In Markets Journal I've uploaded the draft proposal Nikhil and Sumit submitted to WASH U to support the creation of a new Market in St Louis. I've also uploaded my letter of support!

All best to those students - and to everyone in markets!

Updates as we know more!

...when last we heard from our intrepid undergrads at Wash U they were meeting with community members about the market they want to create...using advice from yours truly, they continued their meetings and drafted a proposal.

They met with Mary Zabriskie who is a member of the board that will judge their grant application - always a good move. She pointed out concerns about finding vendors and foot traffic on Saturday afternoons - when they'd like to have the market. She suggested they investigate further what merchants might sell and how they might capitalize their initial operations.

They needed a faculty sponsor and though they are hard science majors they knew they could use help from another discipline and Mark Rank, a Professor in the Brown School of Social Work at WashU agreed to sponsor them, THANKS MARK.

They also contacted the local Habitat for Humanity chapter and the local street magazine, WhatsUP! Both agreed to help find vendors from their own target population and they suggested other people to contact.

These are the steps one takes - framing the problem in a way others find they can support - and doing the leg work...I supported their application with a letter - we'll see what's ahead!

Recently the city council of Cincinnati, Ohio approved the Cincinnati Farms Motion today, advancing an initiative to lease-out underutilized city-owned parcels for agriculture. See http://www.parkandvine.com/?cat=80 This is of course encouraging news for fans of urban agriculture. Empty lots will become productive, and neighbors will have a place to come together and forge and strengthen a community.

But there are perils and pitfalls that face every new venture, and leasing government land to urban farmers is no exception. This is one lesson to be drawn from "The Garden," a film nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary. http://www.blackvalleyfilms.com/ Directed by Scott Hamilton Kennedy, The Garden tells the story of a 14 acre community garden in Los Angeles, California. In the wake of the 1992 riots, the city let a group, which came to be known as South Central Farmers, farm on a vacant parcel of city-owned land. The farmers put their hearts and souls into the land, turning it into an oasis in a city known more for freeway driving than food growing. But after a decade of farming, the city told the farmers that they would have to leave.

In an earlier blog I told of two students at Wash U in STL who want to start a new market. They will be writing a "social change" grant to their university for support - it's due in one week!

Let me review their progress thus far...Last December (2008) they contacted me for support. During January 2009 they identified an initial location (lovely Lucas Park) and made appointments with various officials. How did that go?

First, they met with Alderwoman Triplett, who represents the district containing Lucas Park. She informed them that Lucas Park was not possible due to political reasons. She did agree that the Market could help the poor and might become a cultural amenity BUT she warned that middle class residents might not see the benefits. She did say she would respond to questions about city regulations.

Thus our intrepid adventurers needed another location - thus they met with Pastor Kathleen Wilder of Centenary Church. She generously offered the use of the Church's front parking lot (pending board approval). She also suggested outreach to potential vendors at the Church and permitted further research of the enviorns...ahhh, the sweet smell of tarmac and the tip tap of friendly feet meeting and greeting!

Here's the new location! (I hope you can see it!)