[Community_garden] Community school gardens in the Farm bill

[Molly McCluer]

They've not yet been appointed.
- Molly

On Dec 18, 2007 11:11 AM, gorbehfarsi at verizon.net <gorbehfarsi at verizon.net>
wrote:

> Would you send us a list of conference committee members please? If
> our members are not on the committee, it probably wouldn't have much
> effect to contact them.
>
> Libby
>
>
>
> On Dec 18, 2007, at 9:41 AM, Jim Flint wrote:
>
> >
> >     To:  Fellow ACGA members
> >
> > From:  Jim Flint, Vermont Community Garden Network
> >
> >     Re:  Senate Farm Bill and school garden amendment
> >
> > Date:  December 18, 2007
> >
> >
> > Dear ACGA Colleagues,
> >
> > Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has included an amendment in
> > the Farm Bill to authorize $10,000,000 to establish a pilot
> > program for community school gardens.
> >
> > The Farm Bill passed the Senate by a vote of 79 to 14 on
> > December 14, with the school garden amendment intact. The Farm
> > Bill is now headed to conference committee where the Senate and
> > House will determine the final version of the bill which goes to
> > the President.
> >
> > Time is now of the essence to ensure that the school garden
> > amendment is included in the final version of the Farm Bill.
> >
> > Letters, emails, and phone calls from ACGA members to their
> > representatives in the House can help make the difference when
> > the House and Senate conferees meet.
> >
> > The key message to communicate is as follows, restated in your
> > own words:
> >
> > "Dear Representative ________________.  Please make sure that
> > the Senate provision in the Farm Bill for setting up a pilot
> > program for community gardening in high-poverty schools is
> > included when the House and Senate conferees meet.  Please
> > support community gardening in schools as a means for learning
> > about agriculture, improving the diet of childrens and youths,
> > and growing healthy food for use in summer nutrition programs."
> >
> > For reference, the text of the school garden amendment is
> > reprinted below. Please take time TODAY to contact your
> > representative in Washington and help to ensure that the school
> > garden amendment stays in the Farm Bill.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > Jim Flint, Executive Director
> > Friends of Burlington Gardens
> > Vermont Community Garden Network
> > 180 Flynn Ave Studio 3
> > PO Box 4504
> > Burlington, VT  05406-4504
> > 802-861-4769
> > www.burlingtongardens.org
> >
> > ______________________________
> >
> > TEXT OF SANDERS AMENDMENT TO THE SENATE FARM BILL AUTHORIZING
> > FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOL GARDENS
> >
> > INCLUDED IN THE HARKIN MANAGER'S AMENDMENT PASSED BY U.S.
> > SENATE - DECEMBER 14, 2007
> >
> > (3) PILOT PROGRAM FOR HIGH-POVERTY SCHOOLS.--
> >     (A) DEFINITIONS.--In this paragraph:
> >
> >     (i) ELIGIBLE PROGRAM.--The term `eligible program' means--
> >
> >     (I) a school-based program with hands-on vegetable gardening
> > and nutrition education that is incorporated into the curriculum
> > for 1 or more grades at 2 or more eligible schools; or
> >
> >     (II) a community-based summer program with hands-on
> > vegetable gardening and nutrition education that is part of, or
> > coordinated with, a summer enrichment program at 2 or more
> > eligible schools.
> >
> >     (ii) ELIGIBLE SCHOOL.--The term `eligible school' means a
> > public school, at least 50 percent of the students of which are
> > eligible for free or reduced price meals under this Act.
> >
> >     (B) ESTABLISHMENT.--The Secretary shall carry out a pilot
> > program under which the Secretary shall provide to nonprofit
> > organizations or public entities in not more than 5 States
> > grants to develop and run, through eligible programs, community
> > gardens at eligible schools in the States that would--
> >
> >     (i) be planted, cared for, and harvested by students at the
> > eligible schools; and
> >
> >     (ii) teach the students participating in the community
> > gardens about agriculture, sound farming practices, and diet.
> >
> >     (C) PRIORITY STATES.--Of the States provided a grant under
> > this paragraph--
> >
> >     (i) at least 1 State shall be among the 15 largest States,
> > as determined by the Secretary;
> >
> >     (ii) at least 1 State shall be among the 16th to 30th
> > largest States, as determined by the Secretary; and
> >
> >     (iii) at least 1 State shall be a State that is not
> > described in clause (i) or (ii).
> >
> >     (D) USE OF PRODUCE.--Produce from a community garden
> > provided a grant under this paragraph may be--
> >
> >     (i) used to supplement food provided at the eligible school;
> >
> >     (ii) distributed to students to bring home to the families
> > of the students; or
> >
> >     (iii) donated to a local food bank or senior center
> > nutrition program.
> >
> >     (E) NO COST-SHARING REQUIREMENT.--A nonprofit organization
> > or public entity that receives a grant under this paragraph
> > shall not be required to share the cost of carrying out the
> > activities assisted under this paragraph.
> >
> >     (F) EVALUATION.--A nonprofit organization or public entity
> > that receives a grant under this paragraph shall be required to
> > cooperate in an evaluation in accordance with paragraph (1)(H).
> >
> >     (G) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.--There is authorized to
> > be appropriated to carry out this paragraph $10,000,000.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one
> > of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the
> > ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://
> > www.communitygarden.org
> >
> > To post an e-mail to the list:
> > community_garden at list.communitygarden.org
> >
> > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription:  http://
> > list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/
> > community_garden_list.communitygarden.org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of
> ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to
> find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org
>
> To post an e-mail to the list:  community_garden at list.communitygarden.org
>
> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription:
> http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org
>
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