See the news video here.

The Common Ground Program’s goal is to license these properties for the cultivation and sale of plants, herbs, fruits, flowers, or vegetables

By Theresa Freed
News Laurence
November 28, 2011

The city of Lawrence and Douglas county are seeking applications for an Urban Agriculture/Community Garden land use program (Common Ground). Organizers say the request for applications is intended to assist initiatives for the development of urban agriculture and community gardens in the area, increasing local food production, and providing community benefits.

On Monday night, farmers and gardeners filled city hall to ask questions about the program.

[Read more →]

25 years ago, Council chairman Dave Clarke pushed through the “Food Production and Urban Gardens Program Act” of 1986

By Lydia DePillis
Washington City Paper
Dec 16, 2011

Excerpt:

Yesterday, Councilmember and guardian-of-all-things-warm-and-fuzzy Tommy Wells held a marathon roundtable on urban agriculture in D.C., bringing folks from all over the city to describe how they cultivate their gardens. As precious as land is in D.C., there’s actually still a lot of it that could be put to good use—the challenge is securing the right to put down roots.

As it happens, city leaders were aware of this opportunity 25 years ago, when Council chairman Dave Clarke—himself a well-known environmentalist—pushed through the “Food Production and Urban Gardens Program Act of 1986.”

[Read more →]