austin

Urban Farms Facing Unfair Tax Burden?
Jeff Gangemi May 21, 2012 Austin 0 comments
An interesting article from the Austin (TX) Statesman sheds light on some of the challenges of running an urban farming operation. As if growing great produce in confined areas wasn’t difficult enough! Why would urban farms be subject to higher tax rates than their more rural brethren? That’s because, in Texas at least, an exemption from property taxes was enacted in the 1970’s to keep rural farm land in production, well before the days of urban homesteading and the proliferation of farmers markets.  The catch? While tax regulations vary by county and state, more stringent rules apply almost universally in urban areas. In some ways, relieving the burden means updating the law to...
The FarmPlate Young Farmers Series: Evan Driscoll From Green Gate Farms
Jeff Gangemi May 01, 2012 Austin 0 comments
NAME: Evan Driscoll FARM: Green GAte FArms AGE: 27 Can you provide some brief background information about your farm? In your opinion, what makes it special or unique? Green Gate Farms, a certified organic farm, was established by Skip Connett and Erin Flynn in east Austin in 2006. I joined the team in Spring of 2012 after farming in Portland, OR. The farm is located on an historical farm site, and is a community resource for neighbors of all incomes. We love providing fresh, local veggies for our customers, but also enjoy providing volunteer and educational opportunities for anyone interested in getting dirty and reconnecting with the land. Why do you believe farming is important,...