permaculture

["Robert Waldrop" <bwaldrop@cox.net>]

This is terrible news for all concerned about the 
Earth.

Please help save the South Central LA Urban Farm!

There are 14 acres of property in South Central LA 
that have been used since 1992 as a community 
garden.  It is thought to be the largest urban 
community garden in the nation.  350 families have 
plots there.  Through a series of political 
shenanigans, the City decided to sell the 
property, and apparently a Wal Mart warehouse will 
be built on the land.  The farmers organization 
has been served with an eviction notice dated 
March 1, 2006, giving them until Monday March 6 at 
the close of business.  The group is asking people 
to contact the mayor of Los Angeles and ask for 
city intervention on behalf of the farmers.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa   Email: 
mayor@lacity.org Phone: (213)978-0600
You can contact the group directly at

southcentralfarmers@yahoo.com

There is a lot more information, including 
pictures and more history of the group, also news 
of rallies in the Los Angeles area, at

http://www.southcentralfarmers.com/

http://www.southcentralfarmers.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=9
or  http://tinyurl.com/rt54f

Please pass this news on to others.

Bob Waldrop
www.bobwaldrop.net

Here is a snip from the group's website:

> From the group's website:
Since 1992, 14 acres of property located at 41st 
and Alameda Streets in Los Angeles have been used 
as a community garden.  The land has been divided 
into 360 plots and is believed to be one of the 
largest urban gardens in the country.  The City of 
Los Angeles acquired the 14-acre property by 
eminent domain in the late 1980s, taking it from 
nine private landowners. . . The City originally 
intended to use the property for a trash 
incinerator, but abandoned that plan in the face 
of public protest. . . In 1992, the City set aside 
the 14-acre site for use as a community garden. In 
1994, the City transferred the property by 
ordinance to its Harbor Department. When it 
received title to the property, the Harbor 
Department contracted with the Los Angeles 
Regional Foodbank to operate the property as a 
community garden, the Foodbank has been operating 
it as such since then.