Sorry Elena,
I misspelled my own name. I can get photos with my digital camera- no problem. My email is gambardella@plateautel.net., my phone # is 505.414.1246(cell) or 575.487.2645(home), and address 4290 Quay Rd AR, Tucumcari, New Mexico,88401. Now we should be able to connect!
Sheryl

I'd be happy to participate in whatever way I can- You can send info or survey to gamgardella@plateautel.net

Let's try that. 484-553-4570

I have Skype and a video camera built into my laptop. I could probably get behind the camera for you. :) I'd really like to know how you setting up your thesis. Also, do you think you'll do more work in this area and would you be interested in a continued study project? I'd prefer I hear all about your ideas on the phone so we aren't always typing though :) I'll still gladly answer questions on a video sometime too. Let me know what could work. I'm pretty flexible at the moment...except for Thursday nights and during the work day.

I'm in a similar boat! I'm an Environmental Science/Mgmt major (after a BA in Mech. Engr) now being introducing to farming. :) It's fun, isn't it?!

I don't have the same tight schedule for class as you. I've pushed off my research for nearly a year as I've learned more, connected more, and found more resources. I recommend the long approach. In the last few months, I have found more information and resources that would have made any earlier work very, very "empty" compared to what I know now. In addition, for the magnitude of your stated thesis, I think you'd need more time to make the impact or survey the impact. Do you want to have a conversation about it on the phone sometime?

Hello Elena! This is a great research topic -- there is a pressing need to address the problem of food deserts. Coincidentally, I just recently wrote a paper on food deserts for an innovative undergrad level summer practicum on local food systems and sustainable farming in Ithaca, NY.

I like your approach - community based urban gardening is at the forefront of the fight against food injustice in many places. One of the best examples using aquaponics is Growing Power. Growing power is a community led and run urban farming operation in Milwaukee and Chicago where the goal is providing good food and social capital for places where both are in short supply.

As for me, I am not living in nor have I ever personally experienced a food desert. I am living in northern Manhattan, so I am close to some areas (Harlem, South Bronx) that are sometimes classified as food deserts for some. I plan on attending NYU in the spring for a masters in Food Studies. What I am ultimately interested in is stimulating regional food systems to fight food injustice (such as food deserts). I would really love to get directly involved in your research and help in anyway I can. If you would like, I can share my food desert research with you, I can start by sending you my short thesis.

Happy to, Elena. Would you do me a favor and write up what you would like me to say to the community? What are you looking for them to do? If they join your group are they indicating that they would like to help with your thesis? Can you tell us more about your research?