Health, Agriculture and Economy

By:Andréa MartucciJulia CanningCaitlin Bragg

Defining Health

World Health OrganizationState of complete physical, mental, and social

well-being Haudenosaunee perspective

Physical, natural, social, geographical, spiritual, and environmental aspects

All interdependent of one another.

Goals

To obtain balance between mind, body, spirit, culture, and earth in order to create a healthy place to live.

To re-connect with traditional foods, medicines, and lifestyles.

Current Health Problems

Health issues facing Haudenosaunee Diabetes, cancer, obesity, suicide, contaminants in

the blood stream, substance abuse, paralysis Influenced by complex interactions between

health risk factors such as social, spiritual, physical, mechanical, biological,

chemical and genetic factors and by lifestyle choices Limitations

Preventative Measures

Our community will focus on achieving;Environmental healthAdequate, appropriate and safe foodsSafe and undisturbed settlementsSuitable, education, income, employment

opportunities, health services, social support networks and social environments

Community Approach

Includes; Nutrition

Four seasons wheel, dietary needs Medicines

Plants and their traditional uses Environment

Protect land, air and water Education

Prevention i.e. Nutrition, Addiction Economy

Funding Culture

Healthy mind and spirit Social services

Aboriginal wellness program

John David Fadden

Agriculture Goals

Sustainability* Adequate nutrition for the inhabitants of the community Culturally appropriate food. Culturally appropriate means of appropriating the food. Restoring a more traditional diet for Haudenosaunee

people Including: traditional agricultural, hunting and fishing

practices. Restore biodiversity and ecological integrity to

surrounding area

Sustainability

“Before you ask whether it is sustainable, you must first ask “Is it enjoyable?” –Michael Sacco

“Production which provides for the needs of the present generation without harming the ability of future generations to fulfill their needs by the same means”

Production which is adaptive enough to change with the people and the environment.

Production that is enjoyable and culturally appropriate. Environmental “needs” of the land must be taken into account. Restoring biological integrity and biodiversity.

Sustainability

It is, therefore, proposed that: All game animals be hunted rather then raised. That the Otanabee River be diverted to a series of interlinking ponds

in which fishing practice can take place. That new wild species be introduced and incorporated into “wild

cultivation.” That traditional agricultural crops, such as the three sisters (maize,

beans and squash) and Jerusalem Artichokes (also known as the Iroquois potato) be grown in designated agricultural areas.

That supplementary non-traditional crops, such as hemp and Soya beans, as well.

Overview

The model for the city’s food production will be based loosely on some of the founding principles of permaculture (mimicking natural ecological communities). There will be “zones of intensity” which dictate what level of human involvement is needed.

ZonesZone 1) -Inside peoples dwelling. -Indoor plants and herbs which are most used by the individuals in the

dwelling can be grown and used year round. (see picture of housing design)

Zone 2) -Within the city (urban agriculture) -Rooftop garden, ground gardens and communal spaces. (see picture

depicting city plan)Zone 3) -On fringes of city -Natural orchards -Dairy goats -Free-range laying chickens Zone 4) Dedicated to more traditional forms of agricultural and consists of five 40

acre plots located just outside the city limits.

Plot # 1 2 3 4 5

Year 1 -3 sisters -3 sisters-Jerusalem Artichokes

-soybeans

-turnips and carrots

-onions

-hemp -3 sisters and soybeans

Year 2 -3 sisters and soybeans

-soybeans-turnips and carrots-onions

-hemp -3 sisters -3 sisters-Jerusalem Artichokes

Year 3 -3 sisters-Jerusalem Artichokes

-hemp -3 sisters -3 sisters and soybeans

-soybeans-turnips and carrots-onions

Year 4 -soybeans

-turnips and carrots

-onions

-3 sisters -3 sisters and soybeans

-3 sisters-Jerusalem Artichokes

-hemp

Year 5 -hemp -3 sisters and soybeans

-3 sisters

-Jerusalem

Artichokes

-soybeans-turnips and carrots-onions

-hemp

Zones cont.

Annual production: Jerusalem Artichoke 48,000kg Maize 20,218kg kg Squash 982,800 kg Beans (not including soybeans) 2,500,00 kg Carrots, parsnips and onions 294,720 kg Hemp seed 43,680 kg Soybean 48,000kg Any excess produce will be sold or traded. Currently exists a big demand for organically and sustainably grown

produce

Zones cont.

Zone 5) Wild/natural zone. Largest and most important Traditional hunting, fishing and gathering practices Educating young people about biodiversity and the

importance of the natural world. Hoped that 40-60% of the community’s dietary

requirements will eventually come from non-agricultural practices.

Hunting

Primarily deer but will also include moose, bear, elk, buffalo and rabbits

At first, numbers of animals will be too low to hunt within the grounds belonging to the community.

Hunting parties can be sent out to other regions during the traditional hunting season.

Local natural areas can be used as grounds for teaching children about traditional methods and the importance of maintaining an ecological balance.

Fishing

Damming projects have disrupted the natural flow of the river and limited the volume and variety of fish species. Furthermore, the river is slightly

Toxins moving up the food chain make most valuable fish will be the least safely edible.

Necessary to by-pass the now damned sections of the river through a series of inter locking ponds and streams.

Newly constructed water ways will serve the dual purpose of cleansing the waters of the river and of increasing the area available for fishing activities.

In conjunction with the Ministry of Natural Resources, fish indigenous to the region will be reintroduced into the river and ponds.

Will increase fish stocks and restore biodiversity.

Gathering Traditional plant species will be reintroduced to the local natural grounds Strawberries, tobacco and other food and medicinal plants. Already existing plants will be nurtured through sustainable gathering practices and

low-intensity plant care techniques “Wild cultivation” Incorporating children Many wild species are already prominent in the area. These include: Cedar trees, Spruce trees, Sumac bushes (can be used to make tea high in vitamin C) Sugar Maple trees (can be used for the making of maple syrup) Hickory trees (bark has medicinal value) Black Walnut trees (nuts are sources of protein and husks can be used as a natural

dye) Apple trees (food), Wild grapes (food, drink and medicine), Wild asparagus (food) Edible fungi, such as oyster mushrooms (food) Various other wild edible weeds, grasses and roots (used for food, spice, and

medicine)

Nutrition and Health

A healthy diet for active individuals should be composed of 40% carbohydrates, 30% proteins and 30% fats. Daily intake must incorporate 2,500 calories, 60 g (grams) of protein, 60 g of fat 400 g of carbohydrates 2400mg (milligrams) of sodium 1500 mg of calcium 300mg of cholesterol 5 mcg of Vitamin D 60 mg of vitamin c, 8 mg of iron, 200 mcg (micrograms) of foliate 2 mcg of vitamin B12 Three Sisters provides these nutritional elements in almost perfect quantities. Hemp seeds also provide the body with these nutrients in similarly perfect balance. Soybean, egg, dairy Wild produce Urban agriculture

Traditional Diet

Based on seasonal availability. Late winter-early spring- fishing primary

source of protein Late spring-fall- cultivated and wild plants,

roots, legumes, tubers etc. Late fall-early winter- fishing and hunting Early to mid-winter- hunting (game

animals: primarily deer)

COMPARING ECONOMIES

Conventional Economy

Exists as a system theoretically isolated from the natural environment

Resources and land are considered to be infinite according to “Ricardian principles”

Environmental and social costs of production and consumption are externalized onto the environment and society

Growth and consumption must proceed unrestrained in order for the economy to be sustained

Values/Principles Profits before people Individualism & competition Accumulation of profits, greed,

selfishness Hyper-consumption, excessive

“needs”

Money is an unstable system of exchange controlled by banks and powerful financial institutions, which keep the world in a cycle of debt and poverty…..it holds no value in and of itself

ANOTHER OPTION…

Sustainable ecological economies

Exists as one subsystem of the total system which is the natural environment

Works within the actual carrying capacity of the environment and natural resources

Utilizes total cost accounting, Emphasis is placed on local production

and consumption ,skills, knowledge, resources and culture

Absolute consumption is minimized to actual needs

Values/principles Ensuring that individual and

community well-being and needs are met

Social welfare, equitable distribution of resources, work & production

Co-operation, collaboration, community, companionship, sharing, communal ownership,

What is wealth, prosperity, progress?

AN IDEAL ECONOMY FOR OUR COMMUNITY

Will begin with the total re-evaluation, re-conceptualization, and re-construction of economy and its ultimate purpose

Utilizes a sustainable/ecological economic model in which the primary directive is qualitative development rather than quantitative growth which increases human well-being and meets everybody’s needs equally without compromising any ecological system or life force.

Operates in a fashion which maintains and incorporates egalitarianism, equality, participation, transparency, non-hierarchy, consensus decision making and horizontal control

Always looks ahead 7 generations into the future and embeds human activity into the web of life

Allows for the community to be self-sufficient and autonomous Replaces the conventional economy and monetary system to

the greatest extent possible

BUILDING A NEW ECONOMY

Internal Economy

A unique community currency will be created to facilitate exchange of materials, goods, and services in a manner that calculates everybody’s time, skills and energy equitably

Currency will allow for the accumulation of credit interest free Capitalist model is totally abolished, replaced by an exchange system

combining community currency, bartering, gifting and sharing All exchanges/transactions of goods/services taking place inside the

community will use the community currency unless direct bartering gifting or sharing is taking place

Management, monitoring and recording of exchange system will be done in a democratic, participatory, transparent manner

A NEW ECONOMY (CON’T)

External Economy

Any surplus or excess produced within the community may be exported to obtain money in order to purchase supplies, materials, goods or food which cannot be produced within the community or for emergency situations

All out side money obtained will be pooled into a community fund, used for community development purposes or for individual or family purposes by exchanging with the community currency.

All decisions made in the use of this money will be made by consensus by a democratic and transparent committee

The community currency system will be promoted to other surrounding or distant communities to facilitate inter-community exchange, including the development of educational and skill trade programs