The Care and Feeding of an Idea to Feed the Hungry in the United States of America

Formerly known asAmerica’s Second Harvest

Cincinnati considers urban mini-farmsTuesday,  February 17, 2009 9:02 AM

Officials in Cincinnati are looking at pieces of urban land that could be used to grow food.

The city has identified 87 sites from the vacant property it owns that could become urban "mini-farms." The idea is to help people save money on groceries by growing their own fresh food while helping the environment, making neighborhoods look better, and building community.

The City Council last week passed a plan for mini-farms promoted by Vice Mayor David Crowley.

Details will be worked out in the next month. City officials must decide how to lease the plots, and whether to charge anything.

They expect 10 to 15 plots to be ready for growing this spring as a pilot project.

Other cities, like New York, Detroit and Milwaukee, already offer land to residents for small farms. Columbus will have over 150 in 2009.

First, we have to understand the problem.

LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES FOOD PANTRY

LANCASTER-FAIRFIELD COMMUNITY ACTION FOOD PANTRY

ST. VINCENT DEPAUL

SALVATION ARMY

MAYWOOD COMMUNITY OUTREACH

LANCASTER VINEYARD

MILLS MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

How many food pantries are there in Fairfield County?

VICTORY CENTER

BALTIMORE FOOD PANTRY

BREMEN FOOD PANTRY

OUTREACH MISSION FOOD PANTRY (PLEASANTVILLE)

PCMA FOOD PANTRY (PICKERINGTON FOOD PANTRY)

SETON PARISH

CANAL WINCHESTER FOOD PANTRY

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2009: Develop a medium-sized community garden as a pilot project to help stock the food pantries.

2010: Develop many more community gardens both in Lancaster and across the county for people to raise veggies for themselves as well as others.

2011: Re-design the idea of a “county farm” to fully stock all food pantries in the future and provide programming for seniors and youth.

The pantries desperately need our help.

What can we do about it?

LocationLease for $1 per year - water - insurance - visibility – publicity

VolunteersMaster Gardeners - Gardening Seniors - Youth to learn gardening

StuffSeeds, tools, equipment, stakes, fencing, organic fertilizer, etc.

Medium-sized community garden as a pilot project for food pantries.

2009:2009:

Fed or Commercial Grant funding

Follow plan of pilot project

Locations close to pantry sites

Local volunteers & youth groups

Many more community gardens across the county for people to raise their

veggies for themselves as well as for others.

2010:2010:

Fed funding (Religious Initiatives?)

Lease entire farm & grow into it over timeUse heirloom seeds (Harvested for next years seeds)

Pay hourly wages for workers (Part-time jobs with flexible hours)

Need for supervisor (paid?)

Include programming (youth and seniors and anyone else interested)

Develop "County Farm"

2011:2011:

Location?Lease for $1 per year - water - insurance - visibility – publicity

Volunteers?Master Gardeners - Gardening Seniors - Youth to learn gardening

Stuff?Seeds, tools, equipment, stakes, fencing, organic fertilizer, etc.

What is one thing that you can do to help in

2009?