Understandably suspicious eyes closely watched us as we arrived. Once inside the chain link fence, gratitude welcomed us in the form of nods and a basket of pinnable green ribbons in honor to the Farm. Police also valiantly made themselves known from the air above with their loud helicopters and annoying flashlights. We raised our candles in greeting to them. Musicians strummed, speakers inspired, a woman shared a prayer along with warm home-made bread, and tree sitters Julia Butterfly Hill, John Quigley, Daryl Hannah and Joan Baez sat in the tree above offering themselves as bait to attract media. An encampment of approximately forty tents have also silently made their message seen for the past three weeks. The largest urban community garden in the United States-South Central Farm has provided nourishment and peace to a community of thousands for 14 years. The farm now humbly offers its earth as a glaring example against development, globalization, apathy, and greed.
It takes a community. How you can help:
With your presence:
http://la.indymedia.org/news/2006/05/159781.php Write a letter:
www.southcentralfarmers.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=25
With a refundable & tax deductible donation: www.southcentralfarmers.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=114&Itemid=32
About the South Central Farm from www.southcentralfarmers.com:
Since 1992, the 14 acres of property located at 41st and Alameda Streets in Los Angeles have been used as a community garden or farm. The land has been divided into 360 plots and is believed to be one of the largest urban gardens in the country.
The City of Los Angeles acquired the 14-acre property by eminent domain in the late 1980s, taking it from nine private landowners. The largest of these owners, Alameda-Barbara Investment Company (“Alameda”), owned approximately 80 percent of the site. The partners of Alameda were Ralph Horowitz and Jacob Libaw. The City originally intended to use the property for a trash incinerator, but abandoned that plan in the face of public protest organized by the community.
As part of the eminent domain proceedings, the City granted Alameda a right of first refusal if, within 10 years, the City determined that the parcel formerly owned by Alameda was no longer required for public use.
