Still no fruits from the pursuit…

of the Southern Seed Legacy or Common Ground Athens. I have, though, come across potential sources for funding. Too bad they are all grants and such for the next year. Seems quick money is hard to find.

Anyway, my friend Stefanie suggested a while back that I look into the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (oh SNAP! …couldn’t resist…this is the new face of the Food Stamps Program; FSP). Wasn’t ready then, but took a glance just now and am stricken with the potential of possibilities.

There’s the Athens Farmer’s Market (AFM), right? Well since they are a market for vendors, the AFM can be licensed to receive SNAP benefits (food stamps, essentially) so folks with lower incomes can have access to the wonderful produce Athens has to offer.

I will contact AFM in the future and discuss with them the possibility of getting properly licensed for SNAP as well as allowing the Chase St. community garden as a vendor. The community garden would work as a non-profit retailer where any revenue generated from the sale of produce will be used to better the garden. This configuration will allow for maad low prices.

With AFM effectively serving as a retail venue, will this be a conflict of interest? Will they welcome a non-profit vendor literally selling produce dirt cheap and adjacent to others with higher prices? Just a hunch, but the only way to know for sure is to ask.