Officials in Cincinnati are looking to convert 87 small plots of vacant city-owned land into urban mini-farms to help residents grow their own food and improve neighborhoods. The city council approved a plan to create a pilot program of 10-15 mini-farms this spring. Other cities have similar programs where small plots of land are leased to residents for small scale farming.

1. The Care and Feeding of an Idea to Feed the Hungry in the United States of America Formerly known as America’s Second Harvest

2. Cincinnati considers urban mini-farms Tuesday, February 17, 2009 9:02 AM Officials in Cincinnati are looking at pieces of urban land that could be used to grow food. The city has identified 87 sites from the vacant property it owns that could become urban "mini-farms." The idea is to help people save money on groceries by growing their own fresh food while helping the environment, making neighborhoods look better, and building community. The City Council last week passed a plan for mini-farms promoted by Vice Mayor David Crowley. Details will be worked out in the next month. City officials must decide how to lease the plots, and whether to charge anything. They expect 10 to 15 plots to be ready for growing this spring as a pilot project. Other cities, like New York, Detroit and Milwaukee, already offer land to residents for small farms. Columbus will have over 150 in 2009.

3. First, we have to understand the problem.

25. LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES FOOD PANTRY LANCASTER-FAIRFIELD COMMUNITY ACTION FOOD PANTRY ST. VINCENT DEPAUL SALVATION ARMY MAYWOOD COMMUNITY OUTREACH LANCASTER VINEYARD MILLS MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH How many food pantries are there in Fairfield County? VICTORY CENTER BALTIMORE FOOD PANTRY BREMEN FOOD PANTRY OUTREACH MISSION FOOD PANTRY (PLEASANTVILLE) PCMA FOOD PANTRY (PICKERINGTON FOOD PANTRY) SETON PARISH CANAL WINCHESTER FOOD PANTRY 14

26. 2009 : Develop a medium-sized community garden as a pilot project to help stock the food pantries. 2010 : Develop many more community gardens both in Lancaster and across the county for people to raise veggies for themselves as well as others. 2011 : Re-design the idea of a “county farm” to fully stock all food pantries in the future and provide programming for seniors and youth. The pantries desperately need our help. What can we do about it?

27. Location Lease for $1 per year - water - insurance - visibility – publicity Volunteers Master Gardeners - Gardening Seniors - Youth to learn gardening Stuff Seeds, tools, equipment, stakes, fencing, organic fertilizer, etc. Medium-sized community garden as a pilot project for food pantries. 2009:

28. Fed or Commercial Grant funding Follow plan of pilot project Locations close to pantry sites Local volunteers & youth groups Many more community gardens across the county for people to raise their veggies for themselves as well as for others. 2010:

29. Fed funding (Religious Initiatives?) Lease entire farm & grow into it over time Use heirloom seeds (Harvested for next years seeds) Pay hourly wages for workers (Part-time jobs with flexible hours) Need for supervisor (paid?) Include programming (youth and seniors and anyone else interested) Develop "County Farm" 2011:

30. Location? Lease for $1 per year - water - insurance - visibility – publicity Volunteers? Master Gardeners - Gardening Seniors - Youth to learn gardening Stuff? Seeds, tools, equipment, stakes, fencing, organic fertilizer, etc. What is one thing that you can do to help in 2009?