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I will donate $50 and at least 16 hrs inkind to the community gardens effort. </font></div>
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<b>From</b>: fig-bounces@lists.wrecking.org <fig-bounces@lists.wrecking.org>
<br><b>To</b>: fig@lists.wrecking.org <fig@lists.wrecking.org>; fig-announce@lists.wrecking.org <fig-announce@lists.wrecking.org>
<br><b>Sent</b>: Tue Nov 03 23:50:39 2009<br><b>Subject</b>: [FIG-ALL] Macomb Community Gardens and you
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Hi everyone,<div><br></div><div>The Macomb Food Initiatives Group has the opportunity to be a part of an exciting community gardening project here in Macomb and <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">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. </span></font></div><div><br></div><div>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 <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">I am asking all FIG members and friends of FIG to </span><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><b>send me an email by Thursday evening (November 5th) telling me if you could donate a few hours of work.</b></span></font></font> 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 <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">what you tell me is not going to be used for scheduling purposes<b>.</b></span></font> 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.</div><div><br></div><div>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.</div><div><br></div><div>I have included Dr. Porter's rough draft describing the project below if you are interested. I hope to hear from you.</div><div><br></div><div>Dan Barclay</div><div>FIG Chair</div><!--StartFragment--><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;mso-add-space:auto;mso-outline-level:3"><b>Description of Project:<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;mso-add-space:auto"><b>Building Community-Based Food Systems to Enhance Food Security in McDonough County, IL </b>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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;mso-add-space:auto">Western Illinois is at the center of the bread basket in IL.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Unfortunately, local foods often are out of the grasp of the low-income populations for a variety of reasons including:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>cost, transportation difficulties, storage and preparation challenges, and lack of education about gardening or access to resources for gardening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>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. </p> <!--EndFragment--> <div> </div></body></html>