In South Central Los Angeles, a few blocks from Vernon Station, you'll find an unexpected patch of green among the asphalt and concrete. It's a community farm, 14 acres of plants in one of the most crowded neighborhoods in America. This area is the largest urban farm in the US, supporting 350 farmers and their families. This has been going on for thirteen years, and now the owner of the land wants to evict the farmers and sell the land in order to build a Wal-Mart warehouse.
The land had been claimed though eminent domain by the City of Los Angeles for a trash incinerator in the early 90's. As part of that deal, the owner had a right of first refusal to buy the property back if the land was no longer required for public use. After the riots, the trash incinerator was not built due to community protests, and instead the land was turned over to the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank to operate as a community garden. However, the previous owners sued and in a murky deal reclaimed title. They have issued an eviction notice to the farmers; the current date is Monday, March 13.
The Mayor's office has expressed interest in repurchasing the property, and has located $9 million of the $16 million asking price. However, so far his promises to work out a deal have not resulted in a solution.
Clara Irazabal of USC wrote this letter to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa supporting the
farmers:
"As I hope the reflections above have illustrated, the relevant question is not whether this urban farm should be preserved. This is the wrong question and one that diminishes the stature of your office and the trust we have invested in you. The question is, rather, how can we best help multiply urban farms like this one throughout Los Angeles and cities of the Americas and the world. As the era of oil inescapably comes to an end, we are going to be faced with the need, whether we like it or not, to live more compactly, thrifty, cooperatively, and in more direct connection with, and responsible for, the production of our own food. In this context, not only does the South
Central Farm not constitute a backward use of land in one of the largest and more prominent and modern cities of the world. Instead, it is a model for the future (and the future is now), one that can support the survival of our growing urban civilization. Maintaining the South Central Farm, Los Angeles and you as its mayor have the unique opportunity to become world visionaries and trail breakers."
http://www.fromthewilderness.com/...
Here are some things you can do to help:
This flyer:
http://la.indymedia.org/...
has news of planned protests and events for this week, including a mass attendance of the City Council meeting at 9am on Friday, March 10.
You can also email or call Mayor Villaraigosa at mayor@lacity.gov or 213-978-0600.
To keep up on news about the farm, you can check Indymedia LA:
http://la.indymedia.org/
If you are interested, the following links provide a more detailed look into the history of the farm and the current situation:
http://www.southcentralfarmers.com/
http://www.fromthewilderness.com/...
A greenbelt like this is a community treasure, and is possible only because of long, painstaking hours, years of work to reclaim the soil and build it up. The farm provides nutritious, fresh food to the residents, and a chance for children in this neighborhood to experience growing plants and to know where food comes from. It provides far more value to the City of Los Angeles than another warehouse, and is most distinctly a public good. The farm is a model of sustainable agriculture and locally grown food in a sea of concrete in one of the most crowded and disadvantaged neighborhoods in America. With over 350 separate plots, it has been a wonderful opportunity for thousands of people in the community. Please do whatever you can to help support the effort to save it.