May 29, 06
Just got this email from Deena Metzger
who is the elder for the Dare community
in Topanga.
Deena's history with socially responsible
protesting goes back to hear early days
at Cal State Northridge, then SFVSC.
I remember here as a teacher fighting
for tenure or something like that.
I was active in our protests around Kent State.
We shut down the campus for a few days.
Deena was a teacher there then.
She wanted to spread the word about this
important work to save a farm in Southern Central LA.
John Quigley, mentioned here,
is an old ally. Daryl Hannah is a recent
Enchanted Garden Member.
I have some personal scary feelings
about that area of town. It definitely needs
a farm like this.
During 1969, as a student at UCLA,
I had a job for the WLCAC,
Watts Labor Community Action C
working with the teens in that neighborhood.
We did farm work.
Glad to see something positive and powerful
is happening here:
Date: Fri, 26 May 2006 19:03:00 -0600
Subject: Help NOW! Julia Butterfly Hill in Tree in S. Central LA/Save S. Central Farm
The organization behind this effort, working with the South Central Farmers, is Trust for Public Land, which is particularly dedicated to saving land in urban areas.... TPL was founded by Huey Johnson, who left the the Nature Conservancy because he saw the importance of also focusing on preserving land in cities.
From: Jim Fournier
Help NOW! Julia in Tree in S. Central LA
Julia Butterfly Is At It Again...South Central LA Tree Sit
Julia Butterfly Hill, Joan Baez, Darryl Hannah and John Quigley on the Scene in South Central LA
As many of you have already heard…she’s at it again! Julia is sitting in a tree along with fellow treesitter, John Quigley and folk singer and activist superstar Joan Baez.
Read on for more info here or at http://www.circleoflife.org, but NOW what you can do is:
1. Go to the FARM NOW for tonight's vigil. For address and info see: http://www.southcentralfarmers.com .
We have heard that tomorrow morning the LA Sheriff's Department will enter the farm and need community support tonight. Please forward this info to anyone you know in Los Angeles.
2. Call Mayor Villaraigosa and tell him that you want the City of Los Angeles to buy the farm back from the developer and give it in perpetuity to the South Central Farmers. (213) 978-0600
3. Make a donation to the South Central Farmers (http://www.southcentralfarmers.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=114&Itemid=32) to help buy back the farm.
Julia is asking for every person to give at least $1 towards this historic farm. Together we can make the difference. Donate NOW at http://www.southcentralfarmers.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's the story:
Just about one week ago, Julia walked into the Circle of Life office and told us that while she hoped it did not come down to the need for her to do direct action to save the South Central Farm in Los Angeles—she would be up in a tree soon if there was a need. On Tuesday, May 23 Julia stationed herself in the “community watchtower”- a 3 story high walnut tree on the 14 acre South Central Farm. She joins in solidarity with 350 poor working class families who use the farm to grow organic food for themselves and their community.
Fourteen years ago, this spot was a wasteland- and in the wake of the 1992 LA uprising then-Mayor Bradley and Doris Block of the L.A. Regional Food Bank made a handshake deal to allow it to be used for a community farm. Today, after thousands and thousands of hours of sweat and labor, the South Central Farm is the largest urban farm in the nation. The 350 families who use the farming plots are low‑income and depend heavily upon the food they grow to feed themselves. In addition to growing food for themselves, the people involved with the community garden hold Farmers' Markets, festivals and other cultural events for the public at large.
In a backroom deal in 1996, the 14 acre farm was offered to a developer at a discount, but the deal was never approved by the City Council. In 2002, the developers sued the City and a settlement was reached giving the farm to the developers for a significantly below-market price. To repurchase the farm, the developer is insisting on over $16 million (they paid just over $5 million for it four years ago) and $6 million has already been raised by the South Central Farmers. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has the ability to pay the rest of selling price from the City budget, or further challenge the original sale. However, he has done neither.
“This is the Promised Land”, community leader Dele Ailemen emphatically stated on the encampment’s first day. “It was land that was promised to this community by the Mayor of Los Angeles after the 1992 uprising.” “It will not be taken away by broken political promises.”
Save the South Central Farm!
THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND HAS SECURED
AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE THE SOUTH
CENTRAL FARM!
The 14-acre South Central Farm, located at 41st and Alameda Streets in South Los Angeles, is thought to
be the largest community garden in the United States. After a contentious three-year land-use battle that
made news around the world, the Trust for Public Land (TPL) has secured an opportunity to save the
Farm. Within the confines of a tentative purchase agreement, TPL hopes to help unify stakeholders and
different sectors of Los Angeles to raise the money necessary to purchase the land.
The community goal is to raise $1 million in less than 30 days, for this we need your help. Los Angeles
must step up to the plate and help save this land. We have the opportunity to eliminate park poverty in
this highly urbanized and semi-industrial neighborhood. We can make permanent and public the
community and cultural benefits of the green oasis created by 360 families as they continue to grow
healthy fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants to supplement their food budgets.
Without the help of donors—both major and modest—the fate of the South Central Farm remains in doubt.
Help us save this important community asset and transform it into a true multi-cultural regional resource
built on the unique relationship between people and the land.
If you would like more information about the project, fundraising or Parks for People-LA, please call Bob
Reid 213.380.4233 x 14 or email at bob.reid@tpl.org or Alina Bokde 213.380.4233 x 27
-Checks should be made payable to “The Trust for Public Land”,
-Please write “South Central Farm” in the memo line of your check
-Include the tear off portion of this flyer with your check.
-All donations are tax deductible, TPL is a 501(3)c non-profit organization.
-Visit the Parks for People website at http://www.tpl.org/p4pla
Yes! I’d like more information about…… Name:___________________________________
_____The Trust for Public Land Address:__________________________________
_____TPL’s Parks for People-LA program _________________________________________
_____The South Central Farm City, State Zip:_____________________________
Phone:___________________________________
_____Yes! I’d like to help fundraise for the email:____________________________________
South Central Farm
Mail checks and information requests to
The Trust for Public Land 3250 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 2003 Los Angeles, CA 90010
Interfaith Vigil:
http://curezone.com/blogs/m.asp?f=92&i=1683