Over the last few years, the Farm-to-Table philosophy of serving and eating locally grown, locally prepared food has blossomed into something of a national movement, inspiring chefs, a new generation of young farmers, and even urban food forests. But what about the “dirty” side of food cycles: logistics, packaging, transport, disposal, and sustainably dealing with waste? How might we imagine new ways of growing, eating, and disposing of food?
By giving reference to Braungart and William McDonough’s 2002 paradigm shifting book, Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, SDF’s 2016 grant also calls for modern, sustainable proposals for food, waste, or systems that bring them all together, from Farm to Table to Cradle.
How might we design new tools, systems, spaces and products to create a holistic economic, industrial and social framework that seeks to create systems that are not only efficient, but also essentially waste free.
The SDF grant program supports and promotes innovation in emerging talent by selecting individuals to receive small, project-focused grants matched with mentorship. We believe that a mentorship component allows for education beyond any given avenue of design, and allows for collaboration and networking between generations of Seattle’s creatives.
The 2016 grants awarded will be project-focused. The grand prize grant is for $2,500 and selected by the judging panel. The popular vote grant is for $500, and chosen by digital votes. SDF will work to align grantees with a mentor to help them through the creative process. The smaller grant model is meant not to support a lifestyle, but to give added momentum to an idea.
Eligible persons must fulfill the following criteria