HomeMy WebLinkAboutLocal Food Chapter Chapter LOCAL FOOD
The local food movement is aimed at connecting consumers back to the land, providing fresh
and nutritious food, protecting the environment and supporting the local economy.
Growing Oshkosh is a nonprofit urban farm founded in 2012 with the hopes of bringing fresh,
healthy, local and affordable food to downtown Oshkosh, as well as to local schools, social
service agencies, at-risk neighborhoods and throughout the entire community. They specialize
in sowing, growing and sharing quick-growing, nutrient-dense crops, but it is their educational
mission that is at the core of everything they do, especially their youth education programs.
Their "beyond organic" and sustainability-focused urban farm brings to market thousands of
pounds of food each year and all the food grown in their 14 elementary school gardens are free
to students, families, staff and neighbors.
Objective: (Promote Ilocall food production, salles and consumption.
Policies
Farmland Preservation.
1. Support the preservation of agricultural lands in the city's extraterritorial growth area from
premature conversion of prime farmland to non-agricultural uses.
2. Work with private land owners and developers to provide conservation easements for long-
term local food production.
3. Explore the use of other agricultural and green space preservation programs, such as
Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) and Transfer of Development Rights (TDR), as well as the
use of conservation subdivisions.
4. Partner with the Future Farmers of America and encourage cooperative efforts with schools
in efforts to preserve farmland.
Community Gardens.
1. Partner with the Future Farmers of America, and continue cooperative efforts with area
schools, the University of Wisconsin-Extension and other agencies to provide land, education
and various services for community gardens within the city.
2. Continue offering temporary garden space at Riverside Cemetery.
3. Work with residents to identify and convert vacant or non-developable city-owned lots for
neighborhood food plots and gardens. Neighborhood gardens not only beautify and utilize
unused or blighted property, but also encourage interaction and a sense of ownership in
neighborhoods.
4. Explore the use of acquired lands the City of Oshkosh Redevelopment Authority is land
banking for future redevelopment, for interim neighborhood gardens.
5. Whenever possible, use land-banked sites to reduce the city's costs to maintain these
properties.
Private and Institutional Gardens.
1. Work with Growing Oshkosh Inc. in demonstrating sustainable urban gardening with
greenhouses, aquaculture, and educational outreach to the city schools.
2. Partner with University of Wisconsin-Extension, Fox Valley Technical College and other local
organizations to prepare a brochure related to setting up an urban food plot within applicable
city/county regulations.
Sustainable Gardening Practices.
1. Partner with the University of Wisconsin Extension and other groups in promoting best
practices to protect people, water, and wildlife through workshops and printed materials.
2. Work with local education institutions to support the establishment of a demonstration
community garden to illustrate sustainable practices and provide tours and educational
opportunities for the community.
3. Promote the urban chickenkeeping ordinance for single and two family residential uses.
4. Promote the urban beekeeping ordinance and educate residents on urban beekeeping.
Greenhouses.
1. Encourage local greenhouses to implement organic and environmentally sensitive methods.
2. Consider working with greenhouses to donate starter plants for community food plots in
mixed-to-low income neighborhoods.
3. Ensure the zoning ordinance facilitates establishment of greenhouses in residential as well as
other districts.
Municipal Code Revisions.
1. Revise the zoning ordinance to address community gardens as permitted or conditional land
uses in all zoning districts.
2. Support the creation and implementation of ordinances that permit responsible composting.
Local Food Sales
1. Support establishment of neighborhood markets.
2. Continue to support the Oshkosh Farmers Market in downtown and South Park locations.
3. Continue to support food sales from stands and trucks within current city, county and state
regulations.
4. Work with the groups who are interested in establishing a food co-op at a downtown
location.
Public Events.
1. Promote locally grown/produced goods at public events held in Oshkosh.
2. Offer incentives to local producers such as discounted vendor licenses and permits.
3. Promote use of biodegradable food service products such as disposable utensils and plates at
all public events.
Food Education.
1. Employ the city's sustainability website and media services to provide opportunities for
citizens to learn about the importance of growing, preserving and buying local and organic
food, local food safety, (such as advisories on mercury in Winnebago fish), and reducing
greenhouse gas emissions by eating lower on the food chain (vegetarian).
2. Work to expand educational opportunities through the library, schools, University of
Wisconsin-Extension, greenhouses, local media and other available educational outlets.
3. Develop a best-practices brochure for composting.
4. Encourage the use of recyclable bags for food shopping, and reusable straws and utensils for
food consumption.