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Growing Justice in the City: Urban Agriculture, Cultural Diversity, and Municipal Politics. Teresa Mares Department of Anthropology tmares@u.washington.edu. A Quick History of Urban Agriculture in the US. War Gardens and Victory Gardens During the World Wars.
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Growing Justice in the City:Urban Agriculture, Cultural Diversity, and Municipal Politics Teresa Mares Department of Anthropology tmares@u.washington.edu
A Quick History of Urban Agriculture in the US War Gardens and Victory Gardens During the World Wars
A Quick History..continued (and made more radical!) The 1960s and 1970s: The beginning of guerrilla gardening and the roots of social justice
Current Struggles in Urban Agriculture: The Case of the South Central Farm • South Central Community Garden: Was one of the larger community gardens in the US: 14 acres, 350 families. • Located in a largely poor and working class neighborhood in the South Central area of Los Angeles, CA. • Many of the farmers were low income Latino/a immigrants from Mexico and Central America
Bulldozers and Celebrities: The Protests at South Central • Controversy resulted from conflicting interests among urban developers, the LA city government, and the South Central Farmers Feeding Families over who has the right to the land • Protests by the farmers escalated in March, 2006 when the Farmers received an eviction notice. • Farm was eventually bulldozed in June 2006
Urban Agriculture in Seattle: The Role of Government and Nonprofit Agencies Seattle Department of Neighborhoods P-Patch Program Cultivating Communities Seattle Youth Garden Works Lettuce Link Seattle Tilth
Where Seattle Urban Ag.Comes Together: The Case of Marra Farm • Four-acre organic farm located in South Seattle • Surrounded by industrial production and shipping • Cultivated since early 1900s • Four Gardens: • Lettuce Link Giving Garden • Seattle Youth Garden Works • Mien Community Garden • P-Patch Garden • Recently transitioned into a City of Seattle Park
Diversity and Food Sovereignty at Marra Farm • History of Immigrant Gardeners and Farmers at Marra Farm • Cultivation of Culturally Significant Plants
Politics, Power, and Ownership at Marra Farm • Relationship Between the City of Seattle and Marra Farm in transition as the farm becomes a City Park • Marra Farm Coalition currently managing the farm
Environmental and Social Justice at Marra Farm • Local Food Insecurity- especially in terms of fresh produce • Youth employment and garden-based education