[FIG-ALL] Macomb Community Gardens and you

[Daniel Barclay and Marjorie Allison]

Hi everyone,

The Macomb Food Initiatives Group has the opportunity to be a part of  
an exciting community gardening project here in Macomb and I would  
like you to briefly tell me by email if you would be able to  
volunteer a few hours and/or a few dollars in 2010 to make this  
community project a reality.  FIG is playing a supporting role in  
this project, not a leadership role, but we can make a big difference  
in getting this project started by letting the planners know that we  
are willing to help.

The FIG Board has agreed to write a letter of support for this  
project for the purpose of securing a grant from the US Department of  
Agriculture that WIU faculty member Dr. Rob Porter of the Department  
of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration is writing.  Any  
money awarded through the grant must be matched by the Macomb  
community in cash or "in-kind" donations such as labor, equipment,  
transportation, etc.  That is why I am asking all FIG members and  
friends of FIG to send me an email by Thursday evening (November 5th)  
telling me if you could donate a few hours of work.  Each hour that  
FIG can provide will be translated into a $10 contribution when the  
grant application is written.  You do not need to commit to a lot of  
hours of work and what you tell me is not going to be used for  
scheduling purposes.  However, your note to me will help me write a  
supporting letter that more accurately reflects what FIG can  
contribute.  I am going to commit 8 hours for myself.  That is not  
very much time over the course of the growing season but what we are  
trying to do here is encourage a lot of people to make a modest  
contribution.  I have so far heard from 3 other individuals who have  
said they will commit 5-8 hours each (one person promises to bring a  
rototiller).  I want to know what you can do even if it is 1 hour!   
In the event that no grant is awarded to us by the USDA the effort to  
plan this project my very well result in a scaled-down community  
garden project that the community is able to start ourselves.

Just a few of the local agencies that will be a part of this effort  
include: Western Illinois Regional Council, The City of Macomb,  
Macomb Parks Department, McDonough County Housing Authority, Loaves &  
Fishes, Macomb High Ecology Club, and West Prairie FFA.  Some other  
agencies, and many other WIU departments and faculty members are also  
involved, including several who are FIG members.  One of the most  
likely spots for a community garden is on WIU property, but several  
other sites around town are also possible garden locations.  I don't  
have all of the details about this project, and many details are  
still being determined, but I will answer any questions as best I can  
if you have them.  I would also like your suggestions for other ways  
that FIG may contribute to this project.

I have included Dr. Porter's rough draft describing the project below  
if you are interested.  I hope to hear from you.

Dan Barclay
FIG Chair
Description of Project:

Building Community-Based Food Systems to Enhance Food Security in  
McDonough County, IL is a cooperative effort between the Western  
Illinois Regional Council (WIRC) and Western Illinois University,  
designed to further enhance and develop community-based food systems  
in western Illinois... through building infrastructure, fostering  
entrepreneurship, promoting and encouraging the consumption of local  
foods, and furthering policy engagement. The Project will attempt to  
build increased demand for locally-produced foods among low-income  
consumers by overseeing a community garden that will provide garden  
space and food to low-income participants and the WIRC food bank.

Western Illinois is at the center of the bread basket in IL.  One of  
the best kept secrets in this area is the rapidly emerging rural  
sustainable local food system that reflects Midwest culture and our  
geographic resources.  This project will build upon the solid  
foundation of the local food system already established by utilizing  
the expertise of a wide variety of local producers.  Unfortunately,  
local foods often are out of the grasp of the low-income populations  
for a variety of reasons including:  cost, transportation  
difficulties, storage and preparation challenges, and lack of  
education about gardening or access to resources for gardening.  As  
we collect and coordinate into a collaborative effort the pieces we  
have identified, we will build a truly sustainable, economically  
viable local food system that meets the needs of all participants.

  
  
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