City of Cincinnati Urban Agriculture

The city of Cincinnati has now made permanent its urban farm project.

http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story/Garden-Program-Becomes-Permanent/S0gdD815-kOnTXc2R4OGOg.cspx

Update on Montgomery Chickens

The struggle to keep chicken keeping in Montgomery continues. There is a nice little video interview from channel 9 news. Check it out.

We support Michelle Obama's organic garden

Support local urban food everywhere... including the White House lawn. I have viewed Michelle Obama's move to install a White House garden as one of the most inspiring symbolic moves made in this decade.

Sign the petition.

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Subject: Tell Pesticide Peddlers: We support Michelle Obama's organic garden.

Dear Friend,

The Mid America CropLife Association (MACA) has a bone to pick with Michelle Obama. MACA represents chemical companies that produce pesticides, and they are angry that - wait for it - Michelle Obama isn't using chemicals in her organic garden at the White House.

I am not making this up.

In an email they forwarded to their supporters, a MACA spokesman wrote, "While a garden is a great idea, the thought of it being organic made [us] shudder." MACA went on to publish a letter it had sent to the First Lady asking her to consider using chemicals -- or what they call "crop protection products" -- in her garden.

I just signed a petition telling MACA's board members to stop using Michelle Obama's garden to spread propaganda about produce needing to be sprayed with chemicals. I hope you will, too.

Please have a look and take action.

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/wh_garden/?r_by=-2015678-8reM6Px&rc=paste

Thanks!

Mike

Read the original MACA letter

Or Are Chickens Not Welcome... In Your Backyard

Someone mentioned to me last week that one benefit of all of these chickens in your backyard classes is to create a voice for having appropriate laws regarding fowl in your backyard.

It looks like that may become more of necessity more quickly than I thought.

Val has a great post on chickens on the Cincinnati Locavore site about what is happening in Montgomery. She makes some great points about what should be regulated, but that outlawing chickens is a complete misuse of power and time.

I think that the sharing of information between chicken folk will become more important as we can speak to the actualities of raising chickens in your yard, and not let the voice of those not familiar with the subject be heard too loudly.

If you are interested in joining the "Cincinnati Chicken List", please contact me at michael (dot) e (dot) roman (at) gmail (dot) com.

Be a Happy Chicken Folk!

Update:
Another municipality taking away chickens: Sycamore Township
What is going on? Appropriate limits would seem the way to go. Say no more than six chickens in small lots, with the number increasing as your lot gets bigger. Sensible laws make sense for everyone, not just the people who complain.

If You Are Thinking of Raising Chickens...

If you are thinking of raising chickens you may want to read this article about rare breeds.

The article mentions the appeal of raising heirloom vegetables like Brandywine tomatoes.

You may find that a rare breed of chickens is what you need!

Chickens in Your Backyard- Cincinnati, OH

You can do it...learn the basic requirements for keeping chickens in the city, where to buy, what types of shelter can be used, how to endear your neighbors to the project, money saving tips, and more. Collect local eggs in your backyard!

Three upcoming classes at various Greater Cincinnati locations:

Location: Park + Vine (map)
Date: April 28th, 2009
Time:6pm-8pm
Cost:Free
Reserve a spot: RSVP info[at]parkandvine[dot]com or 513-721-7275 before
April 27.

Location: Granny's Garden School (map)
Date: May 2, 2009
Time: Morning Time (Part of the Granny's Spring Garden Party)
Cost:Free
Contact: Granny's Garden School

Location: Gorman Heritage Farm (map)
Date: May 16, 2009
Time: 10am-12pm
Cost: $10/members-$15/non-members (visit the farm after the class)
Contact: Gorman Heritage Farm


Available Materials:
Chicken Keeping Basics
Relevant Cincinnati Municipal Codes
Local Feed Sources
Suggested Reading (Available at Cincinnati Hamilton County Library)

Feel free to email me with any questions. You can send pictures if you have specific questions about space, coop design, etc.

You can do it!

My contact:
Mike Roman
(513) 685-0689
Email: michael (dot) e (dot) roman (at) gmail (dot) com

CHEF Project Begins

Check out what is going on at Findlay Market...

The CHEF Project 
Cultivating a Healthy Environment for Farmers
The Corporation for Findlay Market was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help develop urban farmers to produce food for sale at the market. We are pleased to announce our first class of urban growers. The participants are pictured at right. Back row left to right, Cynthia M. Brown project coordinator from the Corporation for Findlay Market, David McDonald, Cincinnati native and urban farmer, Sarah Saheb, project partner from the Service Employees International Union. Front row, Guinevereye Morales from Xela, Guatemala and Carlos Sanchez, also from Xela, Guatemala. Both Carlos and Guinevereye said they are proud to have been chosen for the project and can’t wait to begin farming. The fourth participant, Ahtni Hunter (not pictured) is a Mississippi native who has worked the land most of his life. All four participants are veteran farmers but the demands of small urban spaces provide unique challenges.The Corporation for Findlay Market will provide mentoring for the group though its partners, the Civic Garden Center, OSU Extension South Research Center, The Kenton County Extension Service, and The Greater Cincinnati Master Gardeners Association. All four farmers will grow food for their families and sell surplus at Findlay Market’s Tuesday and Sunday farmers markets. The farmers hope to begin selling at market by mid-June.

Cincinnati Farms Coverage in the Enquirer

The Cincinnati Farms project is generating good local press. The Enquirer recently carried a story; City Sees Appeal in Farm Living: Several sites OK'd for residents to grow food crops.

The article mentions all of the support received through the online petition. Thank you for your support!

Cincinnati Farms Motion Passes!

Thank you to all who signed the petition. Urban farms are coming to the city of Cincinnati!

(Reprinted from David Crowley's email announcement)

Good Afternoon,

I want to thank everyone again for your continued interest and support for the “Cincinnati Farms” motion which moves that the City of Cincinnati lease out city-owned parcels of land for urban agriculture.

This afternoon City Council voted in favor of the motion.

The emails, calls, letters, testimony at committees, and the on-line petition that was sent to us showing more than 250 signatures (in 5 days!) lets the Mayor and City Council know the broad interest in seeing Cincinnati support urban agriculture initiatives such as the Cincinnati Farms motion.

I will be meeting with the administration to discuss how this legislation will be implemented, and will let you know the next steps for those who are interested in participating.

The first year is a “pilot” where 10-15 parcels will be leased out for gardens. The success of this pilot will determine whether access to city-owned parcels of land can be opened up to more lease-holders in the future.

I know Spring is soon around the corner, and potential lease-holders and participants are eager to get started.

Thank you again,

Sincerely,

David Crowley

Cincinnati City Government Contact Information 01-31-09

Tell City Government How You Support the Cincinnati Farms Program

Cincinnati City Government
Contact Information 01-31-09

Mayor Mark Mallory
801 Plum St. Rm 150
Cincinnati, OH 45202-1979
Phone: (513) 352-3250
Fax: (513) 352-5201
mayor.mallory@cincinnati-oh.gov

City Council

Vice Mayor David Crowley
801 Plum St. Rm 356
Cincinnati, OH 45202-1979
Phone: (513) 352-2453
Fax: (513) 352-2365
david.crowley@cincinnati-oh.gov

Jeff Berding
801 Plum St. Rm 350
Cincinnati, OH 45202-1979
Phone: (513) 352-3283
Fax: (513) 352-3289
jeff.berding@cincinnati-oh.gov

Chris Bortz
801 Plum St. Rm 348
Cincinnati, OH 45202-1979
Phone: (513) 352-3255
Fax: (513) 3264
chris.bortz@cincinnati-oh.gov

Y. Laketa Cole
801 Plum St. Rm 351
Cincinnati, OH 45202-1979
Phone: (513) 352-3466
Fax: (513) 352-3957
laketa.cole@cincinnati-oh.gov

Greg Harris
801 Plum St. Rm 346B
Cincinnati, OH 45202-1979
Phone: (513) 352-5304
Fax: (513) 352-4657
greg.harris@cincinnati-oh.gov

Leslie Ghiz
801 Plum St. Rm 354
Cincinnati, OH 45202-1979
Phone: (513) 352-3344
Fax: (513) 352-3277
leslie.ghiz@cincinnati-oh.gov

Chris Monzel
801 Plum St. Rm 352
Cincinnati, OH 45202-1979
Phone: (513) 352-3653
Fax: (513) 352-4649
chris.monzel@cincinnati-oh.gov

Roxanne Qualls
801 Plum St. Rm 346A
Cincinnati, OH 45202-1979
Phone: (513) 352-3604
Fax: (513) 352-3621
roxanne.qualls@cincinnati-oh.gov

Cecil Thomas
801 Plum St. Rm 349
Cincinnati, OH 45202-1979
Phone: (513) 352-3499
Fax: (513) 352-3218
cecil.thomas@cincinnati-oh.gov

Update on Cincinnati Farms motion...

(Sent by Email Fri, Jan 30, 2009 at 1:59 PM)

Good Afternoon,

I want to thank everyone again for your continued interest and support for the “Cincinnati Farms” motion which moves that the City of Cincinnati lease out city-owned parcels of land for urban agriculture.

We had a really wonderful presentation on “Urban Gardening” in the Health, Education, and Environment Committee last week. The Civic Garden Association and Findlay Market gave great presentations on their programs. We also had Ms. Eileen Frechette come and share her personal experience with city gardening over the years, and UC graduate student Sara Phillips shared her research on city-supported urban agriculture programs in other cities.

We also were fortunate to have a great number of citizens come down to City Hall to testify about the importance of supporting urban agriculture from many perspectives, from health, to community building, to food security, etc. Not everyone spoke, but just making the effort to come to City Hall, and have all the seats filled in City Chambers is always an important statement.

This show of support was very important to let my colleagues on City Council know that urban agriculture is an issue that has broad interest and huge momentum right now here in Cincinnati.

The Finance Committee met later that afternoon, and the Cincinnati Farms motion received enough support to move to full Council for a vote. The meeting of full council was to meet Wednesday but was cancelled due to inclement weather.

Therefore, on Wednesday, February 4^th at 2pm at the next Council meeting the Cincinnati Farms motion will be voted on. We need 5 votes in order for it to pass.

If it passes, the next steps will be to identify where the 10-12 parcels will be leased out to city gardeners for the initial pilot project. I plan to convene a “stakeholder” meeting soon after the passage of the motion which will help us figure out where there is interest for a garden.

If you would like to share your support of this legislation you can email City Council and/or you can come to City Hall no later than 1:15pm on February 4^th to fill out a speaker card to address City Council for up to 2 minutes. Please allow time for parking and to pass through security.

Many of you have written in to share your valuable ideas on how to implement this program. I appreciate you sharing your expertise, and am taking in all your information as we move forward.

If you have any additional questions/comments you can email me, or contact my legislative aide Michelle Dillingham at 352-2453.

-David Crowley

City May Turn Vacant Lots Into Community Gardens