By Megan Burks
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New Roots Grows Local Roots to National Market
Earlier this month, the New Roots Community Farm in City Heights was
awake with the spicy-sweet smell of mint. Refugee farmers arrived early to harvest the herb for a Solana Beach granola company to use in 10,000 nutrition bars that will be sold on the company’s website.
A harvest of this size was a first for the International Rescue Committee farm, which typically sells at farmers markets and to some local restaurants. More often, the farm helps feed refugee families that rely on food stamps.
Its partnership with the granola company, however, could mark the beginning of a larger moneymaking venture. If the bars sell, the IRC will consider building a collaborative in which all IRC farming programs in the United States grow for the granola company. Then, the bars could be distributed to national grocers.
(See video and images of the harvest)
Momentum Sprouting for San Diego Urban Farming
This kind of enterprise represents one of the fastest growing sectors in U.S. agriculture. Local food systems made $1.2 billion nationally in 2007.
Here is San Diego, momentum is building around local farms, community gardens and farmers markets. Speak City Heights partner KPBS is taking a look at the movement in a weeklong series on Midday Edition, which airs daily at noon on 89.5 FM and online.
Yesterday, host Maureen Cavanaugh talked with Lucila De Alejandro, co-owner Suzie’s Farm, and Lauren Shaw, president of San Diego Roots Sustainable Food Project, about why people are embracing urban agriculture.
“There’s a big part of it that’s about building community around food that hasn’t really existed for a long time,” Shaw said. “If we’re growing food together…people interact more than they would otherwise.”
Indeed, farmers at New Roots often say the farm is as important to their social lives as it is to their pantries.
City Considering Changes to Benefit Urban Farmers
But New Roots and other farmers are also beginning to embrace their passion as a means of making money. As their craft evolves, so too must San Diego laws.
Recently, local food advocates won the support of City Council when it voted to ease restrictions on community gardens. They can now be planted on almost any vacant lot and are much cheaper to start.
According to Adrian Florido of Speak City Heights partner voiceofsandiego.org, city planners are also drafting changes to land use laws that would legalize backyard chickens, goats, and beekeeping. Growers could also soon be allowed to set up retail operations to sell produce on site.
Planners said they expect to present changes to City Council in October. A final vote is expected by early 2012.
You can learn more about the proposed changes on today’s KPBS Midday Edition. Tune in tomorrow for information on hydroponics-the growing technique used at the Fairmount Aqua Farm-and Thursday to hear from restaurateurs who are serving up local produce.
Youth Explore the Movement With Cameras, Cell Phones
City Heights youth are also investigating the rise of urban agriculture. Students in The AjA Project have been snapping photos of food options throughout the neighborhood, even pointing their cameras at their own family traditions involving food. Below, 15-year-old Tember considers why gardens like the one at Crawford Educational Complex are important to the community.
Youth participating in MobileStories, a project of Media Arts Center San Diego and the San Diego Public Library, are learning to use cell phones to tell stories. Youth reporter Demetrius Smith takes viewers to the People’s Produce Market in southeast San Diego. Click here to see his video report.
More on Urban Farming:
City Heights Farmers Market Tops Food Stamp Collection Rate
Wanted: Farmers for This Farmers Market
San Diego’s Urban Farms: Oases in Food Deserts
Is Food Access the Real Problem in City Heights?
Aqua Farm Turns Black Asphalt Into Green Food Source
Community Farm Grows Refugee Businesses
Low-Income Shoppers Thrive at City Heights Farmers Market