With OSAP, Eating Becomes Political Act

Less than two miles away, our future lies fertile yet struggling to survive. The Ecological Design Innovation Center is fighting for that survival.

Members of EDIC are driven by a call to provide an alternative method for developing land in the interests of an entire community, to providing food and energy in a sustainable manner while encouraging economic growth, and to providing a positive model upon which other communities can build. EDIC, which is still in its planning stages, will work in conjunction with the Oberlin Sustainable Agriculture Project (OSAP), an existing non-profit organization that is in need of further student involvement, particularly financially.

"Student involvement," said Brad Masi, vice-president of OSAP and a prime mover in EDIC, "is imperative."

As a non-profit organization and an example of community supported agriculture, OSAP is partially financed by memberships. But this year only six students became members of the organization, a sharp drop in participation since 1996, when 34 students pledged memberships. "It is to be expected that student interest would vary slightly with each year, but it is imperative that students insure the continuation of this program by committing themselves financially," said Iris Hunt, OSAP treasurer.

Responding to increasing urban sprawl, which simultaneously removes farmland while exacerbating air and water pollution, a coalition of students, alumni and community members have developed an alternative to these practices. "The two most threatening factors to consider in our present method of development are urban sprawl and agricultural practices," said David Lewis, a Bonner Scholar lecturer in the Sustainable Agriculture course.

Oberlin students live in one of the fastest-growing areas in the country, an area that the American Farmland Trust identified as the seventh most threatened in the U.S. for farmland lost to sprawling urban development. While losing three percent of their population in the next five years, the seven counties surrounding Cleveland will convert 30 percent more land to residential and commercial use. "Lorain County lost 31 percent of its farms within the last twenty years, and the state of Ohio has lost 2 million acres in the same time period," Masi said. This trend is particularly obvious in Ohio, where agriculture, a $94 billion-dollar industry, is the primary source of revenue. These farms are being developed into houses, which are far more lucrative for use as real estate.

The nature of present agricultural methods is destructive, according to Gerry Gross, OSAP grower. "Since the Green Revolution of the post-World War II era, there has been a move away from natural processes used in agricultural processes," said Gross. "As farms become ever more efficient, using less labor, more and more synthetic fertilizers are needed to increase production. And more and more artificial and toxic pesticides and herbicides are used to protect crops from vermin," Gross said.

As a result, soil is stripped of its natural components, killing necessary helpful bacteria and anthropoids, which in turn requires further chemical interference. This shift in the delicate ecological balance kills native vegetation in the soil, and pollutes surface and groundwater with chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

OSAP's goal is not just to produce food in a sustainable manner, it is to demonstrate that organic methods yield extremely high quality products and that it is possible to produce food in a manner that does not degrade the earth. OSAP's yield is enough to satisfy the bulk of OSCA's demand for fresh vegetables.

But because of an unseasonably wet and cool summer, OSAP was not able to produce nearly as much as they anticipated. This year, the OSAP board reports a running deficit approaching $10,000. In an effort to respond to these concerns, the OSAP Trustees have recommended several ways for community members and students to support the project.

In addition to purchasing shares, students and community members can support the program by patronizing the farmers market, which takes place outside of the Oberlin Public Library, across the street from the post office, every Saturday through November from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. To support the movement for local and organic foods, students are also encouraged to patronize the all-organic salad bar in Stevenson and any future local-foods programs. "The very act of eating can become a political act," said Masi.

Most tangibly, students also have the opportunity of farming themselves. Volunteers are always welcome; Gross single-handedly accomplishes 60 percent of the work, a dedication which is reflected in his inspiring visions for the future. In addition, "Those interested are also encouraged to get involved in planning of our future projects, such as EDIC," Lewis said.

"[EDIC] will provide a model of how to inhabit a piece of land in a way that enhances, rather than degrades, the ecology of the site," providing a community-oriented area. The long-term vision of EDIC is to provide a model upon which other communities may build.

EDIC will use the Clark Farm property, a 70-acre plot of land owned by Oberlin College. As such, the College has a vested interest in the project, although EDIC is an independently-acting organization. Representatives of both groups are currently working on a favorable long-term lease between EDIC and the College regarding the use of Clark Farm. Numerous educational programs are in the planning stages, in addition to the many departments, such as geology, biology, and environmental studies that presently make use of the farm.

Sunday, Oct. 30 at 5 p.m., there will be an interest meeting about OSAP and EDIC for the entire community in Tappan Square. Dinner will be provided by OSCA. In addition, EDIC will be hosting a more involved planning session on Saturday, Dec. 2 in the Hollack Auditorium in the Environmental Studies Center.