Urban Agriculture Q&A

[zoeboesmom]

Here's a link for Holly G rove farm and market's box program. If you ever start a box program Amanda I will be your first customer and will help with distribution.http://www.hollygrovemarket.com/content/5669

Urban Organics has a box program if you are looking for something local in the meantime. They also sell organic plants if your seedlings don't fare well. I bought most of mine there this year. They had a pretty good selection in April of different tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce, and cabbage. I am not part of their co-op but a friend is and she has always been happy with their boxes. http://www.urbanorganicsproduce.com/

[bananas]

SS would really like to build an urban farm and have a box program. This is why we would like to see the zoning code amended. If we can grow food right here, employ local people, and distribute the produce right back into the community that would be ideal.

Write to all the city council folks and let them know you support this - that is the next step. The Planning Dept is on board, now we have to work on city council.

[bananas]

This RFP was just release from Boston's mayor:

The Request-for-Proposals (RFP) for the potential future urban agriculture sites at Tucker, Standish and Glenway Streets in Dorchester has been issued. Please see the press release below for more information and a link to download the RFP. Thanks for your interest in urban agriculture in Boston!

City Seeks Proposals for Pilot Urban Agriculture Project Three Parcels Available in Dorchester to Produce Fresh, Healthy Food for Residents

Mayor Thomas M. Menino has announced that the City of Boston has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Pilot Urban Agriculture Project. The Project proposes to put three vacant, city-owned properties in Dorchester to productive use for farming, with the goal of producing fresh, healthy food for sale in the community. The RFP seeks proposals from qualified individuals, businesses, and/or organizations to farm these properties, either as for profit or not-for-project enterprises. Local community members are strongly encouraged to submit proposals. The RFP includes incentives for partnerships between the farmers and local community organizations to encourage farming that is responsive to community needs and interests.

“Urban farming is a great way to encourage small scale agricultural entrepreneurism in our city,” Mayor Menino said. “It has the capacity to bring fresh fruits and vegetables into neighborhoods and corner stores while teaching Boston families and youth about where their food comes from.”

The three properties are located at 23-29 Tucker Street, 131 Glenway Street and 18-24 Standish Street. Initially, each property will be leased based on a rate of $500 per acre, which based on lot sizes, will be roughly $125 to $200 per year for a term of five years. The term may be extended if farming is successful.

The deadline for proposals is August 15, 2011. The RFP package is available at the Department of Neighborhood Development’s Bid Counter on the 10th floor at 26 Court Street, Boston. The RFP can also be downloaded by registering at http://www.cityofboston.gov/dnd/rfp. A bidders conference is scheduled for July 25, 2011 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Winter Chambers on the 1st floor at 26 Court Street. Any questions regarding the RFP can be emailed to Jay Lee at jlee.dnd@cityofboston.gov.

[Annie]

Would it be possible to have a map of Duval County with areas shaded in that are ok for growing crops and having chickens and goats? I want to move to an area that will not "disrupt" the usual neighborhood. I found Realtors are useless.

[movedsouth]

check maps.coj.net . This site will allow you to check what zoning category an area is in.

Zoning codes that allow farm animals:

http://library.municode.com/HTML/12174/ ... l#TOPTITLE

AGR (Agriculture)

animals other then household pets are allowed in :
RR-Acre (Residential Rural-Acre)
RLD-120 (Residential Low Density 120)
RLD-100A (Residential Low Density 100A)

in other "RLD" areas, you can get an exception.



http://library.municode.com/HTML/12174/ ... 01PESTDECR
Goats/Sheep have to be kept 200 feet from the property line.

[bananas]

Annie, movedsouth is right. In Jax you have to be in an rural residential or agricultural zoning. These zonings are on the outskirts of town, as they are for low density development. The setback for hoofed animals quoted below is complimentary to this.

You can, ironically, have a potbellied pig in other residential areas

[KatyD]

You could try the Springfield Organic Collective:-) We've been doing produce deliveries in Springfield for about a month now. We deliver exclusively to Springfield.

Also, Amanda, I would be more than happy to incorporate any produce grown in Springfield into the bags that we deliver in the neighborhood. I try my best to incorporate organically grown local produce from farms right here in Jax when its available and would be happy to purchase the produce direct from you all.

If anyone wants more info they can email springfieldorganiccollective@gmail.com

Take care,
Katy D.
904-422-0402

[KatyD]

You can also check us out on FB:

https://www.facebook.com/SpringfieldOrganicCollective

Katy