The
South Central Farmers are a group of people who have cultivated 14 acres of land in the middle of Los Angeles, California, growing food for aprox. 360 families.
Once destined to be a place for the city's waste incinerator, the city abandoned that idea after much protest. The land, which originally was obtained by the city under eminent domain to build the incinerator, now set it aside for the urban garden in 1992.
The property was sold to Ralph Horowitz in 2002 for just over 5 million dollars.
Mr. Horowitz wants to build a warehouse there. So the farmers must leave.
For the full story, click the above link and also
Circle of Life Home page where it talks about Julia Butterfly Hill and her recent tree sit in the walnut tree on the farm standing in solidarity with the farmers and other celebrities like Darryl Hannah & Danny Glover.
The land owner will sell the farmers the land, but for $16,000,000. (nice profit)
The following is taken from the farmer's website:
Accomplishments by the South Central Farmers:
1. When Michael flood and the food bank turned their backs on the poor
people of South Central. It was the South Central Farmers that
protested, marched, and attended city council meetings. In this process they were able to keep the garden open and
challenge the city on the sale of the property. The food bank had an opportunity to place its expensive lawyers on the
issue but they chose instead to fight against them and they continue to fight us.
2. The South Central Farmers began a process of
eliminating the corruption and self-serving attitudes that the agents of the food bank had fostered for over 11 years. This
included cronism, nepotism, and extornsion. In direct violation of the permit given by the city the agents of the food bank
and the food bank allowed the sale of plots to poor families. The prices began from 250 all the way up to 1000 dollars per
plot. This was horrendous. The SCFs have been attempting to remove these elements from the community garden.
3. In Feb 15, 2004, the SCF had a general assembly where two leaders were chosen democratically. The rules for
governing the community garden were discussed and the type of democracy was also decided, Majority rule. From then
on the leadership was given certain executives privileges always governed by the consensus of the community.
4. From that time on the community garden and its rules have been governed by the participatory membership of the
South Central farmers. They chose which rules they wanted to be governed by and how transgressions should be dealt
with.
5. SCFs have developed community leaders from the community garden. Some of our members have become members
of the local neighborhood councils. Some our farmers have also been encouraged to become Master Gardeners. Some
of our Farmers have developed their own economic development. One farmer currently rents 6 acres elsewhere and has
developed his own distribution system.
6. SCFs have developed opportunities for community members. We have developed the monthly farmers market.
7. The SCFs have addressed the needs of the women membership by providing them the space to have their own
cooperative space where only women work.
8. We have sustained City Council attendance, twice a week, only matched by the anti-war movement of the sixties.
9. We have developed the spiritual needs of the community by providing a monthly catholic service and a monthly
Christian service. This helps to
address the needs of the community.
10. We provide an avenue for up and coming bands during our yearly anniversary celebration. We have had two of them
and have showcases many up and coming community bands.
11. SCFs maintain an abundant and resilient seed stock that is grown in the community garden.
12. The SCFs have brought traditional Aztec dancers and ceremonies that resonate the cultural traditions of the people
who grow food.
Send letters of support to the following :
Antonio Villaraigoza
Honorable Mayor of Los Angeles
200 North Spring Street, Room 303
Los Angeles, CA 90012
mayor@lacity.org
