City Gardens Coalition Meeting

Hello! Please consider attending the inaugural City Gardens Coalition meeting May 20th 6pm at the Kingston Point Beach pavilion rain or shine. Share your vision for Kingston City Gardens. See below for more details and please spread far and wide. - Valeria

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

11 May 2010

City Gardens Coalition Meeting Set for May 20

Be a part of a garden democracy. Grow your food, and your community.

Residents, community groups, non-profits, community leaders and anyone who is creating or wants to create community gardens in Kingston as well as shape its policy is encouraged to attend a meeting to form a “City Gardens Coalition” on Thursday, May 20, 2010, 6 p.m. at the Kingston Point Park Pavilion. Attendees can bring a potluck picnic snack. The meeting will be held rain or shine.

The purpose of the coalition is to foster a garden democracy in Kingston that results in the sustainable development of community gardens in Kingston. This initial meeting will serve as a visioning session for the coalition, which will subsequently meet on a monthly basis. Possible goals and activities of this first meeting include: sharing resources and ideas; creating garden skill shares; holding teach-ins and dialogues on food security, local food and direct democracy; coordinating support for each other’s community gardens; and working to shape the policy of community gardens in the City of Kingston and beyond; among other initiatives.

“For thousands of years we have grown food together, creating community and culture alongside healthy food,” said Valeria A. Gheorghiu, a Kingston-based environmental attorney and food justice advocate who is facilitating the meeting on May 20. “It’s time to bring back these traditions through city gardens not just to grow local food for all people, but also to build community by reconnecting with the earth.”

“Organizing around our gardens will foster greater civic participation,” Gheorghiu explained. “As we create a long-term vision, social and policy improvements necessary for food justice, we may naturally address other community needs as they arise. Let's ask ourselves: What can we bring to the table, other than food?”

Currently, there are about 15 community and school gardens in Kingston, and several more proposed. If you participate in any of these gardens, would like to create a new garden or just want to participate in this movement, please consider attending the meeting. Supporting members of the coalition include representatives from the Kingston Land Trust Garden Committee, Master Gardeners from Cornell Cooperative Extension Ulster County, Kingston City Schools, Bard College, and others, including, hopefully, you!

For more information, please contact Valeria A. Gheorghiu at valerialexia@gmail.com or by leaving a message at 845.877.5263.