On Thursday, Oct 6 at 6 pm, Sustainable Springfield (http://www.sustainablespringfield.net/) is hosting an Urban Agriculture Forum (http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=184794941592995) at the JEA Conservation Center in Springfield.
Amanda Searle, the President of Sustainable Springfield, and Kevin Songer, a local green roof expert and urban agriculture champion, are organizing the forum to educate the public about the benefits of growing our own food and about their efforts to change the codes to allow chickens and other urban agricultural practices.
What: Urban Agriculture Information Forum
When: Thursday, October 6 at 6 pm
Where: JEA Conservation Center
970 N. Main Street, Jacksonville 32202
Host: Sustainable Springfield (www.sustainablespringfield.net)
Purpose: To inform the public about urban agriculture and the opportunities that exist to amend our local zoning codes to support and promote these practices for the benefit of our community.
What is urban agriculture? The simple definition is the growing of food and the raising of animals within and around cities. This can include residential and community gardens, urban farms, beekeeping, animal husbandry, and aquaculture. Urban agriculture can provide significant environmental, economic, and health benefits to a local community and its residents.
Searle and Songer have been meeting with City Council members and collecting petitions to garner support for local urban agriculture policy changes. They have found support from a really diverse group of people who sign the petition - from Tea Party supporters who are interested in self-sufficiency to health advocates to environmentalists who want to reduce their carbon footprint.
I have been really impressed with what they have both accomplished locally. Sustainable Springfield has a community garden and youth garden in Springfield. They host cooking in season classes and have a gleaning program. They have done so much in a short period of time with only volunteers.
Kevin Songer installed an incredible green roof on the renovated offices of Breaking Ground Contracting (http://breakinggroundgreenroof.com/) and grows his own food and raises chickens, turkeys, and geese. Amanda also raises chickens and goats at her home in Springfield and makes her own cheese!
I have been surprised and pleased with how fast urban agriculture and the local food movement are spreading. There is just so much interest in local and sustainably grown food. In just the last few years, community gardens, school gardens, and farmer's markets have sprouted up everyone.
As you know, many restaurants are now using local produce and meats and are hosting farm-to-table events.
The press release from Sustainable Springfield is attached.
It would be great if you could help promote the event to your friends and colleagues.
I am just helping to promote this as a personal supporter of urban agriculture and a fan of the work of the folks organizing this event.
Jimmy Orth
Antonio Allegretti
www.theurbancore.com
HEY NEW DIRECT PHONE NUMBER!
(904) 4 MY TURN
(904) 469-8876
