Happy Day AgLanta Grows-a-Lot Supporters,
Thank you for attending AgLanta Eats hyper-local food festival on Monday at the majestic Atlanta Botanical Garden! We had over 950 participants turn out in support of the AgLanta Grows-a-Lot program, and together we raised more than $32,000 to support conversion of vacant lots in low-food access areas to urban farms and gardens in the City of Atlanta. That is HUGE!!!
We couldn't have done it without your support and all the time, effort, and resources given by the Atlanta Botanical Garden staff, as well as our participating chefs, farmers, volunteers, sponsors, and partners - many thanks to each and every one of you! While we count this event as a great success in many ways, especially in terms of building community support around Atlanta's local food system, we fell short of our $50,000 fundraising goal.
You have already done so much, but there are several ways that you can go even further to help us reach our goal and ensure that the AgLanta Grows-a-Lot program will grow and thrive over the coming year. Please lend your support in one or more of the following ways:
Bid in our silent auction, which includes items ranging from $50 Whole Foods Market gift cards starting at $20 to a brand new Extra Large Big Green Egg Package valued at $1,790 that is starting at only $1,000! See all the prizes that you can win at:https://www.accelevents.com/e/AgLantaEats#Auction
Make a tax-deductible donation to our campaign in support of the AgLanta Grows-a-Lot program - all money raised will be used to fund our Urban Agriculture Program Coordinator position and cover soil testing and liability insurance for the farm and garden sites. Donate at: https://donorbox.org/aglanta-grows-a-lot
Please contact us if you would like to discuss alternative ways to support the AgLanta Grows-a-Lot program, such as through individual or company donations of program funding, in-kind support, and/or volunteer labor. We are open to a variety of ways of collaborating to help expand and enhance Atlanta's urban food system. Contact groundworkatlanta@gmail.com!
Thank you again for your support! Here are a couple more ways that you can continue cultivating Atlanta's local food movement:
AgLanta Grows-A-Lot Program:
The AgLanta Grows-A-Lot program, run by Groundwork Atlanta and the Mayor’s Office of Resilience, makes vacant properties owned by the City of Atlanta and Georgia Power available to urban farmer and community gardeners to put the land to productive use. The initiative aims to address issues of food access, environmental sustainability, and community development.
The lots are available for a 5-year lease with an option to renew for three more years. A total of 25 acres across the city, each site will grow fresh, healthy food and create economic opportunity for residents of the City of Atlanta. Sites are located throughout the city, including Campbellton, Bolton Road, Vine City, Venetian Hills, and Morningside.
Mayor’s Office of Resilience:
The Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Resilience works to make the City of Atlanta more resilient to the physical, social, and economic challenges that are a growing part of the 21st century. The office will work with farmers and garden teams on their site plans, and have raised money to provide fencing and a water meter for each property.
Groundwork Atlanta:
Groundwork Atlanta’s mission is to bring about the sustained regeneration, improvement and management of the physical environment by developing community- based partnerships that empower people, businesses, and organizations to promote environmental, economic, and social well-being. They have tested the soil at each site to ensure it is safe to grow food, and will provide on-going consultation for growers utilizing each site.
