Greetings All (Especially Battle Creek folk):

Over the past few weeks I have been excited to learn of a growing and well-organized movement to start community farms/gardens here in Battle Creek. Growth of such a movement would have a profound, transformative effect on the city in many ways. 

It would first and foremost provide much needed healthy food for low and middle income families who are becoming increasingly squeezed financially. Low-income people, especially, tend to purchase fatty, cheap calories because vegetables are simply too expensive for them (Food Stamps do not fund a healthy diet for a family). These poor eating habits not only result in expensive health problems for much of our city's population, but they also extend deeper into all of our lives as we as a community are faced with the troubles of unmotivated youth, crime, blighted neighborhoods, lack of opportunity and employment, community dysfunction. 

By transforming vacant, blighted lots (there are 374 vacant lots to date in the city) to productive landscapes where the community can gather to work and harvest their own food, the community can begin to rebuild. Youth will have more employment opportunities and learn valuable skills and life lessons. Pride in the community will grow, as should a sense of personal empowerment for many individuals. The city would be beautified, the food system would be localized (which means a reduction of carbon emissions), access to healthy food would be easier, and the community can learn to work together to solve its problems. 

In short, if a community garden/urban farm movement were to take root here in BC, it would be one of those win-win-win-win-win (and on and on) situations. And, it can probably be financed for about as much money (or less) as we spend on a prisoner or two annually at the BC jail. For purely selfish reasons, I am hoping new young farmers will be born and join me in the sustainable farming community here in Battle Creek.

I am hoping that many of you will be interested in taking part in a local community garden this season. Currently, the process is in the organizational phase (but progress is quickly being made!).

There will be a meeting on January 27, 2010 (exact time and location TBD) to discuss what you might envision, would like to see out of community gardens in your area, ideas, resources, number of willing working bodies we have. This is a grassroots, bottom-up movement. 

For now, if you are interested, direct questions to Jeremy Andrews (jandrews1977@gmail.com) or visit the Sprout Urban Farms in Battle Creek page on Facebook. 

Here is some more information... Will Allen in Milwaukee WI is a national leader on the urban food movement. Click here to see him explain what his organization, Growing Power, is doing there. Here is a quick, comprehensive video of what the community garden movement is doing in Louisiana.

Imagine. 



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Let's Get Growing!

Trent Thompson
Farmer, Green Gardens Community Farm