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Accelerating Urban Agriculture in Arlington - Oct. 3rd
October Urban Agriculture Month Kickoff Event & Social Hour on Oct. 3rd Join Arlington Friends of Urban Agriculture at Barley Mac in Rosslyn on Thursday, October 3 from 5:30pm – 8:00pm for food and refreshments, and to learn how we can accelerate urban agriculture initiatives in Arlington.  County Board Member Erik Gutshall will present the annual Arlington proclamation on urban agriculture while guests enjoy a locally-sourced, bespoke drink and food menu (for purchase) curated by Barley Mac's Executive Chefs Mike Cordero and Jeremy Magnanelli.  October Urban Agriculture Month in Virginia will shine a spotlight on the significant role urban agriculture plays in our regional and local food systems. In Arlington, there will be a series of events throughout the month sponsored by Virginia Cooperative Extension, Arlington County, Arlington Friends of Urban Agriculture, Arlington Food Assistance Center and Marymount University. Go to our website for a calendar of events and additional information: arlingtonurbanag.org/events. # # # # # Wythe Marschall is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of the History of Science at Harvard, a research associate in controlled environment agriculture (CEA, or “vertical farming”) at Cornell University, and a board member of the FarmTech Society. He researches future visions of farming, biological design, architecture and urban planning, and plant–human interactions. Wythe’s dissertation, an ethnography of agricultural technology startups in greater New York City, examines the production of different economic, social, and environmental values through vertical farming. He documents how a cohort of urban millennials are attempting to use high technologies to redesign the U.S. food system and even achieve food justice. Previously, Wythe co-founded the Biodesign Challenge; lectured in the English Department of Brooklyn College, CUNY; curated art-and-science exhibitions; wrote an Internet show about the history of science; and worked in health and wellness advertising. |
How We Can Grow the Next Generation of Urban Farmers
Arlingtonians young and old gathered at Ashlawn Elementary School on April 11th for Arlington Friends of Urban Agriculture’s presentation on “Growing the Next Generation of Urban Farmers.” We had an inspiring discussion on future urban farmers in the area and how children, students, families, teachers, schools, PTAs, and communities can increase outdoor learning and local food production and consumption.  Pamela Hess, Executive Director, Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture, explained that Arcadia’s mission is to build an equitable and sustainable local food system in the DC metro region. Pamela emphasized that our cheap food system is very expensive in terms of public health citing some very disturbing statistics on diabetes. They operate training programs for veterans, a mobile fresh produce market, kids programs, a farm to school program, and a summer farm camp. They also provide outreach and assistance to school garden programs. Arcadia tracks several metrics to show transformation in kids (e.g. 42.5% increase in kids who like beets). Reggie Morris, Unit Coordinator Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development, Virginia Cooperative Extension, after leading us in the 4H Pledge, described the Junior Master Gardening Program. This program, in partnership with the Arlington Public Schools, meets once a week after school for six weeks. There is a similar program at Alexandria Public Schools. Virginia Cooperative Extension volunteers lead the students through the entire process of planning, planting and harvesting a vegetable garden. Raena Mitchell, Children's Garden Liaison, Alexandria City Public Schools, explained that her position is new in the school system. Her role is to provide the training, curriculum and technology for schools and teachers to implement school garden and outdoor learning programs. Raena said that the program has been received well by teachers. She emphasizes that this is not an additional program, but instead it’s bringing what they already do in the classroom to outside of the classroom. For example, art teachers bring students outside to draw. Christy Przystawik, Outdoor Classroom Coordinator, Campbell ES-Arlington, described how Campbell has adopted an expeditionary learning model and the outdoor classroom is part of this approach. Two times a year they have 3 month long in-depth units of study (e.g. grow and harvest herbs and cook with them). In addition to their extensive outdoor learning spaces, they have access to Longbranch Park that runs adjacent to the school. 
 FOUA Board Member David Sachs concluded the gathering with a challenge to everyone – be the change. Our students are the next consumers as well as farmers and they should see that it’s normal to eat local. We all should demand food that is grow in Arlington, support farmers markets and local farms, and share our passion with others. |
Arlington's Farmers Markets!
 Arlington Farmers Market, N. 14th Street & N. Courthouse Road Saturdays, open year-round: April – December 8 am – noon, January – March 9 am – noon Ballston Farmers Market, Welburn Park across N. Stuart Street from Ballston Metro Station Thursdays, April - November, 3 pm – 7 pm Pike Park Farmers Market, 2820 Columbia Pike at Walter Reed Drive Saturdays, May – October, 9 am – 1 pm Crystal City Farmers Market, 1900 Crystal Drive between 18th & 20th Streets Tuesdays, May – October, 3 pm – 7 pm Fairlington Farmers Market, 3308 S. Stafford St. at Fairlington Community Center Sundays, May – October, 9 am – 1 pm Lubber Run Farmers Market, Barrett Elementary School, 4401 N. Henderson St. & George Mason Dr Saturdays, April – November, 8 am – noon Marymount Farmers Market, N. Glebe Road at Yorktown Boulevard Saturdays, May – November, 9 am – 1 pm Rosslyn Farmers Market, 1800 N. Lynn Street near Rosslyn Metro Station in Central Place Plaza Wednesdays, May – October, 3 pm – 7 pm Westover Farmers Market, 1644 N. McKinley Road & Washington Blvd. Sundays, open year round, May – November 8 am –noon, December - April 9 am – 1 pm |
Growing the Next Generation of Urban Farmers
Arlington Friends of Urban Agriculture invites you to our next public meeting at Ashlawn Elementary School (5850 8th Road N, Arlington) on Thursday, April 11th, 6:30-8:30pm.  We will have panelists leading a discussion on student involvement, nutrition, and comprehensive curriculum development. We will also have hands-on activities for children and young families. Our host and MC: Joan Horwitt, Reevesland Learning Center and Lawns 2 Lettuce 4 Lunch 
We hope to you can join us, and if possible, please share this event with your members and colleagues. If your organization would like to setup exhibits or provide brochures/pamphlets, we’d be happy to display them for you. Email matt@bushelediblegardens.com. |
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Let's Show the County Board Our Love for Urban Ag!
The Arlington County Board must reduce costs for it’s FY2020 budget. The county’s Urban Agriculture program could be cut. Last December we had a celebration of our accomplishments over the past 5 years. Let’s raise our voices now to show there is robust support for prioritizing a coordinated food sustainability program and our exciting, emerging urban agriculture industry. Climate change challenges bring urgency to our government addressing these priorities. The Urban Agriculture Program’s mission is the advancement of the County-wide goal to improve access to healthy, fresh and sustainably produced foods in Arlington. Created from the 2013 Urban Agriculture Citizen Task Force recommendation, the Urban Agriculture Program synchronizes management of Arlington’s community gardens and farmers markets, conducts outreach and education, and coordinates activities with Virginia Cooperative Extension agents. Additionally, the program provides liaison between Arlington’s burgeoning agriculture start-up businesses and County officials.  Friends of Urban Agriculture believes that the time is right for the County to become a national leader in this emerging economic sector and to address climate change realities. Instead of shrinking, the County should seize this opportunity to support and expand this vital program that enhances Arlingtonians’ health and quality of life and advances environmentally-sustainable food access and food production throughout the County. WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Sincerely, Friends of Urban Agriculture —————————————— SUBJECT: Urban Agriculture Program Proposed FY2020 Budget Cut Dear County Board and Department of Parks & Recreation, I recently learned of the proposed FY2020 budget review and am concerned the Urban Agriculture Program is at risk of elimination. As a patron of Arlington’s vibrant local food ecosystem, I am worried that budget cuts to the Urban Agriculture program will mean ongoing programs will become decentralized and reduced to minimum maintenance levels. In addition, staff and policy support for expansion and innovation in the urban agriculture business sector will be stopped. I request you reconsider proposed budget cuts to the Urban Agriculture Program. I am a proud supporter of Urban Agriculture and believe in its ability to simultaneously advance Arlington’s progressive vision, promote public health, improve our local food system, expand food access, increase environmental stewardship, and promote economic development in the County. Instead of shrinking, the County should seize this opportunity to support and expand this vital program and recognize the time is right for the County to become a national leader in this emerging economic sector and to address climate change realities. Respectfully, NAME ADDRESS |
Our Vision for the Future of Urban Agriculture in Arlington
At our December 12, 2018, meeting, we explored the progress made in the past five years since the County issued its Urban Agriculture Task Force Report (we’ve made a lot progress – read our blog). We then looked toward the future. Arlington Friends of Urban Agriculture’s Board of Directors spent time this year defining our vision, mission and strategic goals. We also identified our work for 2019. We envision our work in three phases: Seed, Nurture and Grow. This year is our Seed year as we further refine our areas of work and build our organizational capacity so we can undertake our ambitious mission and agenda. As you read through this blog, ask yourself – how can I help – and then contact us!  Strategic Goals 2019 – 2021
Seed: 2019 GoalsAssess the 2019 status of public, community and for-profit Urban Agriculture initiatives.
Build membership and outreach.
Develop organizational capacity.
Nurture: 2020 Goals
Grow: 2021 and Beyond
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Arlington Urban Agriculture – Look How Far We’ve Come!
 The County recognizes that we are part of a regional food system, and while they focus on what we can do here in the County, they also coordinate and collaborate with regional partners. A robust and sustainable local food system builds a strong economy and community. A responsible food system supports other values like environmental sustainability, social equity and improved health of the participants. Community Gardens There were 276 community garden plots in 2013, and with dividing some larger plots and adding an additional 70, we now have 380, with at least that many still on the wait list. The County splits large plots when the original holder vacates and then assigns to two new plotholders to help address the lengthy waitlists. The County is in the process of automating the waitlist. There are still 7 community gardens, the County expanded two. Each plot represents at least 3 – 4 people and they feed not only their own families but contribute thousands of pounds of fresh produce to AFAC. The County built the first ADA compliant community garden plot in the region at the Lang Street Community Garden. This plot features a vertical garden structure, a concrete pad and driveway access, on-street handicapped parking and an in-ground planting border. DPR staff identified and secured a letter of intent with Service Source, Inc., a local non-profit providing services to disabled adults, to maintain the plot. The community gardeners have welcomed them and are including them in communal activities and responsibilities. Farmers Markets  The County Board approved a special use permit for two new farmers markets in 2018. The market at Arlington Mill Community Center, run by CPRO, serves the west end of Columbia Pike. The community around Lubber Run supported the addition of the County’s eleventh market located in the parking lot of Barrett Elementary School. This market is run by the nonprofit Field to Table. Arlington Farmers Market at Courthouse, managed by Community Foodworks, Inc., led the efforts through Virginia Fresh Match to collaborate with 4 other Arlington markets and others in the region to win a USDA Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) grant fund SNAP matching for the next three years. The other markets participating include the Rosslyn, Crystal City, Ballston and Arlington Mill farmers markets. Columbia Pike has other matching funds. For every $1 in SNAP benefits a shopper spends, they receive an additional $1 to spend on fruits and vegetables. Food Access AFAC’s Plot Against Hunger Program, a project that seeks to bring fresh produce to AFAC clients from local farmers, gardeners, farmers markets, gleaning organizations and other sources. Since it started in 2007, it has grown to 29 schools, 20 churches, fifteen community-based gardens, eight farmers markets, three CSA (community supported agriculture) groups, three gleaning organizations, as well as numerous individual gardeners. Since its first season in 2007, over 600,000 pounds of fresh produce have been donated to AFAC’s Plot Against Hunger project. In 2018 alone, AFAC volunteers picked up 55,282 pounds of farm fresh produce for needy families in Arlington. Of the current 11 farmers markets, 6 have matching SNAP benefits. These are dollar for dollar additional funds for SNAP shoppers. These funds are supplied by a collaborative USDA grant and their own fundraising efforts. You can donate to these funds by checking the markets’ websites or stopping by their manager’s tables at the market. This program helps make our wonderful markets affordable and accessible to everyone in Arlington. Education & School Programs The many public education classes offered by the Virginia Cooperative Extension and taught by trained volunteers are always well attended. They have 250 Master Gardeners and 143 Master Food Volunteers who teach you how to grow, cook and preserve your food. Our public schools and libraries have gardens maintained by students and volunteers. Each of these has extensive education programs. For example, Central Library holds free Garden Talks throughout the season at the AFAC demonstration garden. You can also find the Garden Tool Lending Shed at Central Library where you can borrow garden tools with a library card. Our local universities – Marymount, George Mason, Virginia Tech – have urban agriculture programs and/or extra-curricular activities. Developing Urban Agricultural Enterprises Moving forward, there are many opportunities to look beyond the basic community garden/home garden model. Areas for development include rooftop, indoor, and edge gardening. Further encouragement of farm to institutions such as hospitals, universities and schools will help build a commercial demand for locally produced food. Examination of potential barriers to agriculture in our urban community such as availability of capital, regulatory issues and transportation infrastructure may warrant further effort. Highlights of urban agriculture enterprises in the past year include the following:
Community Engagement & Outreach The Arlington Friends of Urban Agriculture (FOUA) established its inaugural Board of Directors in 2017. FOUA hosts quarterly public educational events, and in 2018, its first social hour at Trade Roots in Westover. A 30 people attended on a very rainy night. FOUA Board members led informal conversations about what people want to see happen in Arlington to further urban agriculture. FOUA also maintained a website, Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram, and an email list of over 340 names to share information about resources, news and upcoming programs. For the second year DPR staff and FOUA partnered with Marymount University student club, Food for Thought, to grow basil seedlings, and conduct a giveaway event for metro commuters at the Ballston and Courthouse Metro stations. DPR staff with FOUA hosted a table at the County Fair, including a demonstration on growing microgreens. DPR and FOUA encourage community gardeners to enter their produce and homemade products in the County Fair’s competitions. This is a fun way to draw attention to all the wonderful vegetables Arlingtonians are growing. |
FOUA’s First Annual Golden Radish Award: Puwen Lee
 Most people know her work at the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC). Puwen joined AFAC in 2005, first as a volunteer and later as the head of the Volunteer Department. Since 2014 she has served as Associate Director of the AFAC Program Division and manages AFAC’s Plot Against Hunger Program, a project that seeks to bring fresh produce to AFAC clients from local farmers, gardeners, farmers markets, gleaning organizations and other sources. Since she started the “Plot” program in 2007, it has grown within Arlington area, to 29 schools, 20 churches, fifteen community-based gardens, eight farmers markets, three CSA (community supported agriculture) groups, three gleaning organizations, as well as numerous individual gardeners. Since its first season in 2007, over 600,000 pounds of fresh produce have been donated to AFAC’s Plot Against Hunger project. In 2018 alone, AFAC volunteers picked up 55,282 pounds of farm fresh produce for needy families in Arlington.  If you have had the pleasure of working along side this incredible garden leader, you will know that she can tackle the smallest garden chore to the most complicated logistics challenges. We cannot think of another person that will time and time again rise to the moment with passion in her heart and a smile on her face. |
A Celebration of Arlington Urban Ag - Dec 12th!
Celebration of Arlington Urban Ag Look How Far We’ve Come!
Wednesday, December 12, 6:30pm – 8:30pm, Arlington Central Library > Learn about the progress we've made in urban agriculture in Arlington in the past 5 years!
(We will hold elections for Board of Director members at this meeting.)
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Fall is Full of FOUA Events!
START YOUR OWN FARM, new book by Forrest Pritchard and Ellen Polishuk
Arlington/Alexandria Urban Ag Summit, Friday, Oct. 5, 9:00am – 3:30pm, St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Arlington. To register go to: https://tinyurl.com/aauas2018 FOUA Winter Meeting: Celebrating Arlington Urban Ag, Wednesday, December 12, 6:30pm – 8:30pm, Arlington Central Library Visit www.arlingtonurbanag.org and our Facebook page for details and to RSVP! |
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