A Food Forest for our valley
We live on an island where only 5% of our food is grown, though in the past this amount was much higher. This means that most of our food is shipped a longer distance than if we were on the mainland, which increases its carbon footprint. I suggest that a $50 000 prize could be used to grow a food forest of edible fruits and vegetables for people to come and harvest when ripe. It would be a place for people to gather and learn how to grow their own food. It could have areas with benches and teaching areas where families could come to learn how to work the soil with their children. In a time where children do not have much of a concept as to where their food comes from, it is important to ensure that their generation understands the importance of learning how to grow their own food. This education used to be passed from parent to child, but urbanization has prevented that from happening. Teaching families this dying art would have several benefits- they would be able to eat fresh local foods, they would become more appreciative of the environment, they would learn how to grow food, and they would also shrink their carbon footprint. The greater the amount of food grown locally, the better off we will all be.