What actions are needed to realize the vision of growing the web of relationships that makes up the local food economy to a size that meets the region's needs for justly and sustainably produced food?

Preliminary action plans are posted below around nine strategies for sustainably growing the local food economy in the Central Puget Sound region in Washington State. The action plans were proposed in small group discussions at the Workshop on Sustainably Growing the Local Food Economy, February 18, 2008, Seattle, WA. The workshop brought together a mix of local food economy businesses and activists representing the breadth and depth of the Central Puget Sound's local food economy.

Please make a contribution to these evolving plans. We would be excited and grateful for your ideas and your commitment!

Our small group discussion, at the LFE workshop, looked at possible policy initiatives. We came up with great ideas that, in my opinion, really should go forward.

Time was short that afternoon though, and we could not articulate our ideas as clearly as they deserved. Accordingly – with the benefit of some reflection after the workshop -- here they are!

We want to recommend a set of policies to the Seattle/King County Acting Food Policy Council and/or other local policy-making bodies. Note that there is very little cost associated with any of these (!), so they should be easy to adopt.

1. Vision/intent: an end to hunger. We advocate that an end to hunger should be stated as an aim of local food policy.

2. Call for ideas and programs. We advocate setting up a public channel and forum where people can bring forward ideas that can help accomplish the vision. The forum might include a website, a newsletter, an annual workshop, etc.

3. Idea/program proposal: edible plantings. As a first idea, we advocate adopting a policy that says edible plants be given preference over ornamentals when planting in public areas such as borders, medians, parks, etc.