Join the Long Beach Grows™ real food security coalition to help fight hunger in Long Beach

Long Beach Grows™ is a grassroots organization that promotes food security through urban agriculture. The current food system in Long Beach, particularly as it pertains to local food and real food, really caters to the wealthy of our residents. Long Beach Grows plans to change this.

We are in the midst of one of the worst recessions ever. A recent report prepared by LAANE for the Coalition for Good Jobs and a Healthy Community indicates that one in five Long Beach residents are living in economic hardship and over 50% of our children are living in poverty. HealthyCity.org, an authoritative source of demographic data, indicates that 62.3% - 66.19% of LA county residents cannot afford enough food to eat. The remaining 33.81% - 37.7% remain hungry.

Long Beach Grows recently established the LBGROWS™ Real Food Security Coalition to advocate for a just and equitable food system in Long Beach, and to empower the low income Long Beach communities to establish their own food security, independence and freedom from hunger. The Coalition will work to identify Long Beach’s populations at greatest risk of food insecurity, the reasons for this, the strengths and weaknesses in our food system, and long term solutions to create a future of food security for all. While the main focus of the Coalition is community organizing, outreach may influence positive change on regional, state and national policy and will include reporting and documenting on food issues.

The Coalition will attempt to connect all sectors of the community and local food system.   All Long Beach residents are encouraged to join. Low-income residents who need access to better food are especially welcome. So whoever you are, whether you are rich or poor, an adult or youth, an individual with only personal interests or a community organizer leading a group with a mission, your input and help is wanted. Local growers, environmentalists, non-profit food distributors, grocers, restauranteurs, dieticians,  artisanal food crafters, city employees, big consumers such as Long Beach Unified School District or Long Beach Memorial, all are invited.

The Coalition will assemble at least once a month and is currently scheduled to meet the first Thursday of each month from 6 - 8 PM at the Catalyst space at 430 East 1st Street in the arts district of downtown Long Beach. Mark your calendars. As the Coalition grows, so will the venue.

Spread the word. Join the Coalition today.

Enjoy this? Please share the link and comment below, even if only to say "Hi!"
 
You might also be interested in Donna’s other work as Long Beach Urban Agriculture Examiner, Long Beach Restaurant Examiner, National Food Policy Examiner, National Science News Examiner, and founder and director of Long Beach Grows™.

Copyright © 2011 Donna Marykwas; All rights reserved.

Free produce exchange comes to Long Beach Bluff Park on alternate Saturdays

Produce Exchange Long Beach

Share your excess fruits and veggies this Saturday 9AM at beautiful Bluff Park at Junipero and Ocean Boulevard, overlooking the beach from the park’s high grassy vantage point. Bring a blanket to stay awhile and enjoy meeting other Long Beach gardeners willing to share their fresh and seasonal harvest.

The Produce Exchange is scheduled to continue the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month until the growing season wanes, beginning at 9 AM.  Although it is called an exchange, you are welcome to participate whether or not you are able to contribute to the offerings.

If you garden and are lucky enough to have more than your family and friends can eat, think about sharing your excess here. If your fruit trees bear more than you need, you can prevent waste and protect your trees from being damaged from overly burdened limbs, share your bounty here.

Sarah Rosenberger says “This is a place to connect with your community.” She is a member of Foodscape Long Beach. Sarah organizes their Produce Exchange, something she says “I have dreamed of forever.”

Foodscape Long Beach, founded by Ryan Serrano, is a community group recently adopted, or fiscally sponsored, by the Catalyst Network of Communities. Ryan has 9 years of experience as a landscaper/general contractor replacing lawns with California native plants. He started  Foodscape, a not-for-profit gardening service, to build and maintain food gardens on peoples’ private property. The Foodscape mission is to “foster the culture of local growing, increase community interconnection, and to aid the poor and impoverished.”

Enjoy this? Please share the link and comment below even if only to say "Hi!"

You might also be interested in Donna’s other work as  Long Beach Urban Agriculture Examiner, National Science News Examiner and founder and executive director of Long Beach Grows.

Copyright © 2011 Donna Marykwas; All rights reserved.

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