LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – This spring, the City of Lincoln is making a push for local gardening, encouraging residents to grow food locally and share it with the community.
On Wednesday, Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird announced the DIY Home Gardening Initiative, also called the “Growing and Sharing Campaign,” which she marked with a city proclamation.
Gaylor Baird noted that Lincoln currently eats around 1.5 million pounds of food every day, with 90% of that being sourced outside of Nebraska.
“We are here to inspire Lincolnites of all ages to get outside, to grow their own food, to help increase food security in our community, to share food with neighbors and to contribute to the health and sustainability of this city,” she said.
Another step in the initiative is the city’s Urban Garden Policy Proposal, which would change municipal code to allow homeowners to sell produce grown onsite.
That proposal was approved by the planning commission earlier this month and is headed for a city council hearing on Monday at 3 p.m.
Also part of the effort to boost local growing is Family Service Lincoln, which is partnering with the city’s libraries to offer access to garden space through the Community Crops program.
“Community gardens are also a great way to learn from our neighbors, exchange ideas and produce, and grow our skills with each other in community,” director Megan McGuffey said.
McGuffey added that expanding access to local food supports the city’s Climate Action Plan to make Lincoln more sustainable and resilient.
Quentin Brown, executive director of Educare, said that local growing not only boosts Lincoln’s independence, but helps to alleviate hunger by ensuring access to quality food.
“And what that does for us is it builds a sense of community,” he said. That is indeed what Lincoln is about, we are one big family, one big community.”
He continued that it only takes a little to add to Lincoln’s food supply.
“When you build your garden, go out and plant an extra row, make an extra pot, put an extra something on the windowsill, do something to extend your garden even if it’s one little square foot,” Brown said.
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