L.A. urban farmers plow new fields (in Watts)

[jpak]

http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061120/NEWS/611200331/1033/NEWS01

LOS ANGELES - Farmers evicted from an urban farm in South Los Angeles are planting new roots in Watts, along a narrow power-line right-of-way on public land.

The farmers began tilling the soil at their new farm - about two-thirds the size of the old one - in January, after it became apparent to many of them that the South Los Angeles farm they had worked since 1992 could not be saved.

Sheriff's deputies forcibly shut down that farm in June after a judge ruled in favor of businessman and landowner Ralph Horowitz after a years-long legal battle. The eviction - and the farmers' opposition to it - attracted the support of activists and celebrities including Daryl Hannah, Joan Baez and tree-sitter Julia Butterfly Hill.

But those at the new Watts location, called the Stanford/Avalon Farm, left months before the bulldozers arrived.

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[theophilus]

1. This is a good idea and should expand. Make sure the "squatters"

keep the area accesible to repairs. I imagine "weed killer" is used on these sites by the power companies and that would be able to stop if the areas are kept free of impedimentary plants by the farmers. That would save the pc's money, maybe? We need more fresh veg. It has more vitamins and minerals than that grown by the "giant" corps. Good for them. I hope it catches on.....