Alopez: Food Access Coalition Meeting #6
February 8, 2017 by Abby Lopez
Rows of homes, large swimming pools, shopping malls, liquor stores, drive thru, pavements, highways and byways all were part of my upbringing growing up here in Orange County. Although I was disciplined in many other ways, I would describe food access as instant and convenient. But later I realize not everything in the prettiest packages are the healthiest or have much in content in terms of nutritional value. My husband grew up in an environment which was almost opposite of me as he grew up in a rural town, where food was not always easy to come by as him and his family raised livestock, fished, carried water and eat what they grow. I’d like to think of my interest in Urban Agriculture is the meeting of these two worlds.
The OC has always been my home. Sadly, Orange County is a far cry from what our county was named after as orange groves were cut down for land development. Luckily, there is a great interest and resurgence for local food. And however small or large is this interest, whether I live in a rural area with open fields and grazing cows or renting a room in a six bedroom household in a condensed city, I will find a way to be connected to the natural world which not only provides food access but provides therapeutic ways to manage stress and develop hands on problem solving skills.
In relation with my personal sharing, society, government and environment affect food systems that is unique to a region.
Today we had the unique opportunity to see how organizations and current project leaders work together to accomplish and discuss their goals during the OCFAC Urban Ag Workgroup Meeting. The itinerary today include garden networking & mapping, beekeeping ordinances, Assembly bill- 551 and urban Ag events. They discuss everything from laws, to AG events, projects and workshops. One item of discussion was about AB551 which was about state incentives to lease out land on vacant lots for agricultural purposes and how that would apply to each county level. Another topic discussed is bee keeping ordinances. Bee keepers need support from the community as bees are our prime pollinators and an important coworker in urban ag . Also, during the meeting, many offered their volunteers to work on different projects and coordinate with other organizations. These meetings conducted offer a great resource and networking for shared goals.
It was truly inspiring not only to see how much time, passion and dedication how project leaders dedicate for their shared vision to make urban agriculture possible for students, aspiring advocates, community vendors, and the disenfranchised, but also their ability to work together and get things done.
Food systems can be accommodated by assessment of the following concepts:
SOCIETY, GOVERNMENT and PEOPLE
SOCIETY
People
Culture
NGO
Business
GOVERNMENT
Municipal Codes
Enforcement
Community Resources
ENVIRONMENT
Physical location
Infrastructure
AG Workgroup Agenda
For more information on these current projects and updates, I suggest visiting their websites:
Courtesy of Google:
Assembly Bill 551: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/15-16/bill/asm/ab_0551-0600/ab_551_bill_20150715_amended_sen_v96.htm
Farm Bill : https://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=farmbill
Groups attended and mentioned:
HARVEST CLUB OF ORANGE COUNTY – www.theharvestclub.org/
HERITAGE MUSEUM OF OC- www.heritagemuseumoc.org/
ORANGE HOME GROWN FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET- www.orangehomegrown.org/
ECOLOGY CENTER – theecologycenter.org/
GOSPEL SWAMP FARM
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
CULTIVATE TOGETHER – cultivatetogether.org/
