eNEWS
June 2009 > FOG receives grant from Yes to Carrots Seed Fund for GIFT Gardens, starts work on USDA Community Food Planning Grant
FOG received a $5,000 grant from Yes to Carrots Seed Fund in April for Gainesville Initiative for Tasty (GIFT) Gardens, a community food security project that provides qualifying Alachua County residents or institutions with free raised-bed vegetable gardens. The Yes To Carrots Seed Fund is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization registered in 2008 with a mission to make a difference in people's lives by providing under-served communities with resources to develop and sustain organic food sources and access to healthy nutrition.
“Obesity is a major epidemic in low-income
communities that are farther away
from grocery stores or farmers markets,
and may not be well-served by public
transportation to get to those places. Studies
show people who eat more vegetables have
lower rates of obesity, the leading cause of
many health issues including heart disease,
cancer and diabetes,” FOG Executive
Director Marty Mesh said. “Lack
of convenient and affordable
access to fresh vegetables,
critical in healthy,
well-balanced
diets,
remains a reality for many
in our community. GIFT
Gardens is a simple,
effective solution to
this problem.”
GIFT Gardens recipients live within Alachua County, qualify as low income according to current U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) standards and make a commitment to maintain their gardens. Institutions that serve low-income Alachua County residents, such as schools, assisted living facilties, etc., can receive up to ten raised beds while individuals recive up to three. As of May 23, 57 Alachua County residents and their families and six institutions have been served through GIFT Gardens. Those who want to grow their own organic food but do not qualify for a free vegetable garden can donate to receive a “Fundraising Garden,” supporting the future construction of raised-bed gardens at the homes of low income Alachua County residents. As of May 23, 14 Alachua County residents have received Fundraising Gardens. FOG also received private donations and grants from Sustainable Alachua County, NALITH, City of Gainesville and Alachua County to support GIFT Gardens.
GIFT Gardens is part of a larger FOG initiative to develop just and healthy local food systems while improving food security for underserved residents. FOG begins work in late May 2009 on a USDA Community Food Planning Grant that will include an inclusive and collaborative planning process to discuss how aspects of Gainesville’s local food system could be developed and improved. Stakeholders involved will include community members, neighborhood associations, activists, property owners, community non-profit organizations, businesses, local government agencies, the local food supply and distribution chain, and others who wish to be involved in the process.
Community food security recognizes
the need to use a host of community-based
institutions and sectors - from
agriculture to community development
to public health to government assistance
- to achieve true food security for all
households in a given area or region.
Maximizing local food production and
processing was a major issue addressed
by the Alachua County Energy
Conservation Strategies Commission in
their recent report to the Alachua County
Board of County Commissioners.
“We believe this planning project will
complement recent and upcoming
sustainability initiatives by city and
county officials and the effort of many
others already involved in the local food
system,” Mesh said.“It is our hope that diverse members of
our community will take an interest in this
process so we discover everyone’s needs."
Through this planning grant and future
projects, FOG hopes to:
• Improve access for all community
members to an adequate,
affordable and nutritious diet.
• Develop better marketing
channels and processing facilities
that create more direct links
between farmers and consumers
and increase economic stability
for small and family farms.
• Increase public participation
in food and agriculture related
activities and policies.
• Create more opportunities for
better health, reduced risk of
diet-related chronic diseases and
increased enjoyment of locally produced
food among community
members.
It is FOG’s hope that with continued cooperation between the many local entities involved in our community food system, Gainesville and Alachua County’s vision for a sustainable community food system can begin to be realized. For more information about community food projects contact Florida Organic Growers at 352.377.6345 or email fog@foginfo.org.
RESOURCES
GIFT Gardens
Alachua County Energy
Conservation Strategies Commission Final Report
Yes to Carrots