James Godsil on Urban Ag Micro Loans

James Godsil, Co-Founder of  Sweet Water Organics and the Sweet Water Organics Foundation, recently discussed ideas about incorporating micro-loans into Urban Agricultural activities. Following is content he posted on the COMFOOD List:
 
 Friends:
 
"I would very much appreciate responses to this first draft on micro loans, as well as other positions we might suggest to … political candidates [and policy makers]… to advance our movement.
 
Restoring Urban Economies through Urban Agriculture Micro Loans
 
Urban agriculture contains important seeds for the renewal of local urban economies.
A small amount of financial support can spark a considerable amount of wealth, including:
 

1. Nutritious, delicious food to replace processed food of less quality and adverse health implications.
2. Reduced health care costs via physical exercise and outdoor experience for young and old
3. The acquisition of skills and understandings of value for other work situations, e.g. self reliance
4. Entrepreneurial experience for that percentage of gardeners who trade or market their product
5. Occasions of neighborliness and association building that sparks exchanges of
6. A wide variety, e.g. child care, errand runs, community building information exchange, handyman connections
7. Neighborhood beauty, reduced crime and vandalism, and increased property values

 
Micro Loans for Green Work, Jobs, Careers, and Family Enterprise
 
Small start-up loans for home and community gardening would be far reaching for the generation
of a variety of "capital," e.g. healthier, happier, and more vigorous people, money from the sale of food and gardening services, social connections that advance career development, family businesses, and neighborhood safety, cultural capital from hard won insights into the bounty of nature for those who steward the land and husband resources.
 
Loans as small as $300 could provide the start-up capital for the "hardware" required, e.g. compost, seeds, water, and tools for persons and/or families already equipped with gardening know-how. 
 
For those in need of training, $500 could cover the cost of the hardware and the "software," including workshops and courses, as well as on-site visits by professional urban agriculture educators. A considerable amount of the cost of software could be avoided by the growing number of "victory gardeners" eager to be of service to their fellow citizens.
 
A Recruitment Process to Enhance Prospects for Success: The Little Red Hen Principle Applied
 
 
The limited funds for urban agriculture micro loans would go further if great care is given in choosing who merits such loans. Persons and families with track records of hard work and community service should be the initial recipients. The numerous garden and vermin-culture demonstrations recently initiated in a number of our schools, spiritual communities, day care centers, and associations could become partners in the selection process. Loans could be offered to those who have shown interest and aptitude in their volunteer work in these projects, and perhaps in other public interest projects of their respective organizations.
 
Outcome Analysis for Scaling Up Enterprises. 
 
Micro loans from $300 to $500 for the first year could be considerably increased for years 2 and 3 by simple measures of outcomes, that would include not only the amount of  produce grown per dollar spent, but also the amount of enterprise sparked by the initial loan,  e.g. recipients whose work stimulated a number of other successful participants.
 
For more information:
 
 
James Godsil, co-founder
Sweet Water Organics
Sweet Water Organics Foundation
http://sweetwater-organic.com/blog/