Urban Agriculture: Rediscovering Roots

REDISCOVERING ROOTS Acknowledgements I II III IV V The completion of this report would not have been possible, nor nearly as comprehensive, without the support of many of Savannah’s institutions and community organizations. As a special recognition, this projects recognizes the following entities for their cooperative spirit and contributions: The Harambee House Healthy Savannah University of Georgia Agricultural Extension– Chatham County The Savannah Urban Garden Alliance Forsyth Farmer’s Market and its Retailers NLaws Produce The Savannah Food Council The Savannah Local Food Collaborative Ms. Jen Drey And The City of Savannah’s Mayor’s Office Although recognized through recognition of the MPC, this project also extends thanks to all MPC staff who provide aid throughout the creation of this document Cover Photo Credits (from left to right): http://www.landscaping-ideas-for-gardening.com; http://t1.gstatic.com/images? q=tbn:ANd9GcRvcfMZ7c81olzGnqdX6ftJcRh4ecVIM13jFzK5OIVUDoTbPGH; http://www.tastehongkong.com Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission 2 Rediscovering Roots | 2011 Table of Contents I II III IV V Section I: PRIMER Section III: Food System Planning in Savannah Executive Summary 4 History of Food Planning in Savannah 18 Vision, Goals, and Objectives 6 1734 to 1799: The Oglethorpe Plan 1800 to 1855: Savannah’s Gilded Age Food System Planning Defined 8 1856 to 1915: The End of the Cotton Kingdom 1916 to 1993: Urban Decay and Suburban Growth 1993 to Present: The Beginning of Conservation Section II: Past and Current Trends in Food Planning Metro Savannah’s Existing Food System 21 Historical Trends of Food System Planning in the United States 9 Section IV: Recommendations Food System Planning Today and Tomorrow 11 Recommendations 29 Food System Planning Case Studies 13 Implementation Timeline 34 Zoning Vacant Lot Leasing Food System Policy Section V: Reference Materials Local Food Procurement Policy Literature Cited 37 Farmer’s Market Regulations Appendix A: Case Study Legislation A1 Appendix B: Case Study Vacant Lot Leases B1 Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission 3 Rediscovering Roots | 2011 Executive Summary I II III IV V Until recently, food system planning has not been within the plots on the outskirts of the City assigned to every residential purview of urban planners. The global food supply system lot. Unlike food system planning in many parts of the country, largely by-passed urban areas, except in industrial zones where where it is an addition to traditional planning, food system food processing is not noticeably different from other industrial planning in Chatham County is a return to the traditions of the processes. The dependence of the food system on fossil fuel City. and the failure of markets to address the needs of low-income families are the primary reasons that urban planners, particular- Rediscovering Roots: A Food System Planning Policy Initiative ly those charged with comprehensive and long-range plan- for Chatham County and Savannah, Georgia includes a defini- ning, now consider food security as a fundamental responsibil- tion of a food desert and a description of the existing food de- ity of the planning profession. serts in the City. It contains the following recommendations for the local governments, businesses, and community organiza- The adverse impacts of the market-based, industrial food sys- tions: tem fall disproportionally on low-income neighborhoods. Ac- cess to fresh produce and unprocessed meat, fish and dairy Local Government products is limited in many areas because of cost. A “food desert” is a new term in the planning lexicon and refers to an ar- Establish a vacant lot leasing program ea where primary access to food is by fast-food restaurants, Streamline the process of establishing farmer’s markets convenience stores and small grocers stocking processed, Lobby state legislators to allow a composting program with- packaged food with an extended shelf life. in a municipal landfill by right Update the City’s and County’s animal control ordinances In Savannah, food system planning was prominent in James Facilitate the establishment of a produce grocer in west Oglethorpe’s conception of the colony. The Oglethorpe Plan Savannah includes provisions for livestock on urban squares and garden Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission 4 Rediscovering Roots | 2011 Executive Summary I II III IV V Local Business Develop a local agricultural product brand Develop a local agricultural product processing and distribution system Community Organizations Establish a local agriculture database Create a Guide to Urban Agriculture on a Shoestring Budget Create an Eat Local Savannah cookbook This column is intentionally blank Establish a Farmer’s Market in west Savannah Each of the above recommendations includes the role of planning staff in the implementation process. Implementation Timeline The recommendations include the establishment of a Govern- ment Task Force, a Business , Task Force, and a Community Or- ganization Task Force with specific duties for each and a timeline indicating completion of tasks within three years. Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission 5 Rediscovering Roots | 2011 Vision, Goals, and Objectives I II III IV V Vision: To provide the governmental administration and Goal: Increase the rate at which agricultural commodities leadership needed to ensure that the citizens of produced in Chatham and surrounding counties are sold within Savannah always have access to the fresh, nutritious, Chatham County. competitively priced food needed for regular, long term social development. Objective: Draft and propose revisions of City policy in or- der to streamline the process of establishing farmer’s mar- Goal: Increase the productivity of agribusiness within Chatham kets. and surrounding counties Objective: Create and administer a taskforce comprised of local food distributors, grocers, restaurateurs, and other Objective: Coordinate the activities of local food advoca- food industry businesspersons to discuss, design, and pro- cy groups to generate a local agricultural information database pose a processing, packaging, and distribution hub for agricultural commodities grown in Chatham and surrounding Objective: Draft and propose revisions of city policy so as to…. counties. establish a leasing program for urban farms and Objective: Create and administer a taskforce of local agri- community vegetable gardens on vacant city- owned lots cultural producers to discuss, design, and propose a co- permit beekeeping by right within the city limits operative branding group for agricultural commodities increase the maximum of chickens , rabbits, and grown in Chatham and surrounding counties. ducks allowable by right within the city limits Objective: Work with Savannah’s representatives in the Georgia General Assembly to alter state policy so as to establish a composting center at Savannah’s municipal gar- bage dump Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission 6 Rediscovering Roots | 2011 Vision, Goals, and Objectives I II III IV V Goal: Increase the rate at which the citizens of Savannah and Chatham County consume fresh, sustainably produced Objective: Create and administer a taskforce of local food agricultural products advocacy groups to discuss, design, and propose a farmer’s market in west Savannah. Objective: Coordinate the activities of local food advoca- Objective: Create and administer a taskforce of local agri- cy groups, restaurateurs, and other food industry business- cultural producers, food distributors, and community wel- persons to discuss, design, and propose a cookbook em- fare advocates to facilitate the incorporation of agricultural phasizing the use of agricultural commodities grown in commodities grown in Chatham and surrounding counties Chatham and surrounding counties. into the buying schedules of Savannah’s soup kitchens and Objective: Create and administer a taskforce of local agri- shelters. cultural producers, food distributors, and administrators Objective: Draft and propose revisions of City policy in or- from the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System der to make the establishment of small grocery stores in to facilitate the incorporation of agricultural commodities west Savannah simpler and more transparent. grown in Chatham and surrounding counties into the Sa- vannah-Chatham County Public School System’s meal program. Goal: Increase the availability of fresh, nutritious food in Savannah’s low income areas Objective: Work with the University of Georgia Agricultural Extension service to develop a guidebook for urban agricultural in low income, inner-city areas. Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission 7 Rediscovering Roots | 2011 Food System Planning Defined I II III IV V In simplest terms, food system planning is the process References American Planning Association. (2007) Policy Guide on Community through which planners and city administrators utilize municipal and Regional Food Planning. Retrieved from http:// resources to support the provision of healthy, nutritious food to www.planning.org/policy/guides/adopted/food.htm the general public (Pothukuchi & Kaufman 1999; American Donald, B. (2008) Food Systems Planning and Sustainable Cities and Regions: The Role of the Firm in Sustainable Food Capitalism. RE- Planning Association [APA] 2007). Considered as one of the GIONAL STUDIES, 42:9, 1251-1262. most basic public requirements,

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