Re: Community gardener wins mayor's race in Burlington, VT

This reminds me that this week's Question of the Week on my Public Radio show is about community gardens. Not sure how kosher attachments are in this system, so if you want to read it (Adam from Hell's Kitchen is libeled in it; that alone should be worth the price!) go to www.youbetyourgarden.org anytime from late Friday on...
---Mike McG
----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Flint" <jimf@burlingtongardens.org>
To: <community_garden@mallorn.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2006 9:11 AM
Subject: [cg] Community gardener wins mayor's race in Burlington, VT


News release: March 9, 2006

To: ACGA list serv members

From: Friends of Burlington Gardens

Burlington's mayor-elect is rooted in community gardening

State Representative Bob Kiss is the new mayor-elect of Burlington, VT,
receiving 54.4% of votes cast using the city's new Instant Runoff Voting
system. In winning Burlington's first open mayoral contest in 17 years,
Kiss garnered a broad base of support from city residents of diverse
socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. The city has a population of
40,000, with more than 1,500 residents involved in community gardening.

Although outspent 4:1 in the mayor's race, Kiss used a grassroots approach
and a platform of inclusive government to win a come from behind victory.
While all five mayoral candidates affirmed the importance of community
gardens, organic farms, and neighborhood green space, Rep. Kiss offered
a first-hand perspective on sustainable living as a 30-year participant in
the Burlington Area Community Gardens program, sponsored by the
the Burlington Parks and Recreation Department.

Mayor-elect Kiss began community gardening in Burlington in 1974. His first
plot was at the former Cathedral Square garden off Pearl Street. When the
site closed in the mid 1970s, he relocated to the new community garden at
Ethan Allen Homestead. In the early 1980s, Kiss became one of the first
gardeners at the Intervale Community Garden, which was located closer to his
home in the Old North End. He and his partner Jackie Majoros continue to
garden at the Intervale site, which in 1988 was renamed the Tommy Thompson
Community Garden, in honor of the founder of Gardens for All.

Research is currently underway to determine whether there are mayors of other
cities in North America who are active community gardeners. Please email
Jim Flint at jimf@burlingtongardens.org if you have information or a story to
share about the past or present involvement of your city's mayor in community
gardening.

For articles on the mayor's race and photos of Bob Kiss, click on the following links:

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060308/NEWS01/60308003/1001/ARCHIVE (March 8, 2006)

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060309/NEWS01/603090312/1009 (March 9, 2006)

Friends of Burlington Gardens
33 Tracy Drive
Burlington, VT 05401
802.658.5733
www.burlingtongardens.org

______________________________________________________
The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org


To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden@mallorn.com

To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden

______________________________________________________
The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org


To post an e-mail to the list:  community_garden@mallorn.com

To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription:  https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden
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