Congressman Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) introduces the Community Gardens Act of 2009

Inslee introduces bill to promote Community Gardens

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Today, Congressman Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) introduced the Community Gardens Act of 2009 with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.)  The bill creates a grant program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture to compensate community groups for up to eighty percent of the costs associated with starting and maintaining a community garden.

 “Locally, the City of Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods maintains almost two thousand community garden plots on 23 acres of land, which serve almost four thousand urban gardeners in the area,” said Inslee. “With this legislation, we can help programs like the ones in Seattle and at 21 Acres in Woodinville, and we can expand opportunities to all American households to share in the numerous benefits of local gardening.”

“I’ve introduced this bill to help local groups create new community gardens in neighborhoods around the country,” said Inslee.  “Community gardens provide local food sources, strengthen and beautify neighborhoods and let people in urban settings enjoy the benefits of local agriculture.  As a parent, I’m also happy to note that community gardens engage families and children in growing their own vegetables, which studies have shown has increased the willingness of children to eat their veggies.”  said Inslee. 

According to a national study, one million households participated in community gardens in 2008, but an estimated five million households expressed an interest in starting a garden plot near their home. Groups eligible to apply for funds in Inslee’s new grant program include community-development organizations, schools, and state and local governments, among others. By encouraging these groups to construct gardens in their communities, Inslee’s bill will promote nutrition, environmental awareness, and neighborhood development.

Also today, Congresswoman. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) introduced a complementary resolution to designate August as “National Community Gardening Awareness Month.” 

“I support the Community Gardens Act of 2009, as it will help Americans across the country establish new gardens and support those who want to take part in feeding their families and their communities,” said Matsui (D-CA).  “Community gardens are on the rise across the nation as Americans look to shrink their monthly grocery bills, introduce produce and more nutritious foods into their children’s diets, and as a way to create a connection between our communities and the food we feed our families.”

Activities eligible to receive grant assistance include acquisition of interest in real property, construction, community outreach, operations, and any other appropriate activity.  When making grants, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will consider the geographic diversity among grantees and the number of individuals in a local community that are likely to participate in a community garden.

Link to the above press release here.

“Community Gardens Act of 2009”

111th CONGRESS
1st Session

H. R. 3225

• To help provide funds for community gardens, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 15, 2009

• Mr. Inslee (for himself, Ms. Norton, Mr. Blumenauer, Ms. Matsui, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Mr. Conyers, Ms. Bordallo, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Moore of Kansas, Mr. Engel, Ms. Kaptur, Mrs. Maloney, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Carson of Indiana, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Lee of California, Ms. Edwards of Maryland, Ms. Woolsey, and Mr. Cleaver) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

A BILL

• To help provide funds for community gardens, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Community Gardens Act of 2009”.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a program to—

(1) establish community gardens to enhance the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
(2) promote healthy lifestyles; and
(3) educate and train the public on the importance and value of community gardening.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) The term “community garden” means a garden for individuals in a local community.
(2) The term “eligible entity” means—
(A) a non-profit organization;
(B) a public entity;
(C) a community development organization;
(D) a Native American or tribal group;
(E) a technical, educational, or outreach institution;
(F) a State or local government; or
(G) a State or local governmental organization.

SEC. 4. GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY GARDENS.

The Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the “Secretary”) may make grants, with such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines appropriate, to eligible entities for activities under section 6.

SEC. 5. APPLICATIONS.

In order to receive a grant under this Act, an eligible entity shall submit an application in such form and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including the costs associated with a community garden for which the eligible entity will use the grant.

SEC. 6. ACTIVITIES.

An eligible entity that receives a grant under this Act may use that grant to engage in activities to establish, build, or operate community gardens. Such activities may include any or all of the following:

(1) Acquiring any interest in real property.
(2) Construction.
(3) Community outreach.
(4) Operations.
(5) Any other appropriate activity.

SEC. 7. ALLOCATION OF GRANTS.

In making a grant under this Act, the Secretary shall consider the following:

(1) Geographic diversity among grantees.
(2) The number of individuals in a local community that are likely to participate in a community garden.

SEC. 8. GRANT RECIPIENT TO ENSURE TIMELY OPENING OF COMMUNITY GARDEN.

(a) In General.—The eligible entity that receives the last grant made under this Act for a community garden shall ensure that the community garden is operational not later than an opening date that is 2 years after the grant, unless the Secretary provides an exception.
(b) Subsequent Grants To Violators.—The Secretary shall treat as an exception a failure by the eligible entity to ensure that the community garden is operational not later than the opening date if the eligible entity receives a grant under this Act for the community garden on or after the opening date.

SEC. 9. LIMITATION ON USE OF REAL PROPERTY ACQUIRED WITH GRANT.

An eligible entity receiving a grant under this Act that acquires an interest in real property for a community garden using the grant shall ensure that the interest in real property is used for the community garden for a period of not less than 10 consecutive years, beginning on the opening date.

SEC. 10. FEDERAL SHARE OF COSTS.

(a) In General.—A grant under this section may not exceed 80 percent of the costs specified in the application and associated with all community gardens assisted with the grant.
(b) Eligible Entity Contributions.—An eligible entity may cover any of those costs that are not covered by the grant using cash or an in-kind contribution.

The above Bill can be found here.