SAVING THE FARM; ACTIVISTS MAKING LAST-DITCH EFFORT TO KEEP PIERCE FIELDS.Byline: Sharline Chiang Daily News Staff Writer When Jacky deHaviland and Margo Murman look out at the dry fields of Pierce College's sweeping 240-acre campus, they see neat rows of carrots, radicchio ra·dic·chi·o n. pl. ra·dic·chi·os Any of several varieties of chicory, having red or red-spotted leaves that form globose or elongated heads. and other organically grown vegetables and groves of orange trees. They see a bustling student-run produce stand and a weekend farmers' market farm·ers' market n. A public market at which farmers and often other vendors sell produce directly to consumers. Also called greenmarket. at Victory Boulevard Victory Boulevard is a major thoroughfare on Staten Island, measuring approximately 8.0 miles (12.87 km) and stretching from the west shore community of Travis to the upper east shore communities of St. George and Tompkinsville. and DeSoto Avenue. Leading a cadre of alumni, students and community activists, the two women are proposing the school turn its fields into an organic urban farm that could train students, make a profit selling chemical-free produce and please neighbors who have opposed other development proposals. Their vision, coming after 10 years of debate over the farm's future, represents the last, best chance to maintain Pierce's agricultural heritage - the last stand of a broad coalition trying to prevent development of the financially strapped community college's most valuable asset. A consensus among school officials is rapidly moving toward turning much of the Pierce farm into a 145-acre professional golf course that would generate $800,000 a year for the college. ``People ask me, Why do you do this? I say somebody has to fight the good fight. And if I fight and we lose, at least we go down swinging,'' said deHaviland, a Pierce student who founded the Student Coalition to Save the Farm 18 months ago. Organic farm proponents look for inspiration to the Center for Urban Agriculture at Fairview Gardens in Goleta, operated by renowned organic farmer Michael Ableman. ``Look at the movement going on now with community gardens and farmers' markets  It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ,'' said Murman, an alumna who founded
the Coalition to Save the Farm in 1990. ``The emphasis is on providing
good and healthy food.''
Murman believes the organic farm - along with an existing nursery and greenhouse on 125 acres - would be profitable enough to pay for itself and other Pierce programs. The 12-acre farm in Goleta grosses up to $550,000 a year and was started in 1997 after a fund-raising drive Noun 1. fund-raising drive - a campaign to raise money for some cause fund-raising campaign, fund-raising effort crusade, campaign, cause, drive, effort, movement - a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end; "he supported netted more than $800,000 to save the land from development. Ableman, author of ``On Good Land,'' said he believes Pierce could raise even more than that to endow en·dow tr.v. en·dowed, en·dow·ing, en·dows 1. To provide with property, income, or a source of income. 2. a. a profitable organic farm. ``They could do amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. things,'' he said. Last-minute pitch But the organic farm proposal comes as the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Community College Board is set to review a golf course plan recommended by the Pierce College In 2006 the Library won a national Excellence award. Academics Pierce College offers associate's degrees, mainly in the arts and sciences. There are also certificate programs in early childhood education, social services, dental hygienist, and others. Council in late January. On March 10, Eddie Milligan, owner of Hansen Dam Hansen Dam in Los Angeles County, California was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District in 1939 and 1940. The project is located near the northern edge of the San Fernando Valley on Tujunga Wash, about one mile below the confluence of the Big Tujunga Wash Equestrian Center, will make his presentation to the board to lease 145 acres from Pierce for at least $800,000 a year and develop an 18-hole public course. Milligan said the golf course has widespread support, including that of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association, United Chambers of Commerce, and the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), organization composed mainly of American blacks, but with many white members, whose goal is the end of racial discrimination and segregation. . Milligan - whose plan already includes $3 million in new agriculture labs and classrooms, urban landscaping and golf course management classes and golf training sessions for kids - said he would consider incorporating an organic farm into his proposal. ``We would encourage it. If they can make that on a 20-acre parcel, they can start it tomorrow. I could include it in my package,'' he said. Milligan is not concerned that the eleventh-hour organic farm proposal could knock his golf course out of favor. ``Whoop-de-do. Come on, let's face reality. That's not very realistic,'' he said. ``That's the same sales pitch for the last 10 years. . . . But it doesn't do a dang thing for students, for new courses or for cash flow for the college.'' Building support Undaunted, Murman and deHaviland have spent hundreds of their own dollars in their bid to save the farm by making it over into a state-of-the-art organic farm and agricultural laboratory. ``I am still extremely hopeful because this is the only facility of its kind in the entire Los Angeles area,'' Murman said. Pierce's own Agriculture and Natural Resource Science Department's five-year business plan, which is set to be unveiled before the March 10 meeting, will include a proposal similar to the organic farm. The goal of the plan, which does not mention a golf course, is to increase enrollment. The idea is backed by Save Open Space, which lists among its successes saving Jordan Ranch and curbing Soka University's expansion. Other supporters include the Coalition to Save the Farm, the Student Coalition to Save the Farm and the West Valley Eagles Track Club. Proponents have received letters of support from the California Farm Bureau Federation, the University of California, Riverside The University of California, Riverside, commonly known as UCR or UC Riverside, is a public research university and one of ten campuses of the University of California system. , and the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles chapters of the National Audubon Society The National Audubon Society is an American non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conservancy. Incorporated in 1905, it is one of the oldest of such organizations in the world. . Gordon Murley, president of the Woodland Hills Homeowners Organization, said the group supports an organic farm. ``It probably needs to be refined, but it's certainly a lot better than the other ideas. You can't teach something in a laboratory without the lab available,'' said Murley, who is seeking a seat on the college board in April elections. The organic farm proposal calls for an innovative living lab that would lure students and prepare them for jobs in one of California's largest industries - agriculture, which accounts for one in 10 jobs in the state and $70 billion in commerce. The Center for Urban Agriculture's farm in Goleta is an anomaly not unlike Pierce's land, an island surrounded by tract homes, shopping centers and gas stations. The farm produces 100 varieties of fruits, vegetables and flowers, all hemmed in by pomegranate pomegranate (pŏm`grănĭt, pŏm`ə–), handsome deciduous and somewhat thorny large shrub or small tree (Punica granatum , peach, apple, cherimoya cher·i·moy·a also chir·i·moy·a n. 1. A tropical American tree (Annona cherimola) having heart-shaped, edible fruits with green skin and white aromatic flesh. 2. The fruit of this plant. , plum, apricot and avocado avocado (ä`vəkä`do, ăv`–), tropical American broad-leaved evergreen tree of the genus Persea of the family Lauraceae (laurel family). trees. The Goleta success story Ableman said after operating costs operating costs npl → gastos mpl operacionales , which include his salary and staff wages and housing, the farm makes $25,000 a year, or $2,083 per acre. The farm also works with restaurateurs who advocate organic cooking. Last Wednesday, Ableman skipped dinner with Julia Child Julia Child (August 15, 1912–August 13, 2004) was a famous American cook, author, and television personality who introduced French cuisine and cooking techniques to the American mainstream through her many cookbooks and television programs. to speak in favor of the group's proposal to Los Angeles Community College trustees. Ableman said colleges and universities nationwide, including urban ones, are creating farms in recognition of the importance of teaching students the relationship between man, food and the earth. ``Young people are beginning to discover the (opportunities) for a profession. It's not the people who couldn't make it anywhere else,'' he said. ``It's people like myself. A lot of new farmers have several college degrees.'' Each year, the center receives hundreds of internship internship /in·tern·ship/ (in´tern-ship) the position or term of service of an intern in a hospital. internship, n the course work or practicum conducted in a professional dental clinic. applications for a few spots. Last year, 6,000 people visited the farm. ``People flooded up here. Why? Because a city like L.A. has been so disconnected from the natural cycle and source of food,'' Ableman said. ``People are just longing for connection.'' Everything at Goleta is grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides and with water conservation methods. The center offers educational tours to schools and the public. Passers-by stop to shop at the produce stand. Ableman also sells his crops at a variety of farmers markets, including one in Santa Monica Santa Monica (săn`tə mŏn`ĭkə), city (1990 pop. 86,905), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1886. Tourism and retailing are important, and the city has motion-picture, biotechnology, and software industries. . Pierce at crossroads Most of the fields at the center of the development debate are used to grow hay grain, which is sold and fed to the livestock on campus. Since it was founded in 1947, Pierce has offered an array of agricultural programs in animal science, animal health technology, horse science, horticulture and natural resources management. The department's facilities include a nursery, greenhouse, various fruit orchards, horse arena, equestrian center, a sheep unit and lambing barn. Animals include free range chickens, Angus cows, horses, sheep and llamas. The agriculture program has seen its enrollment decline from 2,000 students in 1978 to 1,248 today. The farm is a popular place for grade schools to bring cThildren for tours, hosting 20,000 such students a year. The Los Angeles Community College District The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) is the community college district serving Los Angeles, California and some of its neighboring cities. In addition to typical college aged students, the LACCD also serves adults of all ages. Board recently contracted Pasadena-based asset management consultant Jim Goodell to review Pierce's options and make a recommendation. ``We'll listen to everything on the 10th, and we'll meet with Jim and we'll take it from there,'' said board President Elizabeth Garfield. If the group's proposal is ``something truly financially viable and maximizes education for the majority of the students, I say this is great,'' said trustee Georgia Mercer, the only board member living in the Valley. The district's finances have changed considerably since last year's projected $13 million year-end shortfall heightened the urgency to get cash out of Pierce's land. On Wednesday, officials announced the district faces a $11.6 million projected surplus by the end of the fiscal year. Pierce is expected to end the year with an extra $290,000. Two options for Pierce College ORGANIC FARM WHAT: A self-sustaining commercial and educational urban organic farm. Includes an endowment to support Pierce programs. Features produce stand and farmers' market. Modeled after the Center for Urban Agriculture in Goleta. WHO: Alumni, students and community activists, including members of Coalition to Save the Farm, Student Coalition to Save the Farm and Save Open Space. HOW MUCH: No estimate available. The 12-acre, nonprofit farm in Goleta grosses up to $550,000 a year. It raised more than $800,000 in funds to save the land from development in 1997. The center works with culinary experts such as Alice Waters Alice Louise Waters (born 28 April 1944 in Chatham, New Jersey), one of the best-known and most influential American chefs since the 1970s, is credited with single-handedly creating a culinary revolution in the United States. , famed chef and founder of Chez Panisse Chez Panisse is a Berkeley, California restaurant known as the birthplace of California cuisine, a style credited to its co-founder, Alice Waters. The restaurant is located in the north Berkeley neighborhood known locally as the "Gourmet Ghetto". in Berkeley. WHY: An organic fund would generate money and preserve the educational mission of the college, which was founded as an agricultural school by Clarence W. Pierce in 1947. GOLF COURSE WHAT: A $20 million, 18-hole golf course. Includes club house, pro shop, turf research facilities, youth teaching cTenter, restaurants, driving range and practice green. Includes $3 million educational agriculture sciences center. WHO: Proposed by a partnership between Eddie Milligan, owner of Hansen Dam Equestrian Center in Lake View Terrace, and professional golfer Jim Colbert James Joseph Colbert (born March 9, 1941) is an American golfer. He was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He attended Kansas State University, where he finished second in the NCAA golf championships in 1964, before graduating and turning professional in 1965. of Quale-Colbert Golf Properties. HOW MUCH: To lease and build the 145-acre course, developers would pay Pierce $800,000 per year. The amount would increase by 10 percent every five years. WHY: The aging campus needs cash flow and needs to modernize programs and facilities. CAPTION(S): 3 photos, map, box PHOTO (1 -- color) A group of alumni, students and community activists are proposing that Pierce College turn its fields into an organic farm. Dean Musgrove/Daily News (2 -- color) The model People in favor of saving the pierce College farm point to the success of the Center for Urban Agriculture at Fairview Gardens in Goleta, Calif., above, which makes a profit. Michael Owen
(3) Michael Ableman Operator of the Center for Urban Agriculture at Fairview Gardens in Goleta. Box: Two options for Pierce College (see text) Map: Pierce College organic farm proposal |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion