I know, I have become that girl who only talks about food systems and sustainability, but what can I say- gotta have a passion, right?

When debating on the first of this years blog post, I went through several phases of ideas – I thought of discussing revolutions and collaborations surrounding new technologies and interactive spaces like CURVE, discussing or expanding on the work groups I am a part of, or proposing new ideas for the express purpose of this “space”.  But, something I noticed as I researched these ideas was that none of them were without a focus of study, some form of purpose or theme. Certain geography discourse asserts that a space is distinguished from a place.  While a space can live on its own, a place is defined through experiences and interaction.  Martin (2003), who discuss place making in neighborhoods, argues that “place provides an important mobilizing discourse and identity for collective action” (730).  This collective action could refer to urban gardens, but could be expanded to define any space (or rather place) meant for collaboration.   Therefore, without a purpose and without interaction between student, faculty and staff within CURVE, and spaces just like them, they are in jeopardy of being spaces rather than places.

For those non-geographers (which I am sure is most of the people reading this), I will step out of the philosophical rhetoric to explain what I mean through my personal journey that allowed my skills in technology (specifically GIS) to be grounded through my passion for food and the people involved in the local food movement.

 

Food: our main source of sustenance, a common experience that transcends political and socioeconomic differences,  and, for some, the best part of life.

For my thesis, I was initially drawn towards research on rural farmers who engage in large conventional systems, hoping to understand the reasons for their choices to participate in certain methods versus others.  A more political angle that would attempt to tell the story of the farmers and the political influences that informed their farming practices.  I was continuing on this path until I stumbled upon an internship that immersed me into the world of the local food movement in Atlanta.

I began working in various gardens and networking with those invested in the local food movement.  Despite the fact that they each approach engaging and promoting local food differently, they all seem to have the same goal: to reconnect Atlantans and the general public with their food source.  This common goal contextualized their subsequent personal and professional lives.  Therefore, what began as an internship quickly developed into a personal passion.  My work led me to growers that are fervent about making urban agriculture and local food an integral part of the city, policy makers who propose projects and initiatives to further this goal, and organizations that’s sole mission is to find ways to create a systemic network of urban food, while also providing that food to the community members who need it.

Even though my original research proposal was valid, my personal life in this urban environment grounded me to these places and compelled me to invest in this movement through my thesis work and personal time. I now feel connected to these urban gardens, feel a sort of peace in these spaces.  Although some might disagree that areas used for an urban farm can be peaceful, part of nature still- what with the hum of the interstate, sirens wailing in the background and the ever present feeling of the surrounding population- but I find the dichotomy of nature surrounded by the urban to be invigorating.  Although I would love harvesting and doing garden work no matter the location, there is something special about doing it in my urban home, experiencing how mother nature fights for a way to be integrated into an urban setting, despite the obstacles that are immense.

These obstacles are diverse and vast and include variables such as adequate or affordable water, proper sunlight among a see of skyscrapers and new developments, soil that has not been tainted from urban contaminants, and finding and obtain a lease for land in the first place that is affordable and available in a dense, urban environment.  As a geographer I immediately realized how spatial many of these variables are, which is how I realized that my background in GIS could support the movement while also providing a topic for my thesis.

It was not the technology itself that informed the research but rather my passion in the topic that could be supported through my skill set in geospatial technologies.  CURVE as a space is impressive, there are many toys for technology buffs and endless possibilities for visual research and collaborative projects; however, I think it is important to try and focus on projects of passion and innovation that are supported by the use of technology versus extolling the technology outside of the research – compelling a project to be interesting and innovative just because it utilizes the technology in some way.

This is not to say that the work groups and projects being done in CURVE are at odds with these ideas of investment, in fact I feel that as SIF’s we do a wonderful job of using our technological skills to support our projects rather than inform their purpose, but CURVE is still not be utilized enough by students and faculty and I think that is because many of them are trying to think of an idea that revolves around the use of CURVE versus coming up with an engaging topic and then realizing the potential of that project if supported through the technologies available.

To conclude, I would say that as our work group projects progress and are completed I am sure they will spawn ideas throughout GSU on how existing and potential research could be expanded by the resources available in CURVE, both the technologies and the skill set of our SIFs.