Mission Statement
It
is my goal to create a locally produced and distributed alternative to food
choices that exist, while maintaining an absolute commitment to providing the
highest quality organically certified produce grown in the most efficient and
sustainable way without any chemicals or artificial fertilizers. In addition to
food, customers will be engaged by interactive nutritional and sustainability
information through classes, cook books, competitions, and events organized by
the patronage.
Built around an individual operator which
would be able to provide a sustainable job with a living wage serving around 80
people, each single operator unit could be hyper-modular and scalable allowing
units to group together and form larger food co-ops with a greater diversity in
food. Within the space of each unit
there would be many different foods produced; It is my goal to investigate and
cultivate every crop that can be produced in this system allowing for year-round
access to locally produced seasonal food choices as well as conducting
scientific research into Biology, Agriculture, Chemistry, Ecology, Nutrition,
Sustainability, and public safety.
The profits from this organization will become
collateral for projects determined by contributors and benefactors for the
purpose of furthering research, community development, and access to education.
Open Source Island will act as a revolving public trust to establish a
sustainable infrastructure to serve the needs of the community.
Tax Entity – Non-Profit 501-C3
Public Charity/Private Foundation
Public Charity/Private Foundation
- Educational Institute – Aquaponic/Nutrition/Ecology/Sustainability
- Scientific Research – Biology, Agriculture, Chemistry, Engineering, Ecology
- Testing for Public Safety – Environmental Research/Monitoring
- Relief for the Poor – Community Kitchens and Outreach
- Advancement of Education – Scientific approach to accelerating competency model
- Advancement of Science – Open Source research and development.
- Maintaining/Building Public Monuments & Structures – Community/Environmental Stewardship though public works projects.
- Community Revitalization – Reclaiming Industrial Space, creating neighborhood Gardens, Parks, Water and Waste Recycling Center
Aeroponic/Aquaponic Food System
$5-$7 ft2
5-7 lbs/ft2 Growing every month
Customer Outreach
Online & Print Publishing
Not just a business. It’s a movement!
—Food for the Homeless
—Backyard Aquaponics
—Self Sufficient
Schools
—Self Sufficient
Cities
OPEN SOURCE ISLAND
—Solar/Wind &
Geothermal Energy
—Construction/Remodeling
—Green Earth Building
—Online & Print
Marketing/Publishing
—Sustainable Economic
Development
—Urban/MicroFarms
—Restaurant/Grocer
—Consumer, Worker,
Agriculture Coop
—Locally Supported CSA
—DIY Industrial
Technology
—Open Source Ecology
www.OpenSourceEcology.org- Open Source Ecology is accelerating the
growth of the next economy - the Open Source Economy - an economy that
optimizes both production and distribution - while promoting environmental
regeneration and social justice. The Global
Village Construction Set is a high-performance, modular, do-it-yourself, low-cost
platform - that allows for the easy fabrication of the 50 different industrial
machines that it takes - to build a small, sustainable civilization with modern
comforts. By weaving open source permacultural and technological cycles together, we intend to provide
basic human needs while being good stewards of the land, using resources
sustainably, and pursuing right livelihood. With the gift of
openly shared information, we can produce industrial products locally using
open source design and digital
fabrication.
This frees us from the need to participate in the wasteful resource flows of
the larger economy by letting us produce our own materials and components for
the technologies we use. We see small, independent, land-based economies as
means to transform societies, address pressing world issues, and evolve to freedom.
The Market.
“When
it comes to organic options outside supermarkets and natural-foods markets,
Fort Worth and environs aren't exactly overflowing with options. Where in other
cities, farmers markets are primary sources for local organic produce, you
won't find any organic farmers at the Cowtown Farmers Market, the group of local farmers selling
produce on Wednesday and Saturday mornings at the Benbrook Traffic Circle.
Ben Walker, president of the North Central
Texas Farmers Market Corp., which operates the Cowtown market, says his group has just one organic farmer, who
sells only at the Grapevine Farmers Market.” –
(http://rawfooddietsecrets.com/blog/24/organic-raw-food-produce-in-fort-worth-texas/)
ORGANIC RESTURANTS - In Texas
Spiral
Diner and Bakery
Fairmount- Bakery, Vegetarian, Organic 1314 W Magnolia Ave
Restaurant
AVA
Rockwall - Seafood, Wine Bar, Organic 108 S Goliad St
Potager Arlington -
European, French, Organic 315 South Mesquite7
Yumilicious Allen - Desserts/Ice
Cream, Kosher, Organic 190 E Stacy Rd Ste 1336
Dive
Coastal Cuisine
Park Cities - Sandwiches/Subs, Seafood, Organic 3404 Rankin
Villa-O Oak Lawn/Uptown -
Italian, Organic 4514 Travis St
Southpaw's
Organic Cafe
Park Cities - Subs, Smoothies, Organic 6009 Berkshire Lane
Yumilicious Oak Lawn/ Desserts/
Kosher, Organic 3800 McKinney Ave Ste 160
Classic
Cafe at Roanoke
Roanoke - American, Seafood, Organic 504 N Oak St
Company
Cafe East
Dallas/Lakewood - American, Organic 2217 Greenville Ave
Yumilicious Plano - Desserts/Ice
Cream, Kosher, Organic 1900 Preston Rd #337
Patina
Green Home & Market McKinney - Subs, Vegetarian, Organic 116 n. Tennessee
The
Life House
Rockwall - Bakery, Coffee, Organic 506 N Goliad St
Smoothie
Factory Coppell
- Smoothies, Vegetarian, Organic 230 N. Denton Tap Rd
Southpaw's
Organic Grill
Oak Lawn, Subs, Organic, Salads 3227 McKinney Avenue
Tumbleweed
Tea Room
Justin - Coffee, Diner, Organic 100 West 3rd St
Wholesome
Foods Bakery
East Dallas/Lakewood - Bakery, Organic 718 N. Buckner
Texas
Harvest Pie Company
Keller - Bakery, Subs, Organic 124 S Main Street
Beach
Street Market Haltom City - Vegetarian, Organic 3789 n
beach street
One2One
Restaurant and Bar
Frisco - American, Organic 1339 Legacy Dr
Avoca
Coffee
Fairmount/Coffee, Organic 1311 W. Magnolia Ave.
Study shows there’s money in
small-acreage vegetable production June 13, 2012
Contacts
WESLACO – Growing organic vegetables on small
plots of land in South Texas can be profitable, according to a feasibility
study recently concluded at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at
Weslaco.
A recent study shows growing organic vegetables on
small-acreage plots in South Texas can be profitable.
Until now, there had been no studies on the economic
feasibility of small-scale production, according to Dr. Luis Ribera, a Texas
AgriLife Extension Service agricultural economist who helped conduct the study.
“We’ve always had all kinds of data on large-scale,
commercial production of crops here, but until now we just didn’t have any
numbers to offer people wanting to know how much money they could make on a 1-
or 2-acre plot,” Ribera said.
Ribera said the interest in growing organic vegetables on
small plots here has grown in recent years.
“What we found, bottom line, is that organic vegetable
production on a small plot of land can be profitable,” he said. “It’s a lot of
work, but one family can earn a $45,000 annual salary on a 3-acre plot.”
To come up with those numbers, Ribera and his colleagues put
together a panel of three local producers with experience in small acreage
vegetable production, he said. They then created a representative or model
3-acre organic vegetable farm.
“We based the study on a 3-acre plot producing a wide
variety of organic vegetables and selling them to three different outlets: a
farmers market, local restaurants and a CSA, or community supported agriculture
program,” he said.
The community supported agriculture program in the study has
100 customers who each pay a fee for the supply of farm-fresh produce
throughout the growing season, from late November through early June, Ribera
said.
“There’s obviously a lot of work involved in preparing the
land, planting, growing the crop and harvesting in such a way that produce is
available throughout those six to seven months,” he said.
What the study found was that such an operation can take in
gross returns of $60,000 to $65,000, Ribera said. Expenses, which include
everything from labor, seed and water to delivery bags, electricity and fuel,
total about one-third, or $20,000.
“That leaves a net cash return of $40,000 to $45,000,” he
said. “So, obviously, it is feasible to create a profitable business on a
relatively small parcel of land, provided the customers, especially the CSA,
are there. But it is a lot of work and a lot of planning, based on what our
three producers told us.”
The work involved growing 30 to 50 different vegetable crops
that were partially harvested and replanted every two weeks to keep up with
demand.
“Throughout the project we worked with small-acreage
producers in workshops on production, food safety, government funding, business
planning and marketing,” Ribera said.
The work can be tedious, “but if you enjoy growing
vegetables and talking with customers, you can make a living out of it,” he
said.
“It’s not like planting 50 acres of onions, growing them,
then harvesting for sale to one buyer,” Ribera said. “It is very hard work and
detail intensive, but based on the input of our three growers in the study, it
can be done. Growing organic vegetables on small plots of land in the Lower Rio
Grande Valley can be profitable. And now we have the numbers to prove it.”
The feasibility study was done with a grant from the U.S.
Department of Agriculture.A publication of the study, “Economic feasibility of
a small acreage organic vegetable farm in South Texas,” can be found online at http://agecoext.tamu.edu .
For
more information, contact Ribera at 956-968-5581 or email LARibera@ag.tamu.edu.
Article
by r-santaana
Customers.
RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS,
PA—A new poll looking at consumer
preference regarding organic versus chemically
grown food is enough to send shivers down the spines of industrial food execs.
In the new Thomason Reuters–NPR health poll, the majority of people in every income range said
they would prefer to eat organic food if given the choice. The greatest
preference for organic comes from people age 35 and under, with those
respondents citing the desire to support local farmers and the need to avoid
toxic material in food as the top reasons for wanting organic.
THE
DETAILS:
Researchers polled about 3,000 people in early May to gather data indicating
whether people prefer organic or chemically grown produce. (Food grown
with synthetic chemicals is sometimes referred to as "conventional,"
but organic growing methods have been around a lot longer. So which method is
really conventional?)
Nearly 60 percent of
respondents said they'd prefer organic, if given a choice. About 45 percent of
those people said they look to the local farmer's market to source organic
food, followed by the grocery store (32 percent) and a home garden (20 percent).
While the majority in
every age group said they prefer organic food, the 35-and-under age group
showed the strongest support for organic, with about 63 percent opting for
organic.
WHAT
IT MEANS:
It seems as though every week there's a new scientific study strengthening the
case for organic, and this poll shows people are listening. Pesticides have
been linked to ADHD, autism, obesity, Parkinson's disease, certain cancers,
infertility, miscarriage, diabetes, and other ills. Aside from that,
researchers have found that the most used pesticides are tainting not only our
water supplies, but our food chain, as well. Systemic pesticides, such as the
popular Roundup, are taken up inside of the plant, meaning we're often eating pesticides
when we eat conventional food, even if we wash the produce beforehand.
Texas Organic Growers
Region 2 - North Texas
Counties Included: Anderson, Archer, Baylor, Bell,
Bosque, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Clay, Collin, Cooke, Coryell, Cottle, Dallas, Delta,
Denton, Ellis, Erath, Falls, Fannin, Franklin, Freestone, Grayson, Gregg, Hamilton,
Hardeman, Harrison, Henderson, Hill, Hood, Hopkins, Hunt, Jack, Johnson,
Kaufman, Lamar, Lampasas, Limestone, Marion, Mclennan, Milam, Mills, Montague, Morris, Navarro, Palo Pinto,
Panola, Parker, Rains, Red River, Rockwall, Rusk, San Saba, Smith, Somervell,
Tarrant, Titus, Upshur, Van Zandt, Wichita, Wilbarger, Wise, Wood, Young.
Albertson’s
Distribution Center
Aloe Commodities
International, Inc.
American Food
Services
Berry Best Farm
Blueberry Ridge Farm
Brookshire Grocery
Company
Dalusa Ranch
Diamond J Farms
Distant Lands Coffee
Roaster
Dogwood Gardens
Organic Farm
Dr. Kracker
Dreamers Farms Inc.
Fruit of the Earth
Generation Farms
Genes Greens, L.P.
Good Earth Organic
Farm
Green Valley Food
Corp
Hardies Fruit and
Vegetable Co, Inc
Hart Magnolia House
Hewett
Orchards/Hewitt Ranch
Hobbs Bonded Fibers
Howard Terrell
Improve USA Inc.
James E Fischer
Jolin’s Farm
And Gardens Galore
King's Crossing Farm
Kwanawood Nature
Farms
L O Cattle Company
|
Lindley Farm
LODC Inc.
Minyard
Distribution Center
Morrison Organic
Farm
Navarro Pecan Co,
Inc
Oakridge Valley Farm
Organics
Ocean Spray
Cranberries, Inc
P. O. P Acres Ranch
& Farm
R & R Farms
Rascoe Organic
Pecan Orchard
Rife Vineyards
Rowdy Creek Farms
Sesame Solutions LLC
Sidney Kacir Ranch
Sono Italiano
T3R Cattle
Terrell Farm
Texas Bred Organic
Meats
Texas Organic
Mushrooms
Texas Organic
Nursery
The Little Farm
The Little Farm
Tree Grace Farms
(Crandall Operation)
Tree of Life
Southwest
White Oak Bayou
Organic Farms
Wolf Creek I &
II /Crow Creek Farms
|
Currently Grown Crops in Texas by region
Alfalfa
|
3,2
|
Carrots
|
2,3,4
|
Fennel
|
2,3,4
|
Aloe Vera
|
4,5
|
Catnip
|
3
|
Fescue Grass
|
1,3
|
Amaranth
|
4
|
Cauliflower
|
3,4
|
Figs
|
2,3,4
|
Apples
|
4,2
|
Celeriac
|
4
|
Flax
|
2,4
|
Artichoke
|
2,4
|
Celery
|
3,4
|
Flowers
|
1
|
Asparagus
|
1,4
|
Chervil
|
2
|
Garlic
|
2,4
|
Austrian Winter Peas
|
2,4
|
Chicory
|
2
|
Garlic (Elephant)
|
2,4
|
Avocados
|
5
|
Chinese Vegetables
|
3,4
|
Grain Sorghum
|
1,3
|
Barley
|
3
|
Chives
|
2,4
|
Grapefruit
|
5
|
Basil
|
2,3,4,5
|
Cilantro
|
4
|
Grapes
|
2,4
|
Bay
|
2
|
Citrus
|
4,5
|
Grapes (Table)
|
4
|
Beans, Bush/Snap
|
1,2,3,4
|
Clover
|
2
|
Grapes (Wine)
|
1,4
|
Beans, Fava
|
4,4
|
Clover (Red)
|
3,4
|
Grass/Forage Seeds
|
4
|
Beans, Long
|
4
|
Clover (Sweet)
|
3,4
|
Green Peas
|
4
|
Beans, Pinto
|
3
|
Collards
|
2,3,4
|
Guar
|
1
|
Beans, Pole
|
4
|
Coriander
|
4
|
Hay
|
2,3
|
Beets
|
2,3,4
|
Corn
|
1,3
|
Haygrazer
|
1
|
Bermuda Coastal
|
2,3
|
Corn (Blue)
|
1
|
Herb Seeds
|
4
|
Bermuda Grass (Common)
|
1,2
|
Corn (Red)
|
3
|
Hibiscus
|
3
|
Berries
|
1,4
|
Corn (White-Field)
|
1,4
|
Honey Dew
|
5
|
Blackberries
|
1,2,4
|
Corn (White-Sweet)
|
1,4
|
Horshradish
|
4
|
Blackeyed Peas/Cow Peas
|
1,2,3,4
|
Corn (Yellow-Field)
|
1,2,4
|
Jicama
|
4
|
Blueberries
|
2,4
|
Corn (Yellow-Sweet)
|
2,3,4
|
Kale
|
2,3,4
|
Bok Choi
|
4
|
Cotton
|
1
|
Kohlrabi
|
3,4
|
Broccoli
|
3,4
|
Cucumbers
|
2,3,4
|
Lavender
|
4
|
Brussel Sprouts
|
4
|
Dandelion
|
3,4
|
Leeks
|
2,3,4
|
Buckwheat
|
2,4
|
Daikon
|
4
|
Lemon Balm
|
4
|
Cabbage
|
2,3,4
|
Dill
|
3,4
|
Lemon Grass
|
2,4
|
Cactus
|
1,4
|
Eggplants
|
2,3,4
|
Lemon Verbena
|
4
|
Cantaloupe
|
1,2,4
|
Endive
|
3,4
|
Lemons
|
5
|
Lettuce (Head)
|
1,3,4
|
Peppers
|
4
|
Salad Mixes
|
1,2,3,4
|
Lettuce (Leafy)
|
1,3,4
|
Peppers (Anaheim)
|
3,4
|
Savory
|
2
|
Marjoram
|
2,4
|
Peppers (Bell)
|
2,3,4
|
Sesame
|
1
|
Melons (Misc.)
|
2,4
|
Peppers (Ceyenne)
|
3,4
|
Snow Peas
|
4
|
Millet
|
2,4
|
Peppers (Chili)
|
3,4
|
Sorghum
|
1,2
|
Mint
|
2,3,4
|
Peppers (Habanero)
|
3,4
|
Sorrel
|
2,4
|
Mint Marigold
|
4
|
Peppers (Jalapeno)
|
2,3,4
|
Soybeans
|
1,3,4
|
Mixed Vegetables
|
1,2,3,4
|
Peppers (Relleno)
|
4
|
Spinach
|
1,3,4
|
Mizuna
|
2
|
Peppers (Serrano)
|
3,4
|
Squash (Gourds)
|
4
|
Mushrooms (Shitake)
|
2
|
Peppers (Sweet)
|
2,3,4
|
Squash (Summer)
|
1,2,3,4
|
Mustard Greens
|
4
|
Persimmon
|
4
|
Squash (Winter)
|
3,4
|
Mustard Mix
|
2
|
Plums
|
2,4
|
Starfruit
|
4
|
Nasturtium
|
4
|
Poppy
|
4
|
Straberries
|
4
|
Native Grasses
|
1,2,3,4
|
Potatoes (Red)
|
2,3,4
|
Sudan Grass Haygrazer
|
1,3,4
|
Native Grasses/Forages
|
1,2,3,4
|
Potatoes (Russet)
|
2,4
|
Sunflower Seeds
|
3,4
|
Oats
|
1,4
|
Potatoes Slips or Seed
|
4
|
Sunflowers
|
3
|
Okra
|
1,2,3,4
|
Potatos (Sweet)
|
3
|
Swiss Chard
|
2,3,4
|
Onions
|
1,2,3,4
|
Potatos (White)
|
2,4
|
Tangerines
|
4
|
Onions (Green)
|
2,3,4
|
Pumpkins
|
4
|
Thyme
|
2,4
|
Oranges
|
5
|
Radish
|
3,4
|
Tomatoes
|
1,2,3,4
|
Oregano
|
2,3,4
|
Radishes
|
4
|
Transplants
|
4
|
Papaya
|
4
|
Rice
|
3
|
Turnip
|
2,3,4
|
Parsley
|
3,4
|
Rice (Aromatic)
|
3
|
Vetch (Hairy-Winter)
|
2,4
|
Parsnips
|
4
|
Rice (Long Gain)
|
3
|
Vetch (Purple)
|
4
|
Pasture
|
1,2,4
|
Rice (Medium Grain)
|
3
|
Watermelon
|
1,2,4,5
|
Peaches
|
1,2,4
|
Rosemary
|
2,3,4
|
Wheat (Red)
|
1,2,3,4
|
Peanuts
|
1,4
|
Rutabaga
|
4
|
Wheat (White)
|
1,2
|
Pears
|
2,4
|
Rye
|
1,4
|
Wheatgrass
|
4
|
Peas
|
4
|
Ryegrass
|
1,3,4
|
Yarrow
|
4
|
Pecans
|
1,2,4
|
Sage
|
3,4
|
Zucchini
|
4
|
Contact
Joshua Pierce
416 Fieldstone Ln.
Venus, TX 76084
580-461-0352
Management Team
—Joshua Pierce – CEO
—Jeff Johnson –
Business Consultant
—Melissa Johnson –
Nutrition Consultant
—Dave Pennington – Aquaponics Consultant
—James Pierce –
Marketing/CFO
—Crystal Lindstrom –
Architect/Designer
—Carrie Greesley – Botanist/Science
Advisor
—Fred Hintergardt – Contractor
—Jeremy Kulow – Intern
Aquaponic Groups and Gurus
DFW AQUAPONICS
Business Coaches
Dennis Wagner (214) 758-7582 Visit Website North Texas
Stephen Marino 972 709 6776 Visit Website North Texas
Doug Winnie
17139363814 Visit
Website
South Texas
Jim Ambler
972-712-0229 Visit Website North Texas
Kim Jaggard 512 586 5640 Visit Website South Texas
Michael Rager 713-936-3814 Visit Website South Texas
Trey Finley
972-979-3761 Visit
Website
North Texas
Max Kozlovsky (210)880-5690 Visit Website South Texas
Rich Allen 214-758-7581 Visit Website North Texas
Bart deJong 281-602-8030 Visit Website South Texas
Kirby Kaden 210.410.1233 Visit Website South Texas
Carlos Zubillaga 210 822-2444 Visit Website South Texas
Judi Alft 480-968-9705 Visit Website South Texas
Kevin Smith (936)
649-0886 Visit
Website
South Texas
Tammy Gentry
210-723-9599 Visit
Website
South Texas
Kevin Alft 480-968-9705 Visit Website South Texas
Malcolm Upton
(817) 237-4693 Visit
Website
North Texas
—
