SUAA - where we're at
lily
A brief introduction~
yesterday, ten people met in response to this letter:
Dear Sacramento Urban Agriculture Enthusiasts:
Spring is here! Time to come out of hibernation and start cultivating growth in our community. The time is ripe for a coalition of individuals and organizations to unite and discuss what the next steps are for Sacramento to continue its transformation into an edible city with food justice for all.
I see so many people in my community working toward this vision of food access. What I see lacking is a solid network that unites everyone already working in this field and attracts more people to dig in. We need a coalition of all the various groups and people. We need to get together and assess where we are, what the next steps are, and where we want to be in one year, five years, and one hundred years.
I propose the formation of the Sacramento Urban Agriculture Alliance. My inspiration comes from the San Francisco Urban Agriculture Alliance, which “promotes the growing of food within San Francisco and the associated goals of our member organizations, through advocacy, education, and grassroots action.”
I invite you to gather at the Pocket-Geenhaven Library meeting room on Wednesday, March 27 at 6 PM (a few hours into the full moon). The meeting will begin shortly thereafter.
Please spread this message to anyone and everyone who eats food in the Sacramento region.
The soil is fertile—now is the time for planting the seeds of change.
Thank you.
With love and warmth,
Lily Rothrock
here are my impressions from that meeting:
- there is a need for community organization to implement the recommendations of government surveys and reports.
- there is a need for a network to integrate all stakeholders in the sacramento area--individuals and organizations, with an emphasis on the need for individuals to get involved.
- there is a need for HANDS IN THE DIRT--too many meetings, not enough projects.
- the government wants to help--they just don't always know how.
- create a tool bank - i love this idea.
- tell everyone you know about this email group. without individuals feeding into it, it will die.
- take a look at the survey i created (attached):
- why are you (individual? organization?) interested in the SUAA?
- how can the SUAA support you as an individual? organization?
- what do you think is the next step for urban agriculture in the city?
- what tactics and strategies should the SUAA use?
- how did you hear about the SUAA?
- think about how the SUAA could hold a table presence at the upcoming sacramento earth day in southside park on april 21 (we have an offer of part of a table) ideas so far include:
- the survey for people to fill out
- invite people to join the google group
- reaching out to all community members in order to diversify and strengthen this coalition
- come up with a reason to meet -- and a nice location -- who has an idea and needs people to meet and get something done?
- possible ideas include gathering at the rock garden in land park and making a list of what is currently happening with urban agriculture in sacramento.
