(photo from Willard Farms)

Many of you may know that BFOC has several community gardener’s as members, and currently we’re planning a group ride which takes you to visit several of the plots they currently have developed. With that in mind, Mariana Griggs, Founder of Oak Cliff Community Gardens sends out a note to all concerned regarding a City Hall meeting this afternoon which may limit the production of our gardens:

Gardeners,

Please read the briefing for today’s meeting at the Dallas city hall website…city staff is attempting a novel approach but as my husband said, “this is not a science fair project”. The hybrid policy approach to community gardens will cut out small urban agriculture unless you can have a garden that is 1-3 acres big. Putting together a parcel like that in the middle of the city is expensive and more developer than food growing worthy. If we are serious about growing our own food we need better guidelines that won’t restrict us to 10×20 plots where we can really only grow $100/tomatoes. Community and Neighborhood gardens are types of urban agriculture and the hybrid policy does not allow room for growth. Think about having a fruit tree on your plot, you will likely need a bigger plot. As avid organic gardeners you have lots of information related to the effectiveness of urban agriculture, in all of its forms, in education and health. Please call SOMEONE before you go to the briefing today and ask them to support option #1.

I rarely publicly speak out, but options #1, and #2 are quite an outrage and will only allow us to grow “hobby” gardens, without “animals” (we all know bees are animals too) and to have to keep going to the grocery store for bagged Romaine.

Mariana Griggs

Details on Briefing:

Monday March 8, 2010
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
6ES (City Hall- 1500 Marilla Street Dallas , TX 75201 ).
As a follow up to the December 14th, 2009 briefing to the Transportation and Environment Committee (Council), City Staff will again be presenting, this time specifically on the issue of zoning for community gardens on vacant lots.

And remember, we have some incredible small farm stores popping up throughout Dallas that are privately run, and can carry these local goods. These city lead restrictions could create roadblocks for our local gardeners to bring their products to the community. From all outward appearances, this looks to be a protectionist measure for Downtown’s Farmers Market. The reality is that our goals to create a truly livable, walkable community, require the development of smaller formed grocery stores that people can simply walk or bicycle to. The use of local products allows these businesses to offer a unique service which adds to our community’s sustainability. The obstacles being thrown at us are developed to promote only large formed farms and stores, which in turn require trucking, warehousing and more that limit the ability for small local businesses to compete. This is part and parcel to the problem Dallas has in trying to become a truly livable city. Please attend and let your voice be heard.