Vice Mayor David Crowley has introduced a motion before City Council that could put hundreds of vacant City-owned parcels to productive use.
Under the Cincinnati Farm program, the City would publish a list of all City-owned parcels for which there is no current use and no interested buyer, then offer the lands at nominal cost to residents who would agree to farm or garden the land.
"Many of these parcels have no development potential because of their small size and irregular shape," Crowley says in a statement accompanying the motion. "Many City residents would appreciate having the use of a parcel of land for vegetable gardens, flower gardens, rain gardens, or neighborhood beautification."
Crowley also says that the currently non-productive land could help interested residents earn a living, among other benefits.
"The use of idle City land for gardening and farming would yield multiple benefits, including beautifying the City, improving the availability of fresh local foods, supplementing the diets of local residents, reducing storm water runoff, reducing the City's costs to maintain vacant properties, and creating local jobs."
A report on the proposal from city manager Milton Dohoney Jr is due before Council on November 19.
Photo credit: "Community Garden - Baltic Street, Park Slope" by Flickr user .
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Crowley: Make vacant City parcels available for farms, gardens
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10 comments:
The Civic Garden Center already runs some community gardens on vacant city-owned land.
Our garden at a Civic Garden site, was mowed-down by a city contractor hired by the city to cut vacant lots.
Havana has done something like this. It is a good idea.
I can't help but think insurance interests will put the kibosh on the plan.
I really, really hope this happens. Numerous cities have programs along these lines, and they JUST MAKE SENSE, especially during this time of rising fuel, and therefore food, prices.
This is a great idea, and one that my fiancee and I have talked about.
It appears that the Westwood Civic Association is going to try and make this happen with some of the now-empty lots created by (much needed) blight removal).
Again, it's a great idea. It's the type of thing that can engage a multi-generational audience, too. Good news.
You know what would be killer is if someone could do something like chickens.
MMNNN, fresh eggs.
"Will Allen has won a well-desrved MacArthur "genius grant" for his approach to urban farming..."
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/10/ingenious_urban_farming.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890
This is agreat program, HOWEVER, there is one issue. Most urban lots have high quantities of lead. In order for garden plots to be sucessfull, they need to be raised beds with new clean soil. These community gradens have been every sucessfull in Indianapolis, but you must test the soil.
Accompanying the list of parcels the city is making available there should be a suitability analysis. Things such as slope, soil quality, sunlight and water access are all factors to be taken into account.
Also small grants (either through the city, agriculture extension office, or local non-profits) for upstart costs would greatly enhance the viability of the Vice Mayor's plan.
The Civic Garden Center (CGC) offers a course in Community Garden Development. Upon completion of the course gardeners can compete for funding from CGC to cover start up costs.
This is an awesome idea. And chickens would be very easily doable as long as the city allows it. Also, there'd have to be no roosters allowed.
The City of Cincinnati does not have any laws about fowl..unfortunately. I had a neighbor who had a chicken and they destroy things, not to mention they are dirty birds. I hope a code is written that people have to keep them in secured cages and they cannot have a rooster or more than 2 birds. Sorry, I love animals but not all people know how to respect their neighbors and keep their animals in their own yards. My garden is my sanity and for 2 years, it was detroyed and I couldnt get out there and work in it without having a chicken sneak up on me and flap its wings and try to chase me lol. Just my opinion but if people want livestock, they should live in the country.
As for the community gardens, love the idea PLUS I would love to see the Civic Garden Center help out at the Hamilton County Fair grounds, they could do wonders there (and they need the help) AND it helps 4-H which if I am correct the 4-H extension office is what offers the Master Gard. program.
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