agora: farmers' markets and CMU
This group project was designed with the help of Julia Seltzer and Sun Park.
problem research
We began by researching pesticides, made notes on what we learned, and then organized those notes by topic and then by major theme. This identified several common areas such as: Methods of exposure, Effects on People, Exposure Prevention, and Hypotheses of Effects. This method also helped us identify stakeholders such as: unions, farmers, legislation, lobbyists, EPA, chemical corporations, farm workers, lower class consumers, and the pests.
Problem Framing
The following design exercise is used to find areas of further research by having you explain what you already know in many different ways. They were developed by Don Moyer, as found in Napkin Sketch Workbook. Each sketch also challenges you to consider your issue from a new perspective, this method helped us to find new ways to frame this wicked problem, "pesticides". From this we identified farmers markets as a possible area we might be able to effect, and as an area that we needed to research further.
Farmers market interviews
There were a couple of local farmers markets we decided to visit and had the opportunity to talking to several farmers. Some of our major findings were that organic farming is mostly about the paperwork, and that organic does not mean no pesticides, it means no artificial pesticides. One of our interviewees discussed at length how he supports the land and mitigate losses by growing a wide variety, growing companion crops, and uses natural pesticides and fungicides. In his words "Organic farming is about having a relationship with your land. That's something I'd like my customers."
Possible Projects
From our interviews and observations at the farmers market we developed a few concepts.
1. Individual farmers have very minimal brand identity or advertisment of what produce is in season. Help develop an identity for the market or for an individual.
2. Vocalize the organic produce story.
3. Advertise to students what produce is in season.
Project concept
The core idea of our project was to have a small amount of the produce from the local farmers markets to be sold on campus a certain eateries. This would be accompanied with small advertisment cards indicating what was in season and where to find the full markets. The hope being that a taste test and information on where to find more would bring more students and faculty the farmers markets.
