Hi, Folks! I agree with Don -- I'm not seeing anything that's going to help community gardening in anything that I've read -- the Community Food Security Grants are already overwhelmed -- we haven't a chance of getting funding there.
Nearly all of us garden with the threat that when a developer comes by who wants our land, we're toast -- Dan Glickman wouldn't even agree to my letter saying that community gardens need to be recognized as a legitimate permanent use of land. I'm in the fight for my life to keep my community garden going after 17 years -- and the only thing that's helping me are thelocal and state political contacts this list taught me were vital to make and the personal e-mails from folks on this list. I'd LOVE to have some national help -- as I'm sure other gardens who are in the same fight would appreciate. Will the Farm Bill help purchase land for community gardens, pay staff to manage them and provide funds for improvements for irrigation systems, etc? Will the other national NGOs advocate on behalf of community gardens at risk -- or will they just shrug that "people need affordable housing, too" and walk away? If ACGA is going to help other NGOs with their issues, there needs to be some quid pro quo with help flowing back from these NGOs to the community gardens that need it. Dorene Dorene Pasekoff, Coordinator St. John's United Church of Christ Organic Community Garden and Labyrinth A mission of St. John's United Church of Christ, 315 Gay Street, Phoenixville, PA 19460
