The Blog

In November of 2012, the Western New York Environmental Alliance (WNYEA) presented its 2013 Action Agenda. The agenda contains 10 planks from 7 of the Alliance’s Working Groups, all dealing with environmental issues impacting the Western New York Region. To learn more about the Action Agenda items of the WNYEA and their progress, get involved in the Alliance through the Working/Process Group Meetings, signing up for a listserv, or visiting the WNYEA section on GrowWNY. Or continue reading to learn about the latest Growing Working Group meeting.

On Wednesday, May 1, 2013, the Growing Working Group held their regularly scheduled meeting. The key focuses of this meeting were:

• Finish the discussion around 2014 Action Items
• Discuss the group’s attendance and participation and how it can be improved

The group started talking about ideas for 2014 Action Items at the April Meeting. The following ideas were discussed:

Action Goal #2: Inform and mobilize the public, the WYNEA and policy-makers on growing-related policy items.  Ideas for possible objectives to work towards in 2014 and actual work already going on towards this goal:

• Use GrowWNY as a digital resource for growing-related events, issues, etc.
• Cornell Cooperative Extension to host a Food Hub Symposium to share best practices and educate economic development agencies and elected officials.  June 18th, 2013 in Geneva, NY
• Host a farmers market to increase awareness about chronic disease
• Join 596 Acres in NYC in working on NYS bill intended to facilitate better access to vacant public land as a state policy by expanding the authority of the State Office of Community Gardens
• Explore impact of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) on habitat
• Encourage the implementation of the Buffalo Public School District Wellness Policy
• Supporting the Local Farms, Food and Jobs Act before Congress

Action Goal #3: Share resources, educational and marketing opportunities for local food, gardening and farming efforts. Ideas for possible objectives to work towards in 2014 and actual work already going on towards this goal:

• Grassroots Gardens & Urban Roots to host community garden workshops in 2013 and 2014
• MAP to host Urban Agricultural Training in 2013 and 2014
• Encourage the continued sharing of events, through the Growing Group listserv, GrowWNY calendar, and possible texting campaign
• Host an educational event on food hubs geared towards the public

In regards to the meeting attendance, the group talked about other food oriented groups that meet regularly, like the Slow Food Group. They also discussed having an activity or learning workshop for their meetings to increase attendance. The group likes the idea of inviting speakers to their meetings to have mini-presentations during their regularly scheduled meetings.

For a full summary of the meeting, please check the Working Group’s page for the meeting minutes. Minutes from last month’s meeting have been approved and can be found here.

Do you have feedback or suggestions for this group? Tell us in the comment section below, or come to the next meeting on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. in the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Offices in the Larkin at Exchange, 726 Exchange St., Buffalo, NY 14210.