FoodSummit 08 Part III: Lessons Learned From Others ---FoodRevival.com

The following was reposted from www.foodrevival.com

The next part of the Summit was dedicated to a round table discussion that included folks from other places willing to share ideas/challenges they faced and provide ways Birmingham can learn from each one of their stories. First up: Andrew Smiley, Farm Projects Director with Sustainable Food Center (SFC) in Austin Texas shared some partnership ideas:

• SFC worked with the city of Austin to get water meters installed for free on community garden sites
• SFC worked with the park system to establish gardens on park grounds
• SFC worked with the health system to sell local foods in health clinics
• SFC worked with the city to establish food stamps to be accepted and local farmers markets
• SFC worked with the transportation department and policy makers to have a "grocery bus" available to those who need it as a means to provide access to food.
• SFC worked with local churches dedicated to the cause

Next up: Cassi Johnson, Director of the Food Security Partners of Middle Tennessee. She shared that her lesson learned was bringing people together to make it happen: food banks, agricultural associations, faith groups, neighborhood groups, etc. This group came together, opened up the doors of communication, and built a structure to allow change to happen. Now they have 65+ partners and have collaborated to form some really cool programs like:
The Veggie Project includes having farmers markets near Boys and Girls club sites, which impacted summer camps.

Additional advice is teaming up with folks who can make an impact: your mayor, the media, etc.

Last but not least: K. Rashid Nuri provides overall executive and administrative leadership to Truly Living Well Natural Urban Farms in Atlanta. Mr. Nuri defines himself as an "urban farmer" and a "guerilla farmer." He has lived in Southeast Asia, Nigeria, and Ghana-- and says that the United States is experiencing what other countries have been experiencing for some time (e.g. high gas prices). Additionally, many countries have had to implement ways to feed their people and farming (whether small as in community/backyard gardening or larger initiatives) is a viable solution for people who need to eat. In fact, urban agriculture is a great example that ANYONE can do it!