In 2015
the Sweet Potato Project partnered with three community gardens, one school and
one church. We invited them to grow sweet potatoes that we purchased in the
fall. Due to this effort, 1,500 lbs of sweet potatoes were grown, bought and are
being used to make our sweet potato cookies and packaged meals for St. Louis
University’s department of Nutrition & Dietetics.
In 2016 we
are expanding this effort by inviting at least 25 partner gardeners to join our
mission to increase food-based economic activity in North St. Louis. Reportedly,
there are more than 8,000 vacant lots in the city of St. Louis. We are reaching out to political and
corporate leaders to help us make access to land easier, more affordable and “farm-ready”
for collective members. Our goal is to build a cooperative designed to help our
students, residents, churches and community organizations grow and bring food
to market through a variety of avenues including: the Sweet Potato Project, educational
institutions, farmer’s markets, coffee shops, restaurants and small grocers.
There is a larger
vision at work here: Imagine whole city blocks with young people and residents
owning land and urban farms. Think of the sense of pride and ownership when we
create a North St. Louis brand of valued-added products sold locally,
nationally and online. Neighborhoods can
be transformed with restaurants, bakeries, grocers and other housing and
entertainment operations blossoming from this sustainable food-based effort.
Today, the Sweet
Potato Project wants to build the foundation for this movement by helping
“extraordinary ordinary” people in North St. Louis secure land, grow food,
bring it market and start generating dollars where they live. We invite you to either
become one of the 20 “partner gardeners” and/or help us launch a revolutionary
food movement in North St. Louis.
In 2017
we
plan to recruit at least 75 partner gardeners and create an official neighborhood collaborative where community residents are the majority board members. This
way, low-income adults, our senior students and the community can sustain and
determine the outcome of this powerful endeavor.
Today, the Sweet
Potato Project wants to build the foundation for this movement by helping
“extraordinary ordinary” people in North St. Louis secure land, grow food,
bring it market and start generating dollars where they live. We invite you to either
become one of the 20 “partner gardeners” and/or help us launch a revolutionary
food movement in North St. Louis.
Thanking you in advance, Sylvester Brown, Jr. / Executive Director/SPP
For more information, CLICK HERE
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