From Inquiry to Academic Writing A Practical Guide, 3rd edition

208 CHAPTER 7 | FRom SummARy To SynTHESiS

Certainly there are challenges to the sort of dynami-

cal, community-based solution that I am proposing. Such an

agricultural co-op hinges on the participation of the people it

serves and cannot be successful without the dedicated support

of the neighborhood. It could be noted that lower-income eco-

nomic groups are less socially involved than their higher-income

counterparts, and some might believe that they are unlikely to

contribute to, or care about, a greening effort. Yet I believe

that there is a distinction between political involvement and

neighborhood interaction. Middle-class Americans are conscious

of gas prices and the fluctuations of the stock market that affect

their job security and ability to provide for their families; yet

the unemployed poor without cars must rely on their neighbor-

hoods to eke out a living. Their sustenance comes not from a

salary, but from odd jobs, welfare, and the munificence of fate.

The battle to put food on the table is more familiar to the poor

than foreign conflict and is one that they fight every day. There-

fore, while the poor are less inclined to vote or worry about gov-

ernmental affairs because of the difficulties associated simply

with daily living, they are acutely aware of their immediate sur-

roundings and how those surroundings challenge or contribute

to their success. This position makes them uniquely inclined to

invest in the betterment of their surroundings since it can have

a dramatic effect on their personal lives. The real success of

the sustainable food movement may come from harnessing the

power of urban communities that can derive great, immediate,

and lasting benefit from neighborhood revitalization.

It has been argued that urban growers, especially from

lower socioeconomic classes, do not have the expertise or knowl-

edge base to generate successful yields that will ensure food secu-

rity. Fortunately, agriculture is Indiana’s fourth-largest industry,

and the state boasts over 63,000 farms (“A Look”). In addition to

the many inhabitants of LaSalle Square who have a background in

agriculture, there is a wealth of knowledge about proper planting

methods available from the farmers around the local area. Many of

these farmers have already shown a willingness to help by selling

or donating their produce to the local Urban Market. Additionally,

national urban agriculture nonprofit groups, such as Master

In this paragraph, she

takes an active stance

in using research to

alleviate fears that the

local community would

have to start from

scratch with limited

expertise.

17

18

Paul 10

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