Talking Points for Letters of Support for House Bill 93 (HB93) Below are some ideas to get you started in writing your letter of support. By no means do we intend that you use them all, we hope you’ll choose a few that speak to you and write your letter from your heart, explaining why you support HB93.
HB 93 PROVISIONS OVERVIEW • HB 93, sponsored by Rep. Guttenberg, which is, “an act relating to school gardens, greenhouses and farms.” The bill allows non‐profits, like Calypso, to receive state aid – through the school district – in an amount equal to or less than the matching funds it provides for each school garden/greenhouse/farm, so long as the garden/greenhouse/farm is used for educational purposes and growing vegetables that students will eat through the school district’s meal and snack program, and students are given opportunities to be involved in the operation of the garden/greenhouse/farm. • If passed, HB 93 will pave the way for more communities to tap into state funds for programs similar to Calypso’s Schoolyard Garden Initiative and Engaging Alaska Teens in Gardening program. This bill is a long‐term investment in Alaska because it offers a percentage of annual operating support for a school garden/greenhouse/farm, rather than offering funds for just one year. The matching requirement is a way for the state to ensure the communities’ commitment to each project. In sum, this is unique and will actually have a long‐lasting impact and would solidify Calypso’s and other community future school garden/greenhouse/farm projects. • HB 93 would secure additional funding to match one‐half of one percent of state aid to school garden, farm and greenhouse programs. In other words, the school district can apply to the state for a grant for each school garden and be awarded an amount that is not less than .05% of what each school receives each year in state education funding. So, if a school gets $50,000 in state education funding, then its school garden is eligible for a $2,500 grant.
OPTIONAL TALKING POINTS 1. Improved Access to Local Foods • Alaskans don't have many options for local foods; most of our food is grown in and shipped from the Lower 48. • Our local food supply is not sustainable and without more localized options, we are totally dependent upon national chain grocery stores. • Local farm stands give neighborhoods the option to buy and eat local. • Low‐income individuals ‐ who traditionally do not have access to local foods ‐ would have opportunities to use WIC, Senior Coupons and Food Stamps at the farm stands.
2. Learning and Workforce Development Opportunities for Youth • The school gardens are experiential learning environments where students make concrete connections to where food comes from and have the opportunity to harvest and eat fresh food from their schoolyards. • Youth assist in leading educational workshops in the gardens that are offered to local families. • The school gardens are maintained by local teenagers who plant, maintain, and harvest each of 6 school gardens, sell the vegetables throughout the summer at local farm‐stands. • Having teens grow their food, teach others about it and sell it increases the self‐esteem and knowledge of every youth involved, not to mention it helps them develop a healthy work ethic. • For most Student Gardeners, this is their first job experience, and they gain excellent job readiness skills, contribute to meeting the community’s need for food, and grow the local economy.
3. Healthier Youth & Families • Foods grown locally don't just taste better, they are better for you! Over the thousands of miles our food currently travels, our vegetables lose some nutrients. • In exchange for their work, each Student Gardener takes home a weekly supply of vegetables to eat and share with their families. • Youth are exposed to ‐ and, in turn, teach their parents about ‐ different varieties of vegetables. Families taste the difference and may choose to change their eating habits for the better. • Youth involved in the programs are outside and active, which is another healthy lifestyle choice compared to playing video games or watching TV.
4. Improved Local Economy • There are more jobs for youth in the community, a population which has fewer job opportunities. • There are more jobs in agriculture, which is not a large workforce sector in Alaska at this time. • The food is grown locally, sold locally, and locals benefit from the products; the money stays in and sustains the local economy. • There is less reliance upon national grocery chains, where most of the money goes to the corporation and not directly to the farmers or the community.
