Hi all, We averaged up our plot fees here in Seattle and we are only at about 22 cents per square foot but we pay all their water bills, do property management, supply various resources, etc...we also work with a non-profit (p-patch trust) to have plot assistance for those who can not pay fees...those who can pay more for those who can't do/don't. We are a city program funded through general funds, they would never be able to pay for the whole program through fees your city has to come on board and see community gardens for all the great benefits that are talked about on the list everyday...that is your sell .50 cents per square foot is ridiculous, that would mean $50 for a 100 square foot plot with what return??? just the space? Seems some real cost analysis of the benefits of community gardening would be in order a different kind of bottom line. Good Luck
Thanks for your time, Sandy Pernitz Community Garden Coordinator P-Patch Program/Dept. of Neighborhoods "To see the world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower. Hold infinity in the palm of your hand and sierenity in an hour." William Blake We have moved! NEW ADDDRESS Department of Neighborhoods 700 5th Avenue Suite 1700 PO Box 94649 Seattle, WA 98124-4649 [EMAIL PROTECTED] 206-684-0284 >>> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 10/06 11:13 PM >>> Hi -- I just heard that our local community garden rates are scheduled to go up from 15 cents a square foot per year to 50 cents -- a rate that will be unaffordable for many people in the garden. Low-income discounts will also be eliminated. Plots range from 200 to 900 sq. ft.; most are 300-500. About 160 gardeners IIRC. It was a stealth move by the city, which decided to raise all municipal fees over the summer and was going to spring this surprise on gardeners Jan. 1, but somehow the word got out sooner. We pay once a year, so this would have been a huge shock. They reportedly researched the average fee for community gardens (35 to 45 cents per square foot?) to get closer to "market rate." A related issue is that the city has had proposals (so far rejected by taxpayers) to use the land for a parking garage or library expansion, and that this may be a way to get rid of any barriers to that use. Besides getting lots of warm bodies to the next city council meeting and sending around a petition, any other suggestions for effectively fighting the increase? Success stories? Strategies? Tanya Kucak ______________________________________________________ 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: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden ______________________________________________________ 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: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden
