SB37

SB37 Senator MSalzano of California, Democrat; Senator MFarr of Minnesota, Democrat Environment and Poverty Soil For the Toil

The purpose of this bill is to help those in poverty in urban areas by reducing pollution and bringing communities together through the power of community gardens. Poverty is a huge and growing problem - one in six people are currently below the national poverty level. These gardens provide fresh, organic fruits, vegetables, and herbs to less priveleged communities. And all the while, bringing people together, decreasing crime, improving the quality of life for many, and reducing the pollution which these people suffer from caused by big industry companies in their home environment. This bill will be clearing vacant lots of trash and filling them with a healthy medley. Community gardens will beautify communities and join lives through a common bond.
 * __Purpose:__**

For a city to be eligible for a community garden, it: (a) must have 20% of its inhabitants at or below the current national poverty line.
 * __Eligibility:__**

To decide what community in the eligible city to build a garden in, find a community in the city that: (a) has the highest percentage of inhabitants at or below the current national poverty line, and (b) does not have a current community garden.

For a plot of land in the eligible community to be eligible for gardening, it: (a) must have soil tested for lead and other harmful substances, and be found to be without them, (b) must be not intended for any other use, and (c) must be uninhabited.

1.) Eligible communities will receive supplies for cleaning their garden area of trash and garbage. Supplies will include a dumpster, garbage bags, and any more materials needed, within reason. 2.) The community members interested in gardening will be the ones cleaning, building, planting, and cultivating the garden, with the help of volunteers. 3.) There will be a committee formed to keep the garden running and to plan events in the garden, with at least five members of the community in the committee, to be assisted by officials and/or volunteers if need be. 4.) Once garden space is cleaned, the community will receive supplies for building their garden. These supplies will include materials for fences, compost bins, storage houses, and more, like wood and nails, bins for collecting rainwater to use for gardening, and any more materials needed, within reason. 5.) When community garden framework is built, supplies will be given to the community to plant and cultivate a garden there. Supplies will include seeds for flowers, fruits, vegetables, trees, and more, any gardening equipment needed, like shovels, hoes, and watering cans, and any more materials needed, within reason. 6.) No pesticides or nonorganic fertilizers will be used during any stage in this program.
 * __Terms & Benefits:__**

The 2011 Presidential Budget for Healthy Communities is $297,729. The costs for EACH community garden will be around: (a) $2,500 to $5,000 for building, planting, and cultivating the garden, (b) $30 to $80 for testing the soil for lead and other harmful substances, (c) $1 per year for the land, and (d) $90 to $850 for cleaning the land. Each garden will cost around $2,621 to $5,931. We can plant 40 gardens a year, which would cost around $104,840 to $237,240 a year. The company sponsoring our efforts will be the EPA, The Environmental Protection Agency.
 * __Fiscal Impact:__**