Resolution 250874

..Title Recognizing October 12th as National Farmer's Day in the City of Philadelphia and celebrating the City Council's efforts to secure urban farms and community gardens for neighborhoods across the City of Philadelphia. ..Body WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia is home to more than 400 urban farms, 70% of them are in high-poverty neighborhoods where the majority of residents are people of color. Many of these community gardens used to be vacant lots that attracted trash and crime until neighbors came together to transform them into beautiful spaces for the good of the neighborhood; and WHEREAS, A University of Pennsylvania study showed that cleaning and greening vacant lots in the highest need neighborhoods reduced crime by up to 29%. Residents of neighborhoods with cleaned and greened lots also reported feeling safer and had up to a 69% decrease in feelings of depression. But despite their benefits, Philadelphia is losing farms, more than a third over the past 25 years. Those that remain are often not owned by the farmers, preventing residents from accessing critical grants that could improve the spaces, soil and environment and denying neighborhoods the security they need to invest in their farms; and WHEREAS, These farms have grown from the ashes of neglect and decay. Neighbors have banded together to remediate soil, plant and harvest crops, and establish farmers' markets in a bid to facilitate access to fresh, healthy foods while nurturing regional food security. Many residents have waited decades to finally have the chance to own the land they've worked for the benefit of their communities; and WHEREAS, Over the past several years, the Philadelphia City Council Office of Councilmember Kendra Brooks has worked alongside farmer-advocates to secure these urban agricultural spaces. Liens have been purchased by the City of Philadelphia, setting the stage for Councilmembers and the Land Bank to protect our neighborhood's community spaces, food supply, and green spaces through supporting the disposition of vacant land to the farmers who have beautified and utilized the spaces; and WHEREAS, Few efforts carry similar combinations of civic engagement, education, community safety through cooperation and trust-building, and food security. Farms have become the backbone of their communities, and are increasingly relied on by families to actualize a healthy and holistic lifestyle; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes October 12th as National Farmer's Day in the City of Philadelphia and celebrating the City Council's efforts to secure urban farms and community gardens for neighborhoods across the City of Philadelphia. FURTHER RESOLVED, That two Engrossed copies of this resolution be presented to Elizabeth Waring and Laurie T. Dow and as evidence of the admiration and respect of this body. ..End