TIONS OF PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY?

Welcome Presentation

December 3, 2019 marked the Plan’s first public meeting. This meeting focused on existing conditions, painting a picture of the state of urban agriculture in Philadelphia today. Participants had an opportunity to give their input on what the Plan should accomplish and what urban agriculture means to them.

On behalf of the City, Dave Wilson, Deputy Managing Director for Community and Culture, welcomed a large crowd within the Central Library’s Skyline Room. Ash Richards, Director of Urban Agriculture at Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, introduced the Plan, the planning and public engagement process, and provided an overview of the agenda for the evening.

The program continued with a Land Acknowledgment from Trinity Norwood of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation and Mabel Negrete of Indigenous 215. This land acknowledgment connected the area which is currently known as Philadelphia and the City’s urban agriculture movement to the history of stolen Lanape land. It also included the indigenous community’s ongoing struggle for land sovereignty, cultural preservation, and re-centering indigeneity.

Following the land acknowledgment, Khaliah D. Pitts recited an original poem, “Sovereign” about the urgency of recognizing land as being alive and not owned, thus challenging the way in which land is controlled, dominated, and extracted from.

This intro was followed by a presentation by Soil Generation and Interface Studio (the planning team) about the state of urban agriculture and the goals of the Plan. The team spoke to the Plan Foundations, or guiding principles, which root the Plan in history, racial and economic equity, health, culture, and climate readiness. Lastly the team shared some preliminary data and maps to highlight the importance of urban agriculture in Philadelphia.

Table Discussion Themes

These six themes framed the group discussions at the first public meeting and will continue to serve as organizing themes for the plan itself:

Accessing Nourishing Food: Insuring all Philadelphians have access to the food they want and need, and greater food choices.

Growing in Philly: Preserving and expanding the footprint of urban agriculture, and ensuring that growers have access to needed resources.

Community Building and Healing: Supporting communities reconnecting to land and selfdetermination practices including preserving, and honoring their culture.

Learning to Grow: Sharing information about growing and gardening, and uplifting and valuing the knowledge of the people.

Seeding Economic Opportunities: Supporting workforce development and job creation through urban agriculture.

Reducing Waste: Reducing food that is wasted (including litter and trash), and creating a food system that is more efficient and sustainable.

This graphic depicts the posters used by facilitators to record each table’s discussions. For each discussion theme, groups were asked to answer the three discussion questions, while keeping in mind the Plan’s foundations

WHO PARTICIPATED, FROM WHERE?

Growing from the Root’s first public meeting drew nearly 300 people who are passionate about the future of urban agriculture in Philadelphia. Residents came from the across the city, and notably, from the areas with the highest concentration of gardens and farms - West, North, South, and Northwest Philadelphia. Of all the attendees, 135 said they garden or farm in some capacity.

HOW WAS THE MEETING PROMOTED?

The planning team advertised the meeting through Philadelphia Parks and Recreation communication channels, and through Soil Generation’s extensive network of gardeners and organizers. This also involved coordinating a Street Team made up of young people to help spread the word at community events and gatherings. The meeting included a variety of accommodations to ensure an inclusive environment, including wheelchair accessibility, bi-lingual American Sign Language interpretation, childcare, translation services, free parking, refreshments and more.

We invited participants to share where they live by placing a dot on a poster sized map of the city. Participants also shared what means of transportation they took to get to the meeting. Both questions will aid in planning the location of future public meetings.

Extensive social media posts like the images on the left were shared on a weekly basis beginning one month before the meeting. This aided in the meeting having such a high number of participants as seen in the image below.

I value urban agriculture because...

“The production of food/ plants is critical to health, resilience, and survival.”

I value urban agriculture because... “The production of food/ plants is critical to health, resilience, and survival.”

- meeting participant

- meeting participant

THE PHILLY URBAN AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY IS BROAD, DIVERSE, AND VERY PASSIONATE:

THE PHILLY URBAN AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY IS BROAD, DIVERSE, AND VERY PASSIONATE:

• It includes Philadelphians from across the city who grow plants for food, beauty, commerce, and medicine; raise animals such as bees, chickens, goats, and fish; and do so to educate and feed themselves and their communities, repair the environment, or to make a living. They are backyard gardeners and large-scale farmers.

• It includes Philadelphians from across the city who grow plants for food, beauty, commerce, and medicine; raise animals such as bees, chickens, goats, and fish; and do so to educate and feed themselves and their communities, repair the environment, or to make a living. They are backyard gardeners and large-scale farmers.

• They are deeply rooted in Philadelphia, its land and history, its neighborhoods, and its people. Participants were aware of and spoke to the city’s history of farming and agriculture, which is linked to their own cultural, communal, and ancestral practices.

• They are deeply rooted in Philadelphia, its land and history, its neighborhoods, and its people. Participants were aware of and spoke to the city’s history of farming and agriculture, which is linked to their own cultural, communal, and ancestral practices.

• The room was energetic with a clear sense of connection and compassion amongst all the different types of gardeners and farmers. There is a deep passion for urban agriculture and a sense of community.

• The room was energetic with a clear sense of connection and compassion amongst all the different types of gardeners and farmers. There is a deep passion for urban agriculture and a sense of community.

Stories of Lost Gardens

Stories of Lost Gardens

“I remember the joy of eating fresh snow peas off the vine, snacking on fresh raspberries, and making my freezer full of fresh pesto to last all winter. My toddler loved watering the garden. I miss it so much.

“I remember the joy of eating fresh snow peas off the vine, snacking on fresh raspberries, and making my freezer full of fresh pesto to last all winter. My toddler loved watering the garden. I miss it so much.

… A developer from NYC bought [the land].”

… A developer from NYC bought [the land].”

- meeting participant

- meeting participant

URBAN AGRICULTURE IS ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN THE PRODUCE YOU SEE AT A GARDEN OR FARM:

URBAN AGRICULTURE IS ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN THE PRODUCE YOU SEE AT A GARDEN OR FARM:

• Losing a garden or farm development can be a traumatic experience for communities that have seen much taken from them over the years, and the inability to achieve land security can feel like the perpetuation of past discriminatory policies.

• Losing a garden or farm to development can be a traumatic experience for communities that have seen much taken from them over the years, and the inability to achieve land security can feel like the perpetuation of past discriminatory policies.

• The social and cultural value our city’s gardens and farms provide is immense, as we heard over and over. Participants expressed a belief that land use decisions are too often made based on the economic value of proposed uses, but the value our gardens and farms provide often extends beyond their financial value. There must be a way, we heard, for decision-making to better account for the intangible benefits these spaces provide.

• The social and cultural value our city’s gardens and farms provide is immense, as we heard over and over. Participants expressed a belief that land use decisions are too often made based on the economic value of proposed uses, but the value our gardens and farms provide often extends beyond their financial value. There must be a way, we heard, for decision-making to better account for the intangible benefits these spaces provide.

Lost and Threatened Gardens cards like this on the right were made available during the meeting. Each card allows the planning team to understand current threats, what was lost and why, and to track and quantify these lost and threatened resources

Lost and Threatened Gardens cards like this on the right were made available during the meeting. Each card allows the planning team to understand current threats, what was lost and why, and to track and quantify these lost and threatened resources

• Gardening and farming is inextricably linked to issues of self-reliance, ownership, and identity. Many participants spoke of the symbolic power of gardening and farming – an act of reclaiming and connecting to the land, asserting autonomy, and building identity.

• Gardening and farming is inextricably linked to issues of self-reliance, ownership, and identity. Many participants spoke of the symbolic power of gardening and farming – an act of reclaiming and connecting to the land, asserting autonomy, and building identity.

I value urban agriculture because... “it will carry us into a more just, sustainable future, should we choose to invest in it.”

I value urban agriculture because... “it will carry us into a more just, sustainable future, should we choose to invest in it.”

- meeting participant

- meeting participant

THE VALUE OF URBAN AGRICULTURE IS DEEPLY CONNECTED TO OUR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE:

• The act of gardening and farming connects us to our ancestors. For many, the act of growing establishes a connection between them and their history – with the knowledge that our ancestors, too, engaged in these practices. The ability to carry these traditions forward into the future is also powerful for many, ensuring that the next generation will carry on this connection to their history and identity.

• Urban agriculture confronts some of the big challenges our city faces today. Participants understand urban agriculture as an effort to get nourishing food into systematically disadvantaged communities, to reduce the amount of food waste that is sent to landfills, to confront gentrification, and to build stronger communities.

• These practices can help to create a better future for ourselves and the next generation. Raising issues such as climate change, pollution, food insecurity, and sustainability, many expressed a belief that growing and raising more food locally can help heal the environment and prepare for the future.

I value urban agriculture because...

“It roots us in our past and the lived experience that many of us have had and want to keep with us in urban environments.”

- meeting participant

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, PARTICULARLY FOR YOUTH, CAME UP AGAIN AND AGAIN:

• Youth can derive great benefits from engaging in gardening and farming, we heard; and young people are essential to the future of urban agriculture.

• Participants expressed a desire to see more school gardens, more agricultural curriculum in schools, more opportunities to get youth into existing gardens through volunteering and programming, and ways to get nourishing fresh food into schools and recreation centers.

• The value of intergenerational programming and the essential role that elders play in passing knowledge on to youth came up repeatedly.

• Many mentioned the importance of adult educational opportunities – whether for entrepreneurs or curious individuals – to learn how to grow, cook, and preserve their own food.

Source:

FARMERS WANT MORE WAYS TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES:

• Farmers and gardeners expressed a hunger for more and better ways to learn, share, connect, and collaborate.

• There are some notable positive examples of knowledge-sharing organizations and platforms, such as Soil Generation and the Philadelphia Urban Farm Network online forum; however, many people said they need better ways to connect to technical knowledge, resources, and opportunities to share, learn, and work together.

“There is a lack of connections between garden groups and experts for skill-building and knowledge-sharing.”

- discussion group note

“The children need to have their fingers in the ground during pre-school - and thereafter!”

“There needs to be more education in cities surrounding agriculture and how having a strong urban agricultural environment can help neighborhoods get fresh food.”

- meeting participant

FARMERS WANT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW URBAN AGRICULTURE CAN BE MADE INTO A CAREER:

• Farmers should be able to make a living in Philadelphia, but currently, many barriers exist. There are many obstacles to doing so, we heard.

• Some said they would benefit from shared resources for crafting a business model, technical assistance, financing, and for selling their products.

• People spoke about the burden of taxes and bills on small agricultural operations in the city and a desire for programs to provide assistance or to reduce those costs.

• Moreover, some discussed a desire for connections to help them process their agricultural goods into new products, including connections to community kitchens.

“We need technical assistance and funds and knowledge sharing for transitioning community gardens into urban farms.”

- discussion group note

- discussion group note “No farm can afford to pay $10K annually in property taxes, no matter how great access is to market opportunities.”

- meeting participant

Philadelphia’s Urban Agriculture Plan:

What did the meeting include?

The online public meeting included ten stations - each with information, ideas for action, and opportunities for participants to contribute.

URBAN AGRICULTURE SHOULD SUPPORT CITYWIDE COMMITMENTS TO REDUCING WASTE AND OUR ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT:

• Participants noted that there are untapped opportunities to gather and redistribute food from restaurants and grocery stores, redirecting would-be food waste to increase access to nourishing food in neighborhoods that need it.

• Many local farmers and gardeners are advocates for composting as a method to eliminate a substantial volume of the waste Philadelphia sends to landfills. A sustained educational campaign about how to compost and why it matters, coupled with programs and services that make composting easy, will be required to shift habits.

• The opportunity is bigger than curbside composting along with trash and recycling pickup for all Philadelphia households. There are opportunities to involve restaurants, grocery stores, universities and other large institutions – the City among them – to adopt new waste management practices.

• Beyond composting, growers identified urban agriculture’s ability to reduce packaging waste, recycle stormwater, and increase local food production, thereby reducing distribution costs and emissions.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE PLAN?

• Update Data Analysis: The planning team has integrated the community input into the garden database built by The Philadelphia Garden Data Collaborative.

• Focus Groups + Interviews: Comments from group discussions and the comment cards have helped the planning team determine questions to ask growers, City and organizational leaders, organizers, etc. These upcoming conversations are intended to test ideas and lay the groundwork for implementing the Plan.

• Prepare for the second Public Meeting: The second public meeting will be held near the Spring Equinox, a milestone for farmers and growers. This meeting will be held in two separate locations - one in North Philly and one in West Philly - and will be designed in an open house format (so participants can come and go at their convenience) to ensure greater participation.

WHAT IS GROWING FROM THE ROOT ?

Growing from the Root is Philadelphia’s first citywide plan to organize and respond to the needs of the urban agriculture community.

The Plan is rooted with input from community organizers, local growers, small business owners, non-profit organizations, and City officials interested in maintaining and enhancing Philadelphia’s unique assembly of urban farms and gardens. From this input, the Plan will highlight the City’s existing barriers to supporting urban agriculture and develop policy, program, and project recommendations for City agencies and partners. This Plan and its facilitated engagement events are managed by the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department.

Thisgraphicexplainsthepublicengagementprocessand wherewecurrentlyareintheproject..

SECTION 1: LESSONS FROM ACROSS THE ONLINE PUBLIC MEETING

WHO PARTICIPATED, FROM WHERE?

Growing from the Root’s second public meeting drew about 280 sign-in’s. Residents came from the across the city, and notably, from the areas with the highest concentration of gardens and farms - Southwest, West, Northwest, and South Philadelphia.

Out of Philly’s 45 ZIP codes, 35 were represented, along with smaller numbers from 30 ZIP codes outside the city.

Of all the attendees, two thirds said they garden or farm in some capacity, and 8 percent said they used to farm or they come from a family of farmers.

What Do We Know About

LAND SECURITY IS CENTRAL TO MAKING PROGRESS THIS PLAN’S PRIORITIES.

There are deep connections between land and every other area of this plan. Without land security, we heard, it can be hard to invest in infrastructure that makes growing possible; it can be hard to build a business or invest in workers; and it can be hard to create spaces and programs that build and heal communities. Land is at the very center of the work gardeners and farmers do, their lifestyles, and their livelihoods - and, therefore, at the center of this plan.

of respondents know a garden that is currently threatened.

of respondents know of a garden that was lost or stolen

We asked participants what they would lose if their garden were taken away. These are some of the words that came up multiple times.

The majority of reported lost gardens were lost to development.

INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT CAME UP A LOT.

Water, electricity, lumber, greenhouses, and more: we heard that oftentimes these needs are not met either due to a lack of resources, unclear City processes, or because folks are hesitant to invest in infrastructure when there is no land security for their gardens.

MANY PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR ECONOMIC AUTONOMY AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES.

Many participants are interested in pursuing agriculture within Philadelphia as a career - not a hobby - but low wages and lack of job security prevent many from entering the field or pursuing it full time. Entrepreneurs and business owners expressed that an inability to secure land or invest in it means that it is harder for their business to succeed. Participants also mentioned larger regulatory structures that do not support small scale agriculture businesses.

“I found a wonderful job working at a wonderful farm in the city. This farm does it’s best in terms of pay and offers health insurance,

PARTNERSHIPS & INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ARE IMPORTANT TO MANY.

We heard from respondents that the City cannot hold this work alone: it must lean into community-led programs and support.

The City should funnel funding and support for agriculture through existing community organizations who have demonstrated an ability to effectively do food justice work and counter food apartheid.

rated “physical infrastructure and ecological needs” the most important thing for community gardens. 46%

Farm jobs seem do-able only for young people ... who can ... keep expenses low.”

SKEPTICISM AND A LACK OF TRUST WERE COMMON THEMES RELATED TO CITY AGENCIES.

Participants expressed skepticism that the City will be able to hold and carry out new responsibilities, based on those participants’ experiences with the City.

Trust in City entities is much lower than trust in community-led organizations such as the Neighborhood Gardens Trust (NGT), Soil Generation, and the Philadelphia Orchard Project (POP); however, participants seemed to have more trust in Parks & Recreation than in other entities, such as the Land Bank.

We heard a desire for transparency and clear methods for holding the City accountable in the implementation of this plan.

Key themes and words that emerged around interactions with City agencies include...

Arduous

City Priorities

- meeting participant

IT’S ABOUT COMMUNITY-BUILDING, CULTURAL & ANCESTRAL PRACTICES, & MENTAL HEALTH.

Participants made clear that the relationship between land and people is not only one of sustenance, but also one of reconnecting with community practices and teachings, childhood memories, and cultural and family ties. Where there is land insecurity, relationships are eroded.

Across multiple stations, people talked about growing, foraging, and seed saving as being important for learning about and holding onto many of their cultural traditions. Folks also expressed the importance of connecting with different methods and techniques their ancestors used to grow food. The relation to community-building is evident, as these practices were referred to as being site-specific and context-specific.

There were also many responses about agriculture improving people’s mental health, like decreasing depression and anxiety. When asked “what would be the consequence of losing access to the land you tend,” many people noted their mental health as well as a decrease in physical and community health.

“My great aunts and uncles foraged for food in the south. It feels a part of my cultural legacy and my spiritual connection to meeting participant

35% 30%

There were several comments and themes observed around supporting the work communities are already doing, and investing in communities to lead work around food sovereignty and agriculture. Themes also emerged around the importance of and a need for strengthening and creating more formalized networks of growers who work together to support and hold this work. of participants talked about connections to their ancestry, family and culture when talking about seed saving, mentioned that the practice of seed saving allows them to save money and have greater access to nourishing foods.

EDUCATION IS CENTRAL TO MAKING PROGRESS - BOTH TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT GROWING AND TO INFORM PHILLY RESIDENTS ABOUT KEY ISSUES.

People indicated a desire for more agricultural education and trainings for themselves and broader education campaigns across the city. Many folks want to see more agriculture curriculum in schools as well as more funding specifically for Career and Technical Education (CTE)-type programs.

36% 72%

of participants do not forage but would like to learn stated that their main barrier to learning how to save seeds was lack of experience or skills

SECTION 2: LESSONS FROM EACH STATION

The second section details the particular information that came out of each activity.

Historical Timeline

The historical timeline presented four “pressures” that drive the cycle of racialized land-based oppression that defines much of the history of growing in the United States.

The goals of this station were to help participants understand historical events in order to place themselves today in the reality of how racism plays out in our food system and ultimately in urban agriculture, and to learn from the ways communities have self-determined through these oppressive conditions.

About This Station Activities What We Heard

In a short survey, we asked participants to consider their long-term advantages or barriers to land ownership, by looking at their own experiences, the historical experiences of their families, and their identity within American culture.

“As a white person who gardens on an empty lot in West, I’ve have many advantages, from mentorship through employment to the time to garden and a little extra cash, as well as little fear of retribution for occupying property that isn’t mine” - meeting participant

REFLECTIONS ON DISADVANTAGES AND PRIVILEGE:

Participants in this section reported on their personal and family experiences; but, perhaps more importantly, they reflected on what the survey questions meant to them. Many participants communicated a sense of gratitude or an experience of discovery as a result of the questions that were posed in this section.

• 5% of participants in this section said, “My ancestors are Indigenous to the Americas and our lands were stolen from us during colonization and settler colonialism.”

• 15% said, “My ancestors were displaced from their land and identity because of enslavement through the TransAtlantic Slave Trade.”

• 22% said, “My family or I were forced to leave our land as refugees because of war, genocide or climate disaster.”

• 26% said, My ancestors have benefited from U.S. Government subsidies including the 1862 Homestead Act , 1944 G.I. Bill, and USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) grants.”

“I called my parents to ask them some family history in order to answer certain questions ... and I learned that the neighborhood that my parents live in now excluded my ancestors (European Ashkenazi Jews) until The Fair Housing Act passed in 1968.” - meeting participant

“I feel as though my generation and the ones after me are hugely behind those who had access to land, money and networks. It would take generations to get slightly close, if things say the same. Governmental systemic radical change has to be enacted, like , yesterday.” - meeting participant

Resources for Community Gardens

About This Station

Activities

We asked participants four open ended questions:

• What does the LAND at your garden need to thrive?

• What do the PEOPLE who tend your garden need to thrive?

• What does the COMMUNITY that gathers at your garden need to thrive?

The “Access to Land” station included discussion of who tends the land, who owns the land, and how we can protect the land we cultivate over time. Information in the station addressed the state of land security in Philadelphia, and the historical context of BIPOC land loss that has lead to the current situation.

In Philadelphia, there are over 400 active gardens or farms. Fewer than half are secure, and about a quarter are at high risk.

Additionally, about 7 in 10 active gardens are in Philly’s highest poverty areas. 1 in 3 are in “racially concentrated areas of poverty.”

About This Station Activities What We Heard

INTERACTIONS WITH THE CITY: Respondents’ comments about land access emphasized frustration with City agencies that control land and a sense of urgency, as most respondents know of gardens that are currently threatened or that have already been lost to development.

• 54% of respondents interacted with the Philadelphia Land Bank to get access to the land they grow on

• Respondents described interactions with City agencies to get access to land as “arduous, obtuse, slow, opaque, slow, frustrating, unclear, long time, complicated,” among other things.

• 54% of respondents know a garden that is currently being threatened.

• 46% know of a garden that was lost/stolen.

• The majority of reported lost gardens were lost to development.

This section asked participants about their gardening or farming practices - or about what is keeping them from gardening or farming. It also asked about participants struggles with land security, and it asked for information about gardens or farms that have been lost.

The goal of this station was to provide a space for discussion about the needs of community gardens.

What We Heard

LAND NEEDS: Participants ranked land-related needs most important for their community gardens - especially garden infrastructural needs and land security.

• Among a range of land-related needs, participants said the most important needs for their garden are growing infrastructure (45 likes), growing materials (47 likes), long-term land security (37 likes), and water infrastructure (31 likes).

What SYSTEMS does your garden need help navigating in order to thrive?

We also asked participants to rank these four types of needs in terms of their gardens’ priorities, and we asked which programs or resources participants had accessed to address their community gardens’ needs.

COMMUNITY NEEDS: Community-related needs ranked third among community gardens’ priorities - especially community organizing, community relations, and trainings & professional development.

RACE AND ETHNICITY: There is a pervasive sense that race and ethnicity factor into decisions about who can access or secure land in Philadelphia.

• 74% of respondents believe race and ethnicity factor into a person’s ability to obtain access to land and land security but have not personally experienced it

• 27% have personally experienced race and ethnicity impacting their ability to obtain access to land and land security

FOOD, COMMUNITY, & CULTURE: Participants expressed deep and meaningful connections with the land they garden or farm on, not only for the food it provides but also for the community it fosters and the connections it allows to respondents’ cultures and heritage.

• Some people also mentioned accessibility as something their gardens need to thrive.

PEOPLE NEEDS: Participants ranked people-related needs second-most important for their community gardensespecially a living wage and benefits for workers.

• Among a range of people-related needs, participants said the most important needs for their garden are a living wage and benefits for workers (44 likes), apprenticeships (34 likes), construction labor or expertise (29 likes), and diversity & anti-racism training (30 likes).

• Trauma informed care also seemed to be a category people want to see more support for in their work and organizations.

• Among a range of community-related needs, participants said the most important needs for their garden are community organizing and coalition building (37 likes); community-led governance, accountability processes, and ownership (36 likes); and training on growing techniques and best practices (30 likes). Though they received fewer votes, there was still significant interest in multilingual signage, a crop sharing network, and conflict management (greater than 15 likes each).

SYSTEMS NEEDS: Participants ranked systems-related data last among community garden needs; the top systemsrelated ideas were a pathway to land security and legal counsel for land ownership.

• Among a range of systems-related needs, participants said the most important needs for their garden are a pathway to land security and legal counsel for land access and ownership (38 likes each)

• Participants commented that Black and brown leadership is important for these ideas

Other top ideas were public water and power connections (31 likes), support finding and applying for funding or grants (27 likes), and exemptions from taxes, bills, or fees for gardeners/farmers (25 likes).

About This Station Activities

This station presented information related to four different types of agricultural animals that Philadelphians might want to raise within City limits, as well as information on current regulations related to those animals in Philadelphia. The animals addressed were bees, hens, goats, and fish. For each animal, there was information about how those animals are currently raised in the city, how much space they need, their benefits, current city regulations (including amount of space required to raise them), and some common misconceptions.

What We Heard

ANIMAL KEEPING: Participants expressed broad support for animal keeping in the City - especially hens and bees. Many people commented on the broad benefits - food, companionship, education, and more - and the relatively insignificant impacts.

• Bees and hens got the most enthusiastic support, with 90 percent of survey takers expressing support for each. Participants mentioned how valuable these animals can be as a source of food.

• Goats drew support from about three-quarters of surveytakers. Commenters noted they are great for meat and milk, and they clear land effectively; though they may not be suited for every type of garden space.

• Fish drew support from about 7 in 10 respondents, and another quarter said they were on the fence - possibly because, as commenters noted, they did not feel that they could raise fish themselves.

• Some people mentioned additional animals, including quail (which the commenter stated is already legal) and ducks.

For each of the animals presented, we asked participants whether they were “hot” or “cold” about allowing that animal to be raised in Philadelphia, and we asked for an explanation of their rating. We also provided space for participants to name additional animals that they raise or would like to raise.

“During the pandemic, I was able to provide eggs to elderly neighbors who could not get to a store or the store was out.”

- meeting participant

“I have kept bees for years and it is a wonderful way to connect with nature and to support the health of the environment”

- meeting participant

“Goats are a great source of meat and milk, a great educational tool, and provide a valuable ecosystem service of plant removal, a fossil fuel-free way to remove invasive plants and clean up overgrown areas to make room for future gardens.” - meeting participant

“Keeping fish can help control mosquitoes. Fish eat mosquitoes eggs and larvae that are laid in their pond drastically reducing disease carrying insects.” - meeting participant

“Hey.. local protein. What’s not to like?”

- meeting participant

Farming Careers and Businesses

About This Station Activities

The goal of this station was to create a space for participants to discuss challenges they have faced in starting or holding a career in agriculture - or in starting an agricultural business in Philadelphia.

What We Heard

BARRIERS TO A CAREER IN AGRICULTURE: Low wages present the greatest barrier to pursuing a career in agriculture, as well as a lack of entry level job opportunities, according to participants.

• Low wages make it hard for many people to pursue the careers in agriculture that they are passionate about, according to a quarter of survey respondents. No other survey option drew as many responses.

• Some participants recognized the relationship between wages and broader policies & programs that currently share our food system (or could).

“Most ag jobs ... seem to be seasonal and temporary/hourly (not health insurance) and unlikely to make accommodations.”

- meeting participant

“If the city were to drastically rethink its relationship to its land (vacant lots particularly), I could imagine a city program where a corps of people was paid to transform lots into productive growing spaces and aggregate the produce grown to feed people around their blocks.”

- meeting participant

This station included multiple choice questions about the barriers participants have faced building a career or starting a business in agriculture. We also asked for participants’ stories and ideas about how to overcome those challenges.

BARRIERS TO STARTING AN AGRICULTURE BUSINESS: Participants mentioned a range of bureaucratic and infrastructural hurdles to starting a business, including a lack of land security, lack of business resources and supports, lack of startup capital, and difficulties accessing practical resources like clean soil.

• Commenters laid out their own struggles and those that they have heard of from others.

“The land that our gardens are located on is privately owned by people who don’t live in our neighborhoods. Little funding is available for for-profit businesses, so I am limited in what grants I can apply for.”

- meeting participant

“The main struggles people I talk to have in building an agriculture-related business are: accessing land, accessing clean soil, getting start-up capital, and complicated Philadelphia business processes.”

- meeting participant

Educating the Next Generation of Growers

About This Station

The goal of this station was to address topics related to education around agriculture for both adults and youth in Philadelphia. For youth, this station discusses both inschool and out-of-school programs. For adults, this station discusses various topics of education and methods by which people would like to learn. This station also looks at what is needed to help people who want to teach.

What We Heard

GARDENING IN SCHOOLS: Participants were enthusiastic about getting more gardening onto school property and into curricula, but they emphasized it will only be possible if there are more resources committed to staff time, materials, and training.

• Many participants mentioned the benefits for students that they believe agricultural education can have. Without dedicated staff time for gardens, participants say that school gardens may not work. Getting more gardens into more schools could be easier if there were supportive policies, participants said.

• Some people felt that partnerships could open the door to more resources.

• Training for teachers is necessary to get agriculture into curricula, we heard.

GROWING WITH YOUTH: For youth, agriculture programs should support a wide range of values and lessons, from healthy eating and STEM skills to connections to the culture & history of young peoples’ communities, to literacy and connections to careers, according to input from Public Meeting 2.

Activities

This station included various multiple choice and open ended questions about education for youth and adults, as well as about teaching.

First, this station asked what strategies should be prioritized for integrating agriculture into K-12 schools , with both multiple-choice and open-ended options. Then, we asked what values are most important for out-of-school youth agriculture programs to uphold, and how young people have learned about agriculture programs.

For adult learning, we asked how adults want to learn and what topics they want to learn about.

Lastly, for folks who are interested in teaching, we asked what barriers exist to teaching, and what ideas could help overcome those barriers to make it easier for them to teach.

Seed Saving and Foraging

About This Station

The “Seed Saving and Foraging” station was about cultural practices related to growing and gathering. It emphasized how growing and gathering practices are often deeply connected to the cultures and heritage of local communities.

This station presented information of many different methods of growing and gathering, as well as information about methods of seed saving and seed keeping.

What We Heard

Activities

We asked participants to tell us what methods they use for growing and gathering - and to explain the cultural relevance of those methods. We also asked participants to share their experiences with foraging and, in a short survey, to tell us their feelings about seed saving.

ADULT LEARNING: Participants were mostly split over whether they preferred in-person learning or online learning, and they signaled a desire for learning around basic and advanced gardening skills, as well as topics like food justice.

• About a third of participants said they wanted in-person instruction at a local garden or farm, about 1 in 5 said they want pre-recorded online instruction, and another 1 in 5 said they want live online instruction.

• Overall, practical gardening skills drew the most interest: Growing 101, construction skills, and advanced agricultural skills each drew the interest of around thirty people.

• 36 participants expressed an interest in learning about topics like food justice.

TEACHING: Of the participants who expressed an interest in teaching, the most common sentiment was that, for knowledge sharing to be consistent and high quality, there need to be more resources dedicated specifically to teaching - both in terms of compensation and infrastructure.

• To be better, knowledge sharing needs to pay better, we heard.

BOTH FORAGING AND SEED SAVING emerged not only as practices for sustenance, but as means to reconnect with and preserve ties to place, memories, family traditions and culture. Other reasons participants were motivated to forage or keep seeds included free access to food, feeling connected to the land, and self-reliance.

CULTURALLY RELEVANT GROWING AND GATHERING

METHODS: Participants favored methods that they could do on their own with little or no supervision, with easier maintenance, and that did not require large plots of land:

• Food foraging, container gardening, planting perennial crops, and the Three Sisters growing method were among participants’ top choices.

• Over 2 in every 5 participants forage in Philadelphia. Of those that do not forage, two thirds would like to learn more about this practice.

• Most participants cited cooking and eating as the main purpose of these foods and, to lesser extent, for medicinal purposes and as natural dyes.

• 36 different varieties of foraged food goods were mentioned. This included a combination of berries, fruits, mushrooms, nuts, edible flowers, and herbs. Participants also highlighted having greater access to culturally relevant vegetables and seeds.

ACCESSIBILITY was also mentioned as an important aspects of foraging and seed-saving, both financially and physically:

• Being able to grow in small spaces or without depending on a large area was important, such as growing in containers on window sills, doorsteps or stoops.

• Making growing physically accessible to children or the elderly, There was also interest in the possibility of foraging in city-owned, publicly accessible lands, as opposed to areas that require permission from neighbors.

• Participants also mentioned foraging and seed-saving as practices that are financially accessible to many and that can be shared collectively.

SEED SAVING PROGRAMS: Two thirds of participants practice seed-saving, and a vast majority support seed saving programs, such as seed banks and libraries, or seed exchanges, Particular support was given to the idea of programs run mainly by community members and volunteers, but also with added support from City staff, the Free Library or other institutions in Philadelphia.

About This Station

This station was about Philly’s local food system and policies - the people, actions, and regulations that together shape how the food we eat is produced, processed, transported, and consumed. It proposed that an improved Philly food system should incubate an urban agriculture economy that supports business and job growth, living wages, and food security.

We presented information from the first public meeting about participants’ trust in various entities that may be responsible for implementation of this plan: only a third of participants in the first public meeting said they trust the City overall as a partner in this planning process; about three quarters said their trust Black and brown advocates and community experts; and about three quarters said they trust Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.

Also in this section, we presented a graphic depicting the Philly Food System that included “people,” “production,” “preparation & distribution,” “supplies & infrastructure,” and “consumption & waste management.” In response to input from this public meeting, the food system diagram presented in this meeting has been edited, and a new version appears in the final plan. In each of the food system areas, this station provided information about Philadelphia policies and practices, as well as ideas for new policies and practices.

Activities

In this section, we asked participants to rate various ideas and policies, to provide input on what might make those ideas work, who would be good partners for implementation, and what other ideas might help accomplish similar goals.

We also asked for participants’ input on how to hold the City accountable to ensure implementation that lives up to the community’s values.

What We Heard

NEW POLICIES AND IDEAS: Participants expressed broad support for a range of policies and City actions; though the greatest level of support was for a City “Good Food Purchasing Policy,” a food production & distribution facility for City programs, curbside compost pickup, City support for a network of farmers markets, and a new Office of Urban Agriculture at the City to provide centralized support.

• Among about 50 participants, each of these ideas received upwards of 80% of participants voting in favor.

• While support was broad for many ideas, there was some skepticism that the City would follow through on these ideas in an effective way; participants expressed a need to hold the City accountable to its commitments.

PARTNERSHIPS: Many people recommended partnerships between the City and existing organizations to ensure that community knowledge would be a part of implementationand that the City would be held accountable.

• For a food production & distribution facility for City programs, participants recommended partnerships with BunnyHop, Center for Culinary Enterprises, Everybody Eats, Food Not Bombs, FPAC, Greener Partners, Greensgrow, NRDC, Philly FoodWorks, PHS, POP, Revolution Foods, Soil Generation, Sankofa, SHARE, The Common Market, The Enterprise Center, The Food Trust,Urban Tree Connection

• For City support for a network of farmers markets, participants recommended partnerships with The Food Trust, Farm to City, Penn State Extension, PASA, Philly Foodworks, FPAC

• For a farming tool library, 47% of participants said they favor a system that is run by both the City and community organizations, and 36% said they favor a model run by community organizations alone.

• For a community kitchen, 44% of participants favored a model run by both the City and community organizations, while 34% favored a model run solely by community organizations.

Vote for Your Favorite Ideas

About This Station Activities

The final station aimed to provide a space to reflect on all the ideas presented in this public meeting and to ask participants to prioritize the ideas that they think are most important.

What We Heard

POLICIES & PRACTICES: Most participants said the highest priority change the City can make to its policies and practices is to make transparent the selling and leading of land for agriculture; though urgency of that issue should not overshadow the importance of others.

53% of participants said the top priority for change to City policies and practices is, “The City committing to and making transparent the selling and leasing of land for agriculture.”

• Smaller percentages of participants said other policy changes are “top priority”. As we heard throughout the meeting, land security is related to nearly every element of urban agriculture. Its ranking as participants’ top priority should not be taken as an indication that other issues are unimportant - only that land security is of tremendous importance.

CITY INVESTMENTS: When asked to prioritize City investments in urban ag, many participants said they want the City to create an Office of Urban Agriculture, and a significant portion said curbside composting is key.

• 45% of participants said the top priority for how the City invests in new City programs and initiatives is, “Create an Office of Urban Agriculture.”

25% said “Offer curbside compost pick-up for residents.”

We asked participants three multiple choice questions:

• What is your top priority in advocating for change in existing City of Philadelphia policies or practices?

• What is your top priority for how the City invests in community-led efforts?

• What is your top priority for how the City invests in new City programs or initiatives?

COMMUNITY-LED EFFORTS: When asked to prioritize how the City should invest in community-led efforts, a majority of participants said they want the City to support gardeners and farmers getting land security; a smaller percentage said the City should prioritize supporting new and existing community gardens.

• 59% of participants said the City should prioritize support for gardeners and farmers to get land security, whether that means ownership or leases.

20% said the City should support new and existing community gardens.

November 3, 2022

WHAT IS GROWING FROM THE ROOT ?

Growing from the Root is Philadelphia’s first citywide plan to organize and respond to the needs of the urban agriculture community.

The Plan is rooted with input from community organizers, local growers, small business owners, non-profit organizations, and City officials interested in maintaining and enhancing Philadelphia’s unique assembly of urban farms and gardens. From this input, the Plan will highlight the City’s existing barriers to supporting urban agriculture and develop policy, program, and project recommendations for City agencies and partners. This Plan and its facilitated engagement events are managed by the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department.

What did the meeting include?

The third and final public meeting was held virtually via Zoom on the evening of November 3, 2022. 115 people tuned in for the meeting, which marked the release of the draft plan for public review and comment.

During the meeting, the planning team presented a recap of the planning process from start to end as well as an overview of the draft plan and priority recommendations. Attendees learned how and where to access the draft plan document online and how to provide written feedback during the three-week public comment period, which ran from November 3 through 28, 2022.

Throughout the two-hour meeting, the audience remained active and engaged in a lively Zoom chat thread, through interactive polling questions (see results on the following page), and an end-of-meeting question and answer period, with questions submitted via the chat function.

Despite the virtual format, there was a lot of energy and passion evident in the Zoom room, as well as a high level of sustained commitment to the future of urban agriculture in Philadelphia expressed throughout the meeting.

Because of the virtual format, there were many, many emojis!

POLLING QUESTIONS & RESULTS

Are you struggling to get access to public or private land for farming or gardening?

40% of respondents answered YES, I am still struggling with land insecurity of respondents answered NO, I have land security where I garden or farm 19%

34% of respondents answered I am not looking for land on which to garden or farm of respondents answered Other 7%

Have you started a new food project or seen new food projects take root in your neighborhood since 2020?

54%

43%

Much gratitude to all who attended and participated and all who read through the draft plan, and submitted comments for of respondents answered YES! of respondents answered NO

Has your garden or farm started to grow more food since the COVID-19 pandemic?

32% of respondents answered YES, definitely!

15% of respondents answered NO, no change of respondents answered I’m not sure 13% of respondents answered Does not apply 40% of respondents answered YES 78% of respondents answered NO 2% of respondents answered No, but I would like to! 20%

Do you participate in any composting today (at home, at your garden, at school, etc.)?

Does your food/farm job meet your needs for living (wages, benefits, time off, etc.)?

16% of respondents answered YES of respondents answered NO 33% of respondents answered Does not apply 52%