Keeling Curve

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Project Summary / Description:

The MHD will provide a compost/biochar mix to community gardens to help improve yields, restore soil health, help marginalized communities, increase drought resistance, and create carbon sinks. This is an expansion of an on-going initiative in the City of Minneapolis. Ten community gardens have already participated in our project and we propose to assist 20 additional community gardens with funding provided with this grant. These sites will continue to be targeted in our most challenged communities.

We plan to develop the idea by linking with the Minneapolis Food Council and Neighborhood organizations increasing community garden participation by 200%. In total the City of Minneapolis has about 300 registered community gardens. One of our objectives is to expand our work with offering a compost/biochar mix through our municipal compost program as part of our zero waste goals. 
Our urban soils are depleted and in poor condition. Our motivation is to restore urban soil health and reduce food insecurity and health inequities created in part by food deserts. The introduction of biochar not only sequesters carbon from the material but also increases carbon storage in the form of plant material, microbes, and fungi that otherwise will not be present. This will turn our marginal vacant land into productive carbon sinks. 

This practice will eventually be in place for city operations as well. Activities such as right-of-way treatments, soil stabilization on vacant lots, and into storm water Best Management Practices to remove contaminants and protect waterways are to be incorporated in the future.

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Best Estimate of GHG Avoidance/Reduction of This Project (Tonnes CO2 Equivalent/Year):

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Mission Statement:

The Minneapolis Health Department‚ (MHD) mission is to improve the quality of life for all people in the City of Minneapolis by protecting the environment, preventing disease and injury, promoting healthy behavior and creating a city that is a healthy place to live, work, and play. This mission is achieved through our values of investing in a healthier community, exercising leadership in public health, letting quality inspire our work, engaging with different communities, and focusing on protecting our residents from harm. It is the vision of our Health Department that we can promote healthy lives, health equity, and healthy environments through these practices.