One of the 10 contest finalists, our friends over at the Green Bronx Machine need your support now by voting for them in the Real Food Media Challenge!

Voting ends this Sunday on March 2, 2014 at 11:59 pm EST, so visit now!

What is the challenge all about?

“The Contest is the project of the Real Food Media Project, a collaborative initiative using online movies and a web-based action center along with grassroots events around the country to spread the stories of sustainable food and farming. The Project is a program of Corporate Accountability International.” ~ Real Food Media Challenge

What is the Green Bronx Machine all about?  To start, it’s a federally registered and approved non-for-profit organization (501c3) who educates and promotes Urban Greenscaping with Mobile Edible Wall Units, Green Walls and Green Roofs; Urban Agriculture: Indoor, Mobile and Traditional Farming; Economic and Community Development: Youth and Adult Work Force Development and Senior Services, and much more:

“Green Bronx Machine was born of the belief that we are all AMER-I-CANS! Together, we can grow, re-use resources and recycle our way into new and healthy ways of living; complete with self sustaining local economic engines. Inclusively and collectively, each and every member of our society offers a unique perspective with unlimited potential. Together, we can move those who are “apart from” society to become “part of” the driving force behind new solutions benefiting all of us.

Green Bronx Machine believes that the greening of America starts with the greening of hearts, minds and wallets rooted in triple bottom line orientations. Green Bronx Machine is dedicated to changing mind-sets and landscapes while harvesting hope and cultivating opportunities inclusively for all of America. Green Bronx Machine works to weave a city of neighborhoods into a united and prosperous One Bronx / Un Solo Bronx; where people do not have to leave their neighborhood to live, learn and earn in a better one!

Green Bronx Machine is zoned for people to live, work and play. Our hometown city that gave the world hip-hop and phunky fresh beats is now poised to grow and export locally grown, organic red beets along with our talent and diversity. Behold the glory and bounty that is Bronx County! Green Bronx Machine is coming to a city near you soon!” ~ Green Bronx Machine

I’m sure you’re familiar with the Green Bronx Machine’s founder, real go-getter and visionary Bronx educator and activist Stephen Ritz, and all the great work he and his team have done with high school students in the area for the past several years.

He says,

“Help support my students and me in the Real Food Media Challenge by voting for Green Bronx Machine – the next generation of students who become graduates, citizens, chefs and healthy residents via urban farming – we  would greatly appreciate it while branding The Bronx in a whole new light!” ~ Stephen Ritz

Scroll down the Real Food Media Challenge page to the last video on the left to see their Green Bronx Machine video before voting – it’s only 2:50 long and it’s awesome!

Additional Info About Stephen Ritz:

He and the Green Bronx Machine have been in the news a lot lately – on a Progressive auto ad, TNT’s Dramatic Difference, The Disney Channel’s Pass the Plate: Urban Farming, TEDx Traverse City in 2013, and here on Greenroofs.com.  We’ve covered him when he spoke at TEDxManhattan in January, 2012 with “Changing the Way We Eat” at the Times Center in New York City.

And you may have seen Steve’s 2011 PowerPoint presentation “The Green Bronx Machine” from our inaugural 2011 Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit on greenroofs.tv and our GreenroofsTV channel on YouTube.  His presentation gave an overview of some of the issues in the Bronx as well as the positive effects of the Green Bronx Machine.  To watch, click below:

Note:  If you haven’t seen the passionate “Greenroofs & Walls for Educational & Social Equity in the Bronx” Panel Session that accompanied “The Green Bronx Machine” PowerPoint yet, please do – there is a lot of great interaction and information here among this very distinguished group of New Yorkers including New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., (Moderator) Robert Bieder, Jon Beuttler, Jess Dannhauser, Javier Lopez and Steve Ritz.  Just click below.

Remember, voting for the Green Bronx Machine in the Real Food Media Challenge ends March 2nd at 11:59 pm EST.  Please show your support for growing fresh local produce on greenwalls, greenroofs, and community gardening by casting your vote for the Green Bronx Machine!

As Steven says, Sí, se puede!  Yes, we can!

~ Happy Greening, Linda V.