A modest proposal: community "plant banks"

[Pab Sungenis]

In the recent thread about the Penny Project (here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9117865 ) rucognizant made some valid points about how the quality of food available at food banks tends to be on the unhealthy side because that's all they can afford to buy. (There was a quote somewhere that "there aren't many coupons for produce" as an example.)

The food bank has always been one of my favorite charities. (It's a close tie between that and literacy projects.) When I could afford to give I always donated a buck or two at the checkout each time for the local food banks, and participated in the donations here at DU for America's Second Harvest. But rucognizant is right that we ought to be doing something about improving the quality of food eaten by the poor, not only making sure they can get food to eat.

"ru"'s comments about World War II victory gardens gave me an idea. Why not get together a group of like-minded individuals to collect and donate seeds? Collect seeds for any fruit or vegetable that will grow in your area. Start little pots inside your house during the winter and by spring you'll have plants ready to go.

Once you have seedlings there are a number of ways you could go about making good with them. You could plant them in your own garden. (And if you don't have a garden rip out a flower bed or a patch of lawn to make one.) Then whatever you grow that you can't eat (and trust me, you will grow more than you can use) can be donated to the local food pantry.

Or, better yet, if you and other volunteers can grow enough seedlings, start a local "plant bank" of sorts, where you offer these seedlings (along with information or help on how to plant and cultivate them) to the poor in your area. Get the poor and the hungry growing some of their own food, and healthier food than they're likely to get at a food pantry.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Could it work? Could some of the more organized among us start setting something like this in motion?

(ET change subject to differentiate between the concept and existing "seed bank" projects to preserve seeds for emergencies.)

[H2O Man]

1. Great idea.

Definitely recommended.

[ixion]

2. I'm am all for organizing at the community level

that's where it's most effective.

[SpiralHawk]

3. The k and the r

Extraordinary Circumstances Raise the Specter of Higher Food Prices & Famine

"...Perceiving that there are critical months ahead for the cost of food in general and the prospect of famine in particular, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has summoned the world’s grain experts to an ‘extraordinary’ session in Rome to address questions of global food supply. The emergency meeting is set for September 24..."

http://thecalloftheland.wordpress.com/

[SpiralHawk]

4. How to start a community seed bank

lots of info on this from The Google

"Community seed banks preserve seeds for future use to ensure that we don't lose species of flowers, fruits and vegetables. They also help restore crops after a severe drought, disease or insect infestation. Both farmers in undeveloped countries and home gardeners can benefit greatly from a good seed bank. It saves them from having to repurchase seed at a high cost when a crop fails."

Read more: How to Start a Community Seed Bank | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2270999_start-community-seed-bank.html#ixzz0zJqWoS1q

[Pab Sungenis]

5. Not quite what I was talking about.

I wasn't talking about preserving seeds as much as providing seedlings to people to grow their own vegetables. I was looking for a term analogous to "food bank."

Original subject line changed because I thought of a different term that wasn't in conflict with the existing concept.

[SpiralHawk]

6. oh well, no seeds, no seedlings

Your excellent idea seems like it would be a natural extension out of the existing activities of a community seed bank (not that there are many of those extant).

Onward...

[mopinko]

7. a community orchard

my ward, on the far north side of chicago, has a group called the green corp. they do all kinds of small projects, like getting reusable grocery bags, and giving them to some of the small store owners. after they get to the end of the free ones, a lot of them got their own made. they also helped them get other bags that used recycled plastic. just all kinds of greens stuff.

so, one of their projects is to improve the permaculture of the neighborhood, and they are talking about a community orchard. it is a bit complicated, and they are still trying to work out things like harvesting the fruit- who can do it, who is liable for a ladder fall, etc. they just tried to get bank of america to let them plant fruit trees on a lot next to one of their branches, but they failed to get their permission. (although they did let them plant trees on the lot.)

we have a great many homeless and otherwise struggling folks here. it would be a great thing for the hood. i hope they get it worked out. anyone with tips or resources about this, i will make sure they get passed around.