Comments VidaDC has made

Urban Food Gardens in Washington, D.C.

answers: a, a, a, c, a

Unfortunately, unlike NY and Phili, D.C. has very few local food projects.  The several community food projects that have existed over the years are closed- for various reasons.  There are community garden sites that have not had condos built on top of them (yet), and the wait list to get a plot is over 2 years long!  So there is a WANT.  But there isn't much support from the people who make all the decisions.  Farmer's markets are popular and are sprouting all over the city!  Still, this food isn't always affordable to most of the cities population.  (local and affordable fresh produce is really what we should strive for). But I am "encouraged", as I say in question 5.  There is energy in the city that supports the local food movement and it's coming out strong in support of a NEW COMMUNITY FOOD PROJECT called the 7th Street Garden.  www.the7thstreetgarden.squarespace.com.  It's a garden and learning center where people can learn how to grow food, and then grow it at this garden and low-income people can take home shares of food.  Everybody gardens together on the same plots and shares the harvest!  The support from city residents all over the city has been tremendous and it is functioning solely from donations at this point...
The hard part is that these projects start and don't get money to sustain.  The 7th Street Garden will certainly need support from District government and grants/donations to sustain its programs and staff for the long term.  

I do believe in the power of collaboration and people who support local food issues can support each other and spread the word on projects when you hear about them... On Not your father's backyard garden posted 2 years, 8 months ago 5 Responses