So far, Alleycat Acres total in Seattle set up three small farms.
These farms not only for neighboring residents see this source of food, and help people to find "urban communities" means. The three farms are located in the residential area of the city, rather than in the suburbs or the country. Between one of the farms in Columbia Street and Cherry Street, the other two are located at Route 22 and route 24.
Scott MacGowan is the founder of Alleycat Acres, one of his main areas of work are education projects as well as existing and future farm logistics.
"We need a culture shift," MacGowan said that "people need to grow more food and need more to neighbors get together, need more sharing of resources; we must find ways to turn traditional farming ways back. Through consultation, and private landowners to idle land into farms, Alleycat Acres are doing these things. ”
Now, Alleycat Acres with three farms, each including two or three empty houses block. Each farm has two management: the Steering Committee including Alleycat Acres, also includes community farm is located.
"We are not going to impose a pattern to the residents of our communities," MacGowan said that "one of our basic principles is the need to encourage community residents, was direct participation by community residents. ”
Through community meetings, feedback and volunteer needs, Alleycat Acres to form a public green space.
Alleycat Acres per farm has a Manager from the local community, they run the farm work planting and harvesting, thus each quarter receive a subsidy. Managers in May to September every week need to organize "work party" to harvest crops.
After volunteering in a familiar farm, you can at any time to work on the farm. Volunteers can harvest the crop they need at any time, without having to meet the "x hours of service to receive free food" like conditions. All the farm output is completely free, and anyone can come in and take what they need. This open door policy does not pose a problem, but contributed to the generation of ownership and teamwork. Usually harvested crop oversupply, which will be donated to the local food bank.
Alleycat Acres in three farms, there are two included beekeeping. By working with Urban Bee company,
Alleycat Acres Farm in hives not only produces food, and urban communities of adults and children with access to education opportunities. (Note: Urban Bee Company is Seattle the other grass-roots organizations, focusing on beekeeping in the city, their 2009 starts from a resident's backyard two hives now contains 16 different locations of partners, which include 5 community farm. ),
Alleycat Acres also has a farm breeding chickens, can provide the family with fresh eggs. Three farms uses drip irrigation and homemade compost, organic farming for all crops and soil experts are also on the Planning Committee for the soil condition monitoring and adjustment.
Sustainable Seattle (a charity established in 1991) is the sponsor of Alleycat Acres, and at the same time provide financial management guidance to help their access to more capital. Alleycat Acres held in May each year in the form of bicycle race fundraiser. Currently, donations have been able to help pay for Alleycat Acres three farm building costs, equipment, seed, even one of the farm property tax.
The future, Alleycat Acres include registered as a 501c3 non-profit organization, to get more funding opportunities, and increase staff salaries and working conditions, and they may do community supported agriculture (CSA) the exploration
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