Urban Agriculture Task Force
On September 24, 2012, the Urban Agriculture Task Force presented its report to City Council, complete with a comprehensive set of policy recommendations developed through an 18-month stakeholder process. Download the report [PDF]. Thank you to everyone who participated in the process and contributed to the report!
With the submission of the report, the Task Force process came to a close. However, the Food Council will continue to monitor progress at the city level as the policy recommendations go through committees. Check back here for updates.
History
The Urban Agriculture Task Force was created in March, 2011, by Burlington City Council to study issues of urban agriculture and provide policy recommendations for issues around keeping livestock, composting, urban gardening, and more. The Task Force is a citizen-led group charged with “recommending to the City Council a cohesive urban agriculture policy, improved rules and regulations addressing urban agriculture and steps to better promote urban agriculture in Burlington.” These recommendations will be provided to City Council in the form of a written report in September 2012.
Since June 2011, we have consulted with Burlington city officials from a range of departments, as well as local urban agriculture practitioners and experts. We have also presented at all five Neighborhood Planning Assemblies (NPAs) to share our work plan, update residents on the status of our efforts, and gather input from the community regarding opportunities and concerns. We have investigated urban agriculture policies in other cities to identify examples of potential policy approaches, and in January 2012 we held a community workshop on backyard livestock that drew over 50 participants.
Task Force Resources
Urban Agriculture in Burlington, VT A mini-documentary by Hillary Archer featuring urban agriculture in the Queen City
Backyard Livestock Policy Workshop Video of Workshop at McClure MulitGenerational Center, January 18, 2012
From Goats to Greenbelt Gardening: A New Task Force Defines “Farming” in Burlington by Ken Picard, published July 13, 2011 in Seven Days
Work Plan Review [PDF] Presented at the June 6, 2011, Burlington Food Council meeting by Will Robb and Alison Nihart
June 6 Burlington Food Council Meeting Notes [PDF]
