Jan 18, 2013
Philadelphia Inquirer has published a story on a topic that has been a key point of discussion among local food systems stakeholders throughout the City of Philadelphia for a few months. The city’s new zoning code has been in place for only a year and it is slated for a review of what’s working and what isn’t. However, recently Councilman O’Neill proposed an amendment to the code that would require new and existing community gardens and farms to get permission from the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Community gardenrs, stakeholders, and garden advocates throughout the city are upset that they would have to waste so much time to deal with bureaucracy – the time that they could use to write grant applications or produce food. Attorney Cahn estimates that this “special exception” process would cost all applicats $250 per parcel, in addition to legal fees.

If this amendment is passed (scheduled for a full Council vote on January 24th), “[a]pplicants must schedule a hearing, post notices on the property, notify neighbors and the district Council person, meet with community groups, provide testimony at the hearing, demonstrate that the proposed use is consistent with the code and related standards, and, if opponents testify that the garden has adversely affected the neighborhood, submit evidence to the contrary.”

Read the story for more dteails. http://www.philly.com/philly/home/187315641.html

Temple University researchers have launched a survey of non-profit organizations and mission-driven small businesses that have any “food” related policies, programs, projects, or initiatives in Philadelphia. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of organizations/businesses that provide healthy food access, support local food systems, promote food justice, develop social networks, offer education, training, and job, and build community capacity in this city. The survey results are expected to provide valuable information to planners, public health professionals, policy makers, and community activists.

Here is the link to the survey: https://qtrial.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_01hOVpWiuAtUjaZ

Philadelphia based non-profit organizations and mission-driven small businesses are requested to participate in this survey by October 26, 2012.

Do you buy produce and other food items from any farmers’ market in Philadelphia? If yes, please fill out this 18-question survey. It may take only 7 to 10 minutes. This survey is co-administered by Farm to City, a Philadelphia-based program that operates a number of farmers’ markets in Philadelphia, and Mahbubur Meenar, a Temple University researcher. The purpose of this survey is to collect basic demographic and geographic data of farmers’ market customers in Philadelphia. No personally identifiable information will be asked. The data will be used for operational and academic research purpose. This survey is open until October 5, 2012. Your participation is truly appreciated. Should you have any questions, please contact Matt Weiss, farmers’ market program manager of Farm to City, at matt@farmtocity.org.

Here is the link to the survey

https://qtrial.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0SLZ5fXC1BZd8k5

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) brought 400 refugees to the USA. These refugees are taking part in the New Roots program, a “6-year-old effort aims to help refugees get used to their new countries by allowing them to do something that is familiar and empowering: growing things”, reports USA Today. The program supports 17 urban farms in nine US cities, where refugees grow vegetables and harvest or sell at farmers markets.

Read the story by Melanie Eversley.

The Garden Justice Legal Initiative of Philadelphia has produced and distributed a very timely and informative document on zoning, licensing, and permitting, related to growing and selling food in the city. The document is a product of the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia (www.pilcop.org), with assistance from the Philadelphia Dept. of Health, Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, City Planning Commission, UPenn Environmental Law Project, Urban Agriculture Legal Resource Library, and Tulane City Center, Dept. of Licensing and Inspection.

As we all know, Philadelphia’s new Zoning Code recognizes Urban Agriculture as a potential land use category. The new law recognizes four types of urban agriculture: community gardens, market or community supported farms, horticulture nurseries and greenhouses, and animal husbandry. Read the document to learn the zoning requirements for community gardens or market farms. The document also summarizes the new laws and regulations for growing and selling food in Philadelphia and a rough checklist for gardeners seeking to comply with local laws.

The pdf document will be found here, from pilcop web site.