The people in charge of maintaining the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) are offering to implement a suggestion given to Obama administration in January to use some land in national parks to “showcase” sustainable agriculture. The CVNP is “offering acreage for farms ‘using sustainable methods appropriate for a national park.”’ This is according to the National Parks Traveler blog.This is not the CVNP’s first step towards highlighting local and sustainable agriculture. Under the Countryside Initiative program, the CVNP and the Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy offer long-term leases to those who will practice sustainable farming techniques.
“The Countryside Initiative invites farmers to live and farm in the park using sustainable methods appropriate for a national park, while promoting farming that will produce high quality specialty products for direct, local, and retail sale. Currently, CVNP has 11 farms in operation under this program including a vineyard and winery, vegetable and egg operations, livestock, and pick-your-own and community-supported vegetable farms. A growing range of venues market farm products, including pick-your-own farms, community-supported agriculture, roadside stands, local farmers markets, and direct sales to individuals and restaurants.”
There is a competitive process applicants must go through to have their plan selected and be given the long-term leases. Currently, the Edgar Farm is up for lease, ‘“The farm is available for long-term lease up to 60 years. The selection of a proposal, managed as a competitive process for the farm, will be based on the proposal’s agricultural and economic soundness, responsiveness to a national park setting, engagement of the public, etc.”’
The idea is certainly interesting, and it appears to be successful in CVNP.
For more information on this practice and the Countryside Initiative, click here to see the National Parks Traveler blog.
Posted: 11/16/09
