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Samantha Western |
Unit 4: Agricultural Geography  Look at these tomatoes! Grown at City Farm in Chicago, these are some of the healthiest (and tastiest) looking tomatoes you'll ever see. But, because of consumer trends and efforts by chain super markets to "beautify" produce before it hits the shelves the average consumer might think they've gone bad. Hydroponic Tomatoes are what you most likely see in the super market produce aisle. And although they are appealing to the eye, their beauty comes at a price. These commercially grown tomatoes are kept under a watchful eye in greenhouses and are lacking in vitamin C because they do not get the full benefit of sunlight. They do not pull flavor from the soil and are lacking in taste! The journey from production to consumption provides the most interesting look into farm culture. The things discovered in this unit might shock you! Learn more about City Farm Chicago: http://twitter.com/cityfarmchicago  COURSE OUTLINE Development and diffusion of agriculture Neolithic Agricultural Revolution Second Agricultural Revolution Major agricultural production regions Agricultural systems associated with major bio-climatic zones Variations within major zones and effects of markets Linkages and flows among regions of food production and consumption Rural land use and settlement patterns Models of land use, including von Thünen's model Settlement patterns associated with major agriculture types Modern commercial agriculture: the Third Agricultural Revolution Green Revolution and the beginning of the biotechnologic revolution Characteristics of the third revolution: blending of primary, secondary, and tertiary activities, intensification of mechanization, and development of biotechnology Spatial organization of industrial agriculture Diffusion of industrial agriculture Future food supplies and environmental impacts of agriculture - hopes and fears LESSON PLANS *You are expected to read the entire chapter, but here is a guide on what to focus on for specific lectures and class activities. J GUIDED OUTLINES RUBENSTEIN CHAPTER 10 Key Issue 1 KEY Key Issue 2 LESSON ONE: AN INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURAL GEOGRAPHY Readings Rubenstein, p 306-308 Introduction to Agricultural Geography Lecture Introduction Activity LESSON TWO: WAS THE INVENTION OF AGRICULTURE A GOOD THING? Readings Rubenstein 308-314 Case Study and Discussion on Early Farming Societies LESSON FOUR: AQUACULTURE Readings Can Farming Fish Take the Place of Catching Them? Seminar Discussion on Article Film Clips: Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe Fishing Farming in the Mojave Desert Overview and preview of Darwin’s Nightmare* http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/stories/2011/12/8_voicesmeetdewey.html LESSON FOUR: THE FARMING STORY: PRODUCTION TO CONSUMPTION PART I Readings Rubenstein, p 314-328 Kuby- Case Study for Chapter 8 Lab: Food For Thought: The Globalization of Agriculture (Kuby) Comparison of Agricultural Regions in LDCs and MDCs Coffee Trivia to go with the Coffee-Go-Round Coffee-Go-Round Notes LESSON FOUR: THE FARMING STORY: PRODUCTION TO CONSUMPTION PART II Readings Rubenstein p 314-328 Review of Agricultural Regions in LDCs and MDCs Food Deserts Presentation Food Deserts Note Sheet Please see web links and TEDtalk below AP HUG Mapping Exercises and Inspiration Agricultural Locations in US LESSON FIVE: AGRICULTURAL LAND USE MODELS Readings Rubenstein, p 329-333 Agricultural Land Use Models Lecture von Thunen Notes and Practice Calculations von Thunen Overview Notes *You will be doing some group problem solving throughout the lecture. Please bring a calculator. LESSON SIX: GLOBAL PATTERNS IN AGRIBUSINESS Readings Rubenstein, p 329-333 Vertical vs. Horzontal Integration LESSON SEVEN: FOOD INC Food Inc Film Response Sheet Corn Farmers Say Food Inc Shouldn't Win an Oscar Omnivore's Dilemma Selections Chapter 8 Chapter 11 http://www.polyfacefarms.com/ LESSON EIGHT: AGRICULTURE: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY + UNIT REVIEW End of Unit PowerPoint Check out the clip on the krill! ARTICLES AND WEBSITES FOR REVIEW United States Department of Agriculture Interesting and comprehensive website on all things agriculture in the United States! http://www.usda.gov/ Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food This website talks about the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food program, where farmers are trying to lead a national conversation about food and agriculture to strengthen the connection between consumers and farmers. http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=KNOWYOURFARMER Food Atlas This interactive map let's you view and compare community access to food in different areas. http://www.ers.usda.gov/foodatlas/ Food Deserts Food Deserts are formed when people do not have access to transportation and do not have a grocery store within a reasonable walking distance. They occur more often than you might think. http://www.ers.usda.gov/data/fooddesert/ Farmers Markets Are you curious to see where Farmers Markets are located around you? Check this website for locations! http://search.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/ Chose My Plate Mission to promote dietary guidance for all Americans, and Conduct applied research and analyses in nutrition and consumer economics. http://www.choosemyplate.gov/ Can Farming Fish Take the Place of Catching Them? This article provides an in-depth look at aquaculture and the potential threats it poses to the actual fishing industry. They also discuss the rise of the FRANKENFISH! (bm, Bmm, BMM) Polyface Farms Take a visit to Polyface farms itself! Read some stories of people who travel to the famous farm for its wonderful produce and products! http://www.polyfacefarms.com/ The Meatrix Learn more about the Meatrix, the information it was based on, and how the industry is currently doing http://www.themeatrix.com/ Price of Food Comparison Farming Subsidies over Time This graphic examines farm subsidies over time. When did subsidies reach their height? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2006/07/02/GR2006070200024.html Food Inc Website This provides a lot of interesting information. Explore the site in relation to the documentary viewing and what we are learning in class. http://www.takepart.com/foodinc Barbara Kowalyck on Huffington Post You were introduced to Barbara in the documentary FOOD Inc. She introduced the idea for "Kevin's Law" which has not yet become an actual law. Here is a link to an article she wrote. Following a recall on ground turkey, she discusses how there is still a need for Kevin's Law to be passed, to stengthen the USDA, and also to hold it more accountable. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barbara-kowalcyk/ground-turkey-recall-show_b_923838.html Center for Foodborne Illness (CFI) The Center for Foodborne Illness Research & Prevention is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing foodborne illness through research, education, advocacy and service.Dr. Barbara Kowalcyk is co-founder and CEO. http://www.foodborneillness.org/ 5 Dollar Dinners In Food Inc there was a segment on how difficult it can be to feed a family with a limited income. Often times, families turn to the fast food window rather than the grocery store because of cost issues. This is a blog that suggests ideas for healthy dinners on a budget of 5 dollars per night! http://www.5dollardinners.com/ OXFAM International Oxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working together in over 90 countries and with partners and allies around the world to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice. They work directly with communities and we seek to influence the powerful to ensure that poor people can improve their lives and livelihoods and have a say in decisions that affect them. http://www.oxfam.org/ Where Weed-Killer Won't Work The New York Times map on weeds that are resistant to chemicals. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/05/03/business/weeds-graphic.html?ref=energy-environment MEDIA CLIPS FOR REVIEW Apparently, Human Geographers that specialize in agricultural geography are major nerds. And they love explaining complex theories and concepts by spoofing of popular sci-fi movies! Here are a few for your viewing pleasure. While these are made in part for entertainment, they also touch on important themes we are learning about! The Meatrix Leo the pig is exposed to the truth about agricultural production by Moopheus in the United States and it is NOT pretty. Store Wars Cuc Skywalker tries to take back the (food) store from Darth Tater TEDtalks Mari Gallagher This is a very informative TEDtalk. The information moves quickly so I recommend a second viewing. Mari Gallagher presents inportant information about Food Deserts, why they are important, and why we need to take action. Mari runs her own consulting firm that provides qualtitive and quantative analysis services and she is still focusing research on the effects of food deserts on communities. (Not to mention, waiting on that Thank-You note from the USDA!) Svalbard Seed Vault Here is the clip we viewed on the seed vault. Think back to the themese we discussed in class and the potential problems associated with the Green Revolution. The lessening of crop diversity can make generic crops more susceptible to disease. The Seed Vault keeps an extremely large number of seeds. Last Modified on March 6, 2013
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