Co-Chairs:
- Carrie Vaughn, Building Bridges Across the River
Accomplishments:
Urban Land Lease Program: With the FPC’s support and advice, the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and Department of General Services (DGS) are implementing the Urban Land Lease Program within the DC Urban Farming and Food Security Act of 2014 (“DC Farm Bill”) by leasing parcels of government land to farmers for free 5-13 year leases. The FPC is working with these agencies to identify more parcels to be leased.
Urban Agriculture Tax Credit: With the FPC’s support and advice, the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) implemented the urban agriculture tax credit, approved in the DC Farm Bill, which provides a property tax abatement to private landowners that lease their property (including rooftops) for urban agriculture. 2024 was the first year this was fully utilized with more applications than money.
Infrastructure Fund: The FPC supported the creation of the Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant, which is now distributed through DOEE’s Office of Urban Agriculture
Upcoming Tours
The Urban Ag Working Group is leading tours throughout the summer and fall of 2025. More tours may be added. Join the listserv to learn more.
- 7/9/25 2:00pm – National Museum of the American Indian’s Native Landscape (possibly followed by a tour of the US Botanic Garden’s Kitchen Garden)
- 9/4/25 4:00pm – City Blossom’s Marion Street Intergenerational Garden
- 11/5/25 4:00pm – Eightfold’s Indoor Mushroom Farm