kids encyclopedia robot

South Central Farm facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The South Central Farm, also known as the South Central Community Garden, was a large urban farm and community garden. It was located in an industrial part of South Los Angeles, California, near East 41st and South Alameda Streets. The farm was active from 1994 to 2006. At 14 acres, it was one of the biggest urban farms in the United States.

The land where the farm grew was sold in 2004. The farmers were asked to leave in 2006. On July 5, 2006, bulldozers started tearing down the farm. This happened despite strong protests and acts of civil disobedience (peaceful resistance). The farmers believed the sale was not fair and held protests. The story of the farm is told in the 2008 documentary film The Garden and the PBS documentary South Central Farm, Oasis in a Concrete Desert.

History of the South Central Farm Land

Before the garden started, the land had nine different owners. The biggest owner was Alameda-Barbara Investment Company. In 1986, the City of Los Angeles bought the land using a process called eminent domain. This means the government can buy private land for public use, even if the owner doesn't want to sell. The city planned to build a facility to turn waste into energy. They paid about $4.8 million for the property.

However, a group called Concerned Citizens of South Central Los Angeles, led by Juanita Tate, stopped this project in 1987. After that, the land was left empty for several years.

In 1994, the City sold the land to the L.A. Harbor Department. Then, in July 1994, the Harbor Department allowed the L.A. Regional Food Bank to use the site as a community garden. This is how the South Central Farm began.

Legal Challenges and the Farm's Sale

When the city first bought the land, the original owner, Alameda-Barbara Investment Company, had a right to buy it back. This right applied if the city sold the land for non-public uses within ten years. In 2001, Ralph Horowitz, a partner in Alameda-Barbara, sued the City. He said the City didn't honor this agreement.

In 2003, the City of L.A. settled with Horowitz. They agreed to sell the land back to him for $5.05 million. This was a bit more than the city had paid for it. As part of the deal, Horowitz agreed to give 2.6 acres of the land for a public soccer field. The City Council approved this agreement. However, the South Central Farm's lawyer said that documents about this agreement were never made public.

After this, the farmers formed an organization called 'South Central Farmers Feeding Families'.

On January 8, 2004, Horowitz told the gardeners they had to leave by February 29, 2004. The farmers then filed a lawsuit to stop the sale of the property. A court order temporarily stopped any building on the land. But the farmers lost their lawsuit, and the court allowed Horowitz to evict them.

Efforts to Save the Farm

Horowitz initially wanted $16.3 million for the property. This was more than three times what the city paid for it. The farmers, with help from The Trust for Public Land, managed to raise over $6 million. They continued to raise money. Farmers and famous people even protested by sitting in trees and occupying the land. They faced threats of being forced out by the police.

On June 7, 2006, the Annenberg Foundation offered to donate the money to buy the farm. But Horowitz did not accept the offer because it came after his deadline.

Eviction and Bulldozing

At 3 a.m. on June 13, 2006, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department arrived at the farm. They surrounded it by 4 a.m. At 5 a.m., the sheriffs entered, giving people 15 minutes to leave. Most people left, but some argued with the officers. More than 40 protesters were arrested. Actress Daryl Hannah was arrested after she was removed from a walnut tree where she had been protesting.

After the eviction, Horowitz hired a private security company to keep people from returning to the land.

On July 5, 2006, workers started bulldozing the farm. Protesters tried to stop them. One person chained himself to a bulldozer, and another lay down in front of one. Both were arrested. In total, ten people were arrested that day.

On July 12, 2006, a judge heard arguments in a lawsuit filed by the farmers. They argued the sale of the land to Horowitz should be canceled because the public wasn't properly told about it. The judge rejected their arguments on July 27, 2006, and upheld the sale. The farmers' attorney said he would appeal.

As of 2008, Horowitz and Forever 21 were planning to build a warehouse on the site. The land remained an empty lot until 2022, when the city approved a project for warehouses and offices.

Relocation and New Beginnings

The City of Los Angeles provided 7.8 acres of land at a different location. Some of the farmers moved there and started growing crops again. This new site can hold 200 garden plots. The city also found 100 other plots for community gardens.

Several new organizations grew from the original farm. These include the South Central Farmers' Health and Education Fund and South Central Farmers' LLC. Their goal is to provide healthy, organic, and affordable food. The farmers now have land in Buttonwillow, California, and Lake Hughes, California. They sell nutritious organic food at several farmers' markets. These farmers continue to provide healthy foods for families in neighborhoods that need them most.

Plant Life at the Farm

The South Central Farm had an estimated 100 to 150 different types of plants. Many of these plants were brought back to the area by the farmers. These farmers are descendants of the original people from Mesoamerica (parts of Mexico and Central America).

Traditional farmers often use plants that modern farmers might see as weeds. For example, plants like dandelion, wood sorrel, and clover can be used in salads. Many plants at the farm were used for food, herbal medicine, spiritual practices, and as companion plants (plants that help other plants grow).

The South Central Farmers

The South Central Farmers were about 350 families from the nearby community. They were a self-governing group. These families turned a junk-filled space into one of the largest urban gardens. After they learned the garden might be destroyed, they became very active. They gained support from politicians, universities, entertainers, and people around the world.

The farmers had elected roles chosen from their "General Assembly" (their main meeting group). Some people, like Rufina Juarez and Tezozomoc, were public representatives. They often spoke for the group. All roles within the South Central Farmers helped the farm stay healthy and active. On the farm, women often handled many tasks, from keeping records to watching over the garden plots.

Notable Supporters

Many well-known people supported the South Central Farm:

Images for kids

  • South Central Farm 2

    A banner on the fence surrounding the former grounds of the South Central Farm

  • South Central Farm 1

    The son of a farmer holding seeds

  • South Central Farm 6

    Crops at South Central Farm

  • South Central Farm 41

    Kitchen at the farm

  • Dance performance at South Central Farm

    Dance performance at South Central Farm

  • A sign at the fenceline of South Central Farm

    A sign at the fenceline of South Central Farm

  • SCF bulldozed 02

    South Central Farm a few months after it was bulldozed

  • South Central Farm 44

    One of many cactus patches that served as natural fencing and food

  • South Central Farm 32

    Different varieties of tomatillos and beans were often for sale at the Sunday farmers' market at the Farm

  • South Central Farm 51

    South Central Farmers at their general meeting

  • South Central Farm 4

    A participant at South Central Farm

See also

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
South Central Farm Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.