Sunday, June 11, 2006 – SOUTH CENTRAL FARM –

Willie Nelson paid a visit to the farm today. The farmers gave him tours of their plots. After which Willie Nelson gave a short press conference and expressed his support for the farmers and the fight to save the farm. He said that his organization Farm Aid would help in working to find ways to keep the farmers on their land.

Here are some photos

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Visit 111th Place and Avalon in Watts, CA to talk to the original farmers?
Over 270 farmers were thrown out by Rufina Juarez and Tezozomoc.

The issue is not about issues the farmers may or may not have between each other. That is their business and has no bearing on the real issue of saving the open space at 41st and Long Beach. JT is trying to create a wedge issue to distract and divide support for the farm. It will not work.

Smaller parcels of land elsewhere have been suggested by the city but that is not the fight. The farm is site specific. The fight is to save that piece of land at that location in its entirety. There is a master plan for the site that will include two acres for a soccer field and a community center. The farm will be open to all. There is already a waiting list for plots.

It's great that Willie Nelson came out to help save South Central Farm. Thanks, Willie! My partner Susan and I were there in early June, too. What a beautiful land, overflowing with 14 years of loving effort.

We came to South Central because we were also trying to protect farms in LA County - those in Malibu. Susan lives on what used to be Chico's Farm, the first organic farm in Malibu, and the last coastal property in LA County that has never been pesticided, according to our research. Chico's Farm served the community from the 1920s into the 80s, when Chico died. Then four acres, the farm had fields of wildflowers and wild artichokes, avocado, olive, citrus and mulberry, fig & date trees, as well as cultivated vegetables. To this day there are rare and exotic plants, though many have died. The owners plan to destroy the land and put up a concrete mansion and music studio, and want Susan off it so that she can't protect or care for it. They even locked away the hoses so that she can't water it. But spirit runs deep; and there is still a little time left to save this virgin, fertile land.

Chico's Farm was the inspiration for Vital Zuman Organic Farm, run by Alan Cunningham. This farm is on PCH just northwest of Kanan Road and across from Point Dume. Alan's brothers have been running ads in the local paper trying to sell the beautiful and productive land to developers.

All up the CA coast, the breadbasket of the US, farms are being sold out to development. If you would like to know how to help, please write to Steve Sugarman, Steve@IHCenter.org. Please also download and enjoy the short music-video at www.TributeToJohnLennon.com/pages/private.html.