prisonactivist.org -- political prisoners -- Herman Bell -- Victory Gardens
As we advance the struggle for liberation, we need to focus on the necessities that sustain everyday life. Food is one of those necessities, and because of that we must develop food production strategies and distribution techniques to ensure that we eat healthy food and lessen our dependency on corporate food production. At the Victory Gardens Project ("VGP"), we regard this as a vital strategy in the overall fight against capitalist domination and corporate greed. Someone said: Genuine social change is brought about by organized forces that are equipped to overcome the defense and repressive agencies of the existing order, and are able to mobilize decisive numbers of the population to struggle for change, and that they have an alternative program and the administrative capacity to put it into effect. Victory Gardens Project is an alternative food program. It reaches out to disenfranchised people in both urban and rural communities to help them develop their own sources of wholesome organic food. We call this the urban/rural connection. Through education, hands-on experience, and sharing of resources, we hope to create a political consciousness that will ultimately lead to the restoration of our natural lands and self-sufficiency. Free the People! Free the Land!
The Harvests:
As is well-known, our gardens are located in Central Maine on 72 acres shared by core group members Carol Dove and Michael Vernon. Core group member Jay Robinson, owner and operator of the Chapman Ridge farm in Athens, Maine, is a major donor of land, equipment, services, administrative support, community organization, and labor for VGP. On October 3, 1999, we began with harvesting just the squash and onions. Twenty-five volunteers -- locals, folks from Maine alternatives, and students from College of the Atlantic -- were in attendance.
The major harvest was conducted on October 9th and 10th, at which time 65 people (young and old) were on hand. This included folks from Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. Because of the large number of volunteers, we rented the local Grange Hall to help with the accommodations. (And because of the constant need for funds, we passed the hat.) A cooked-food donation was brought to the harvest, and an organization in Portland, Maine, sent a huge bread donation. Local supporters spoke on the history of granges (farm cooperatives/ organizations) and the importance of community. We enjoyed excellent weather.
The Distributions:
On October 22, 1999, given this was our 4th annual food delivery to Uhuru in East Orange, New Jersey, an air of festivity and sense of community were in evidence as local residents lined up to receive the food that they and the Uhuru community leaders had helped to harvest. Our arrival was greeted by 22 volunteers to assist with bagging the food and placement of literature in each bag, which contained information about U.S. political prisoners -- the New York 3 (Nuh Washington, Jalil Muntaqim, and me) and Marilyn Buck. Included with the literature was an explanation that this is not a food "give-away," but is an example of what community self-help can achieve. Also included were plants, recipes, and nutritional information. The following day, October 23rd, is when we actually distributed the food -- 3,300 pounds, which came to about 250 bags. Former U.S. political prisoner Dhoruba bin-Wahad was in attendance that day, and over the phone he told me the distribution was both a moving and memorable experience.
On October 29th, we did our Boston, Mass., distribution. This marked our 2nd year of distributing to the Young Achievers program (5th and 6th graders). They received 1,000 pounds (.5 from our new Hampshire Victory Gardens), and they played a pumpkin "weight-guess" game (using a pumpkin from our gardens of course!). Again, we placed literature about U.S. political prisoners in their food bags.
On October 30th, we made another distribution in Boston to a "new" recipient, N.I.A. Project, a "one-on-one" community mentoring program of 25 volunteers and 25 teens. They also received 1,000 pounds, half of which came from the New Hampshire gardens.
On October 30th, VGP donated 200 pounds of produce to the North American Caravan Against the WTO, an educational media group that traveled across the country to inform people about what was going down at the World Trade Organization Conference in Seattle, Washington. The bus left Boston October 31st loaded with representatives from Bolivia, India, Panama, Nigeria, Israel, Canada, and U.S., spreading a message across the country while eating VGP food!
On November 13th, four varieties of squash were delivered locally in Athens, Maine, along with pumpkins and a questionnaire. And on November 21st, we conducted a clothing drive there with over 60 people attending. We gave out literature about our project and who we are. We gave them food recipes and included yet another questionnaire which was for our record-keeping purposes. We ask people specific questions without being intrusive - that way we can then get a feel for the pulsebeat of the community.
Additional Victory Gardens Project Events in 1999:
- 2/17. Ramona Africa spoke at the University of Maine, organized by Steve, Victory Gardens volunteer - Victory Gardens Project core group members attend.
- 2/23. Fedco Seed Co-op makes seed donation to VGP.
- 2/23. Fedco Seed Co-op makes seed donation to U.S. (NY3) political prisoner Nuh Washington and paid postage.
- 4/24. National day for Mumia in Philadelphia - VGP outing; Cristina (core group member) arrives.
- 5/4. VGP reps speak at the College of the Atlantic (stipend) about VGP food program(s), the need for community organizing and its relevance to political prisoners, and class analysis/racism and the prison industry.
- 5/21 and 5/22. - College of the Atlantic plants all onion seedlings at VGP.
- 5/23. VGP seed give-away - all seeds donated.
- 5/27. VGP attends Veterans for Peace meeting - gives VGP presentation; sees film on East Timor.
- 5/30. Planted all VGP potatoes and squash w/ Boston crew, organized by Kazi Toure, former U.S. political prisoner.
- 5/30. VGP local seed potato give-away - all seed donated by Moose Tubers/Fedco Seed Co-op.
- 7/4. VGP volunteer (for past 4 seasons) organizes a float about a prison cell and the growing prison industry for the alternative parade in W. Athens.
- 7/24. VGP reps attend the annual Picnic for Friends and Families of Prisoners hosted by American Friend Service Committee.
- 8/6-8. VGP sets up booth for the third year at Athens old-fashioned country fair. Locals got to see pictures of the gardens and to socialize for a better understanding, meet the gardeners, and eat from the veggie platter. Free food to take was available and grown specifically for this event.
- 9/11. VGP gardener Steve organized a successful Mumia 911 event - Musicians/artists for Mumia.
- 9/15. VGP reps attended the 2nd annual "Dead Prisoner Parade," organized by American Friends Service Committee of Cambridge, MA, highlighting the Massachusetts prison system and the questionable deaths of prisoners there.
- 9/17. VGP annual tour, potluck, and old-fashioned barn dance with all-women band. Good turnout. Locals and Mainers from all over came to this event at the farm which took place the night of Hurricane Floyd.
- 10/24. VGP reps visit La Peña, a Puerto Rican cultural center/community space in South Bronx; VGP reps visit Project Harmony in Harlem, a community group focusing on children, with heavy emphasis on the environment and urban green spaces.
- 10/29. VGP reps attended a panel discussion on biotech at Boston College.
- 11/22. VGP reps, by invite, spoke to local amnesty group re: Mumia and U.S. political prisoners.
- 11/30. VGP leafleted at the Worcester, MA, Rage Against the Machine show. Leaflets were prepared by Steve and were information re: Mumia. Pam Africa helped.
How You Can Help:
Finally, while we judge our work for this harvest season to be better than good, we know that we are not yet where we want to be in terms of our general management and efficiency. We now look forward to our next season, and we welcome your financial support. Please send your tax-deductible contributions, made payable to our fiscal sponsor, Network on Women in Prison, to:
Victory Gardens Project
RFD 1, Box 6025
Athens, ME 04912Special Thanks, once again, to: Haymarket People's Fund, Fund for Wild Nature, and FEDCo Seed Co-op (Moose Tubers) for their generous support!
That concludes my report. "For the earth and the people, strength and spirit to you all."
In Solidarity!!! -- Herman Bell, New York 3 Political Prisoner
Herman Bell
79C-0262
Clinton Correctional Facility
Box 2001
Dannemora, NY 12929
Herman Bell | New York Three Update
Victory Gardens Initial Proposal | 1998 VGP Report | Statement by Herman Bell
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