Politics & Government

VIDEO: Small-Farm Struggles Recounted at St. Louis Hearing

Missouri legislators took testimony from small-scale farmers and others during a public hearing Tuesday in the Maplewood Richmond Heights High School auditorium.

Even a Tuesday night hearing on urban agriculture couldn't escape a reference to the Cardinals-Phillies contest happening just a few miles down the highway in St. Louis City.

Daryl Duwe, who spoke during the event at Maplewood Richmond Heights High School, ended his testimony by telling legislators that the hearing was "much more interesting than a scoreless baseball game." The comment prompted laughter in the room.

Later, Rep. Jason Holsman (D-Kansas City) made another reference as he tried to move along the audience comment portion of the meeting so legislators could return home.

"He's at the plate, she's on deck," said Holsman, who chairs the Joint Committee on Urban Agriculture.

Throughout the night, Missouri state senators and representatives heard testimony about efforts in the St. Louis area to grow and sell organic food, gather compost and educate people about sustainable living.

Duwe represents the Composting and Organics Association of Missouri. He spoke about efforts in the state to gather materials that can be turned into compost.

"If it's organic, let's find something to do with it," he said.

Holsman asked him to think about ways legislators might provide assistance.

"Be mindful for what a happy medium might be to allow a small grower to monetize their intake," he said. Holsman later added: "Somehow we need to give them the ability to break even, at the minimum."

Sen. Jim Lembke (R-St. Louis County), the committee's vice chairman, said there will continue to be tension between the "time-honored" Republican concept of local control and the implementation of policies that incorporate good ideas about urban farming.

"Local hurdles could be put up to where all the work we do is for naught," Lembke said.

Richmond Heights resident Linda Lieb told the 10-member panel about the backyard chicken discussion happening in that city. Lieb, a member of the organization Friends of Richmond Heights, asked legislators to consider ways to ease other cities into permitting the birds.

"I don't know what can be done so other city governments are not afraid of this issue," Lieb said. She went on to suggest that the committee might compile a report describing why it is important and sustainable to raise chickens.

Molly Rockamann is founding director of Ferguson-based Earth Dance, a group whose mission is to grow and inspire local farms through food, art, relationships, music and sustainable practices. It began with the preservation of Mueller Farms, which she characterized as the state's oldest organic farm. Earth Dance also offers farmer-to-farmer training and field trips, and it sells goods at the Ferguson and Maplewood farmers markets.

Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal (D-University City) asked whether school districts might be supportive of Earth Dance's efforts, noting that Rockamann is looking for additional funding.

"People are really interested in what you're doing," Chappelle-Nadal said.

"I just look forward to continuing this evolution to Feb. 1, when I can hopefully have a piece of legislation," Holsman said.

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