“Unity will come to local farming, and prosperity will come to the local economy” Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges said in her remarks at the Third Annual Homegrown Minneapolis Open House last Wednesday. The mayor added that “the thoughtfulness and consideration of all of you here helps make sure that everyone can do better, now and in the future.”
The meeting, in the Cedars Hall of St. Maron church, attracted over 200 people, who also heard moderator Russ Henry (HM Food Council co-chair), 3rd Ward City Council member Jacob Frey, and 2nd ward City Council member Cam Gordon speak. Council member Gordon noted that “There has been a breakthrough in how we see the culture of food production and distribution, and we now have bureaucrats and activists sitting down together to help formulate food policy.”
Council member Frey said there are over 700 empty residential parcels in the city and “even after accounting for sales for revenue, there are many potential new community gardens waiting to be utilized.”
The event was made possible by more than thirty sponsors and partners, including City Departments, and fifteen local organizations which had information tables in the hall, ranging from Youth Farm, a Twin Cities youth-leadership organization serving over 800 young people who cultivate local public gardens and sell their produce, to The Beez Kneezs, a collective for local “hive partners,” bee education (apiology) and honey production. Homegrown Minneapolis, and its board, the Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council, are part of the City’s Sustainability Office. Continue Reading
