There's a simple solution to the problem: the bill number is 2364 rather than 2346. If you go to thomas.loc.gov (no www) and type in that bill number, it will come up, and Section 13 is the Urban Agriculture Production Program that Betsy and others -- including to some degree myself -- worked so hard on.
Also, as far as the Community Food Projects grants (an earlier section in 2364), the added wording: "(5) serve special project needs in areas of-- ... `(C) integration of urban and metro-area food production in food projects; and ...." is intended to put a priority on urban ag/community gardens. However, the wording is quite a bit different than that recommended by the Food and Farm Policy Project. In the original recommendations, there was a specific pot of funding earmarked solely for urban ag projects. This wording is nowhere near as strong -- but it is a step in the right direction. The Healthy Food and Communities work group of the Food and Farm Policy Project, a Kellogg-funded initiative to make food-systems-friendly changes in the Farm Bill, was spearheaded by the Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC). Betsy and I were on that work group along with others from CFSC's Urban Ag Committee, which also includes active ACGA members Rodger Cooley and James Kuhns (who of course being Canadian didn't participate much in the Farm Bill stuff). Anyway, CFSC then had to find someone who would incorporate all or part of the Farm Bill recommendations developed in a bill. I can't even imagine how difficult that is, but Blumenauer apparently stepped up to the plate. It's just that things get lost in the "translation" to legislative language. In answer to Dorene's question, "Will the Farm Bill help purchase land for > community gardens, pay staff to manage them and provide funds for > improvements for irrigation systems, etc?" my understanding is, yes if > Section 13 passes -- certainly yes to staff and irrigation-type stuff, maybe > a little more iffy on the land acquisitions. It would be a competitive grant > process, but I believe if the provisions in this bill are included in the > final Farm Bill, it would be a great step forward for community gardens. So I > think the more support people can drum up, the better. Please look it over > and see what you think when you read the actual text. On the other hand, that's not to downgrade the invaluable assistance this list-serve provides. I tell every community gardener I run into to sign up (and to join ACGA!). Cynthia Price Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council On 5/24/07, Dorene Pasekoff <garlicgrower at green-logic.com> wrote: > > 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 > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's > services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out > how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org > > To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden at list.communitygarden.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: > http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org >
