Farm Lot 59 in Long Beach takes urban agriculture to the nonprofit level
In March 2020, at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Farm Lot 59 shifted gears from selling produce to restaurants to donating 100% of edible produce to those who need it.
By Jo Murray
Press Telegram
Apr 3, 2022
Excerpt:
“I wish that I could say that doing good and serving the community was always the goal but it wasn’t,” Kanno wrote in a blog post. “I never thought I would be at the point where we donate 100% of produce to the unhoused neighbors in our community. I had no idea what food insecurity was or the deep issues with land access in urban communities.”
With no experience in farming as she started this journey, Kanno said she has educated herself by viewing thousands of You Tube videos, attending conferences, reading books and picking the minds of agriculturists. She and her board have collaborated with dozens of community organizations in town.
Kanno has lobbied to change ordinances about raising chickens, taught farm school, and nurtured bee hives. She has grown rare and heirloom varieties of flowers and produce, and, based upon online reviews, is admired by locals and her herb knowledge is sought by chefs.
“The rough start: losing friends, gaining a community, going broke, losing a lease, dealing with theft and vandalism, restaurant sales, greenwashing, flower farming….” Is a snippet of Kanno’s Instagram post about blogging her farming journey.
