Warehouse Meeting 3-12-10

After meeting with the other disciplines it was clear that there were some major overlaps in what type of information was being pursued for our study. Individually we were looking at Bus Stops, the Mobile Market, Schools, and Grain Silos at the Regional Market. After our discussions here is a quick list of some of the things that were linked and a description of what some of the thoughts were.

Bus Routes:

- Redirecting or extending routes to include the regional market

- Creation of small markets at popular stops

- Addressing issues of time it takes to travel via bus due to long intervals between trips

- Need to create a more effective mapping/scheduling system to educate people on routes

Mobile Market / Learning Kitchen:
- Integrate with local markets and cooking demonstration

- Expand market beyond the 2 points it is now

- Provide samples of food to people

- Helps educate about what is available at the mobile market

- Better advertisement is needed

Regional Market:

- A larger variety of entertainment available (though a version of this is being done at the new Paradise Market found on Erie Blvd.)

- Incorporation of gardens, learning, and grain silos into new structures on site

- Improvement of parking and bus stop availability

- Better advertisement is needed

The people who were a part of this group were Annie, Johanna, Kim, Chris F., and Waeeny

Starting the schematic phase, looking at making a connection to the local communities to the regional market through the city school system. This diagram helps illustrate the processing issues and how they might possibly be solved through school groups, volunteers, and institutional promotion and donation. This is just one of the many roles the school's can play, along with food education, school gardens, and food preparation classes.

Food to School

After starting my research about school programs and local food systems I took a more detailed look into the Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Food to School organization. Here are a few links that help explain and show the extensive reach of these programs as well as similar programs found around the country.

http://www.farmtoschool.org/regional.php?area=northeast
http://farmtoschool.cce.cornell.edu/content/view/cornell-farm-to-school-program
http://www.vtfeed.org/
http://nymarketmaker.cornell.edu/
http://www.chefann.com/

Bus Journey to Price Chopper

So, last week I took a trip to the North Side of Syracuse, locating where low vehicle ownership areas are first. I had some time to spare before heading to downtown and catching my connecting bus to Price Chopper on Erie Blvd. So, I walked around the neighborhood of Grant and Butternut. I noticed that residents walk on the road due to the lack of snow removal and puddles from the snow melting. I also walked into some convenience stores- and what did I find but high priced foods... junk food and no fresh produce.





As the bus arrived, I jumped from the 3 feet high snow bank onto the road and got on the bus downtown, passing chain-linked fences and run-down houses.

When I arrived I had to rush to the other corner to catch my bus to Price Chopper. It took about 25 minutes. The intersection on Midler Ave. is horrible and very dangerous. Shopped for about 40 minutes then waited for the bus for about 25 minutes. Had 5 bags but organized it into 2 bags and my book bag to make it easier to carry. Heavy...yes and a long trip back. Interesting thing is that the bus back to the North side never came, I must have just missed it. So I called up a friend to pick me up.

The whole trip alone took approximately 3 hours but would have taken around 3.5 hrs. How inconvenient for someone without a car. Also, the bus system is not 100% reliable, especially in winter due to delays in winter and how you have to wait a long time just to catch the next bus...

This maybe something that we work on for our studio schematic designs- public bus systems connections to fresh food.