FW: Please help

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1. Savings on municipal waste by getting gardeners to compost organic material vs. throw it out.
2. Financial benefit to low income folk by growing their own ORGANIC produce (btw, organic produce has been proven nutritionally superior to conventional).
3. Health care cost benefit if gardeners improve their health by eating fresh from the garden.
4. 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.
5. Other benefits to city's well-being as residents and children learn OWNERSHIP and ACCOUNTABILITY for the well being of their city.
6. Potential for economic development: produce stand, garden center, value added products, horticulture/landscaping job training.

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