the Colorado Farmers Market Association, the City of Wheat Ridge, Jefferson County and a non-profit called LiveWell Wheat Ridge to acquire an EBT machine (we will likely rent it) and set up a sustainable system that allows individuals and households who receive food stamps to buy produce at the market.
I'm excited by this project but recognize the significant challenges that lie ahead. Although we have a grant to cover all of the costs of this program for 2010, we will have to find another way to fund it for 2011. Additionally, we need to make sure that we find a responsible and honest volunteer who can help run the machine on market days. And we need to make sure that there will be someone at the Conservation District, or another organization, who will ensure the project continues in 2011 and beyond. And we need to educate all the vendors about how the program works. And, and, and...
There has to be a better way.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Press Rease: Edible Garden-in-a-Box
Release No. 0110.01
Elana Fox (720) 544-2870
EDIBLE GARDEN-IN-A-BOX OFFERED THROUGH
THE CENTER FOR RESOURCE CONSERVATION
COLORADO, Jan 12, 2010 – The Jefferson Conservation District, in partnership with the Center for ReSource Conservation and The TSR Group, would like to announce the addition of an edible garden to the Garden-in-a-Box program for the 2010 season.
Garden-in-a-Box is a non-profit program run by the Center for ReSource Conservation intended to simplify water-wise gardening by providing professional ‘plant-by-numbers’ designs, a selection of xeriscape plants, and planting and care instructions at low cost to residents in participating cities. In 2009, the cities of Boulder, Golden, Longmont and Loveland participated in this program.
Designed by Jenny Redmond, Director of The TSR Group, this edible garden features perennial herbs and annual vegetables in a design that promotes efficient water use and scenic edible landscapes. Redmond states, “Edible gardening is at the core of what I believe we need to do with our landscapes. This is a really great program because it makes it easy for people to follow the plant-by-number design and care instructions.”
Elana Fox, the Jefferson Conservation District’s Urban Agriculture Program Coordinator and an AmeriCorps OSM/VISTA volunteer adds, “Sustainable urban landscaping is not just about xeric plants, it is about creating an environment that can sustain our urban lifestyle. Edible urban gardens are both useful and beautiful, the perfect addition to our homes and communities.”
The edible design, along with other xeric designs available through the Garden-in-a-Box program, will available for viewing on February 1, 2010 and for purchase in participating cities beginning March 1, 2010.
#
The Jefferson Conservation District (JCD) promotes stewardship of the land in Jefferson, Clear Creek and Gilpin counties. The JCD’s Urban Agriculture Program aims to improve access to agricultural activities and locally produced food in urban Jefferson County.
The Center for ReSource Conservation is a Boulder-based non-profit organization which empowers the community to conserve natural resources.
The TSR Group offers unique spatial information methodologies and outstanding professional design services to the land development industries that increase project efficiency, improve design quality and reduce costs by centralizing and standardizing project information.
Elana Fox (720) 544-2870
EDIBLE GARDEN-IN-A-BOX OFFERED THROUGH
THE CENTER FOR RESOURCE CONSERVATION
COLORADO, Jan 12, 2010 – The Jefferson Conservation District, in partnership with the Center for ReSource Conservation and The TSR Group, would like to announce the addition of an edible garden to the Garden-in-a-Box program for the 2010 season.
Garden-in-a-Box is a non-profit program run by the Center for ReSource Conservation intended to simplify water-wise gardening by providing professional ‘plant-by-numbers’ designs, a selection of xeriscape plants, and planting and care instructions at low cost to residents in participating cities. In 2009, the cities of Boulder, Golden, Longmont and Loveland participated in this program.
Designed by Jenny Redmond, Director of The TSR Group, this edible garden features perennial herbs and annual vegetables in a design that promotes efficient water use and scenic edible landscapes. Redmond states, “Edible gardening is at the core of what I believe we need to do with our landscapes. This is a really great program because it makes it easy for people to follow the plant-by-number design and care instructions.”
Elana Fox, the Jefferson Conservation District’s Urban Agriculture Program Coordinator and an AmeriCorps OSM/VISTA volunteer adds, “Sustainable urban landscaping is not just about xeric plants, it is about creating an environment that can sustain our urban lifestyle. Edible urban gardens are both useful and beautiful, the perfect addition to our homes and communities.”
The edible design, along with other xeric designs available through the Garden-in-a-Box program, will available for viewing on February 1, 2010 and for purchase in participating cities beginning March 1, 2010.
#
The Jefferson Conservation District (JCD) promotes stewardship of the land in Jefferson, Clear Creek and Gilpin counties. The JCD’s Urban Agriculture Program aims to improve access to agricultural activities and locally produced food in urban Jefferson County.
The Center for ReSource Conservation is a Boulder-based non-profit organization which empowers the community to conserve natural resources.
The TSR Group offers unique spatial information methodologies and outstanding professional design services to the land development industries that increase project efficiency, improve design quality and reduce costs by centralizing and standardizing project information.
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