GARDEN
CITY
SIPS
WINE IN THE SUNSHINE ?
SOUNDS LIKE THE PERFECT PAIRING .
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Join us in the Gazebo for varietals from a rotating selection of vineyards , live entertainment , games and more .
In media partnership with : farm bill directed the USDA to collect data on urban and suburban agronomy in all its forms and established the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production , along with an advisory council to help develop policy and identify the challenges . The bill threw in a little seed money — $ 25 million over five years — to support research and extension activities to enhance urban , indoor and other emerging agricultural production . This represents a new path for the agency that has long been organized around the needs of larger , rural farmers , and continues the work of Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack , who returned to the position in 2021 after eight years in the Obama administration .
“ It ’ s about food security ,” says Karen Woodrich , acting regional conservationist for the Northeast Region for the Natural Resources Conservation Service , which provides technical and financial assistance to growers and leads this effort within the agency . “ We know that not everyone has access to fresh produce and meat . The USDA has realized that this availability should not be determined by your ZIP code , and the urban setting plays such an important role .”
For the last decade , the state ’ s NRCS office has explored creative ways of funding small farms and community gardens in nontraditional settings , including those operated by the SCLT , says Walter Marshall , assistant state conservationist for management and strategy . In 2018 , the NRCS , working with the State Conservation Committee , turned to “ agreements ” rather than the traditional contracts written for large , rural farms to provide dollars for soil barriers , seeds , fertilizer and lumber to build raised beds .
“ With agreements , the rules are not so rigid , and we can target the smaller producers ,” he says .
The benefits are many and the expectations are high . Growing food in the city , by and for city residents , represents the ne plus ultra of intersectionality : physical and mental well-being , economic development , environmental restoration , racial equity . But land availability and ownership present substantial challenges .
“ It ’ s extremely difficult for an urban farm to be commercially viable ,” says Darriel
30 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l JUNE 2022