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WELCOME!
In this March edition of Word on the Street you'll find an update on the high tunnel policy, an article on sustainable relationships, from our new community organizer, the Garden Justice Legal Initiative's testimony on the Conservatorship Amendment and information on upcoming workshops, conferences and events. Please share this information with your neighbors and friends!
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Kirtrina and friends
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SUSTAINABLE RELATIONSHIPS:
Meet our new community organizer, Kirtrina Baxter!
Over the years, in my community organizing work, I have found that building successful relationships is essentially important to mobilizing and creating change. It sets a tone for creative collaboration that is thoughtful, honest and authentic. These traits are elementary in creating lasting and effective change in society. My ideas around sustainability and social change revolve around relationship building. Read more on the Grounded in Philly Blog.
CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERS CONSERVATORSHIP AMENDMENT
The current conservatorship law allows nonprofit organizations, neighbors and developers to request approval from the court to manage an abandoned plot of land. Unfortunately, this pathway to land access is fraught with legal intracicies, does not address accumulated debt and does not necessarily provide long-term access or permanence. Amy Laura Cahn, director of the Garden Justice Legal Initiative, shared these concerns with City Council in her testimony on a proposed amendment to the conservatorship law. Read her testimony here.
PROGRESS ON IMPROVING HIGH TUNNEL POLICIES
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Penn St High Tunnel
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Growers can now celebrate the passage of new legislation that will decrease their costs. As of February 21, 2014, growers across the state will no longer see high tunnels factored into their real estate tax bills. In the past, high tunnels were taxed as building structures, elevating growers' costs. Learn more here.
UP YOUR GAME!
Jewish Farm School Presents the Shtetl Skills Workshop Series
The Jewish Farm School leads innovative trainings about contemporary food and environmental issues using skill-based Jewish agricultural education. This month, the Farm School will be hosting The Shtetl Skills Workshop Series. The Shtetl Skills Workshop Series provides city dwellers with practical skills to live more sustainably. Workshops are held in West Philadelphia at the Ahimsa House, and are co-sponsored by Hazon in partnership with Kol Tzedek and What Is Your Food Worth?-The Feinstein Center. Find out more here.
Penn State Extension High Tunnel Growers School
2014 Bio-Intensive High Tunnel Growers School is now open for registration! This program will be held on March 31 and April 1, 2014 at the Bucks County Extension Office in Doylestown, PA. More info here.
GET INVOLVED!
UNI presents their 5th annual Eats & Beets community meal and fundraiser
Eats and Beats includes a locally-sourced, seasonal meal prepared by our youth interns; performances by our youth and local artists; and a silent auction. Guests will be treated to a 4-course meal featuring ingredients donated by local farms, restaurants and businesses. Eats and Beats is part of an ongoing youth-led fundraising effort to participate in a national network of young leaders in food systems reform. Get more info here.
TURNING VACANT ACRES INTO COMMUNITY RESOURCES CONVERGENCE: A Conversation Among Community Land Access Facilitators
The Tishman Environment and Design Center at the New School is teaming up with our partners at 596 Acres and practitioners from around the world for a 2-day symposium about transforming vacant land into community resources on Tuesday, April 22nd and Wednesday April 23rd. Check it out here.
Thank you for being a part of our work!
Kirtrina Baxter and Amy Laura Cahn
Garden Justice Legal Initiative
Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia
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