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Many
official types like data, i.e. hard facts about what it will really do, how much
bang for the buck etc.
The emotional or aesthetic appeal is also important to
include, but may be lost on some.
Issues that may catch the ear of
officials:
- Savings on municipal waste by getting gardeners to compost organic
material vs. throw it out.
- Financial benefit to low income folk by growing their own
ORGANIC produce (btw, organic produce has been proven nutritionally superior
to conventional).
- Health care cost benefit if gardeners improve their health
by eating fresh from the garden.
- Cost reduction to police/fire dept./hospitals since vacant
land reclaimed by community gardeners reduces crime/violence, and gives
children a place to learn community values, rather than criminal
values.
- Other benefits to city's well-being as residents and
children learn OWNERSHIP and ACCOUNTABILITY for the well being of their
city.
- Potential for economic development: produce stand, garden
center, value added products, horticulture/landscaping job
training.
The list could go on and on (which proves how AWESOME
gardening is for the world. Wake up and smell the compost,
folks!).
Best wishes and
Happy Gardening!
-----Original
Message-----
From: community_garden-admin@mallorn.com
[mailto:community_garden-admin@mallorn.com]On Behalf Of
jennifergiustino
Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2000 7:20 PM
To:
community_garden@mallorn.com
Subject: [cg] Please
help
Greetings-
I am writing from Forest Park,
Illinois. I would like to know how best to approach my village
government about starting a community garden program. Currently we do
not have one, but I think such a program could add a great deal of vitality
to our community as well as merge a wide range of ethnicities, races and
classes. We do have some public parks and of course there is a
business district, where even a potted display of flowers would not hurt the
eye. Do you have any suggestions about how I might be able to approach
my local government or how I could arm myself with information and
credibility? Any suggestions you have would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Jennifer Giustino
(708)
366-2947
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