The group, Sustainable Renton, has vision. The non-profit, established since December 2011, would like to see a community farm in Renton to benefit the city and members committed to making it happen.

“This is a long-term project that will not happen overnight,” said organizer Chris Conkling in a email interview.”It could take two years, it could take 10 years. It is really about building community and bringing people together to help make Renton a healthier place.”

Sustainable Renton had a brainstorming meeting with the community on June 24 and 13 people turned out.

Some of the attendees had various experience with sustainable projects and interests in local food issues.

The non-profit is currently staffed by a board of seven people and five to 10 semi-regular volunteers.

They would like to model an urban community farm in Renton after other farms such as 21 Acres in Woodinville, Marra Farms in Seattle and the Seattle Community Farm.

Conkling has volunteered with other environmental groups such as the Green Team at East Shore Unitarian Church in Bellevue and has spent lots of time working with youth in some capacity, he said.

He tries to live a sustainable lifestyle with his family, growing vegetables in his backyard, shopping at farmers markets and participating in community supported agriculture.

His family tries to buy in bulk and lessen their footprint on Earth in a number of different ways, Conkling said.

“Having a community farm to grow our own food in our own community would be beneficial in countless ways,” he said. “It reduces the distance that food travels, lessening our carbon footprint.”

“It provides a place for children to see where their food comes from, giving them a hands-on connection to the food chain; it would provide a gathering space for families and local groups to attend gardening and cooking classes and local restaurants would be able to source their produce, fruit, eggs, and more from a farm right here in their own town,” Conkling said.

The next step for Sustainable Renton members is to research studies showing the health benefits of local, organic food so that they have fodder and background information to support applying for grants and financial support from donors.

They will also start to create “test” gardens around Renton this summer to display different types of gardening ranging from raised beds, vertical gardening to wheelchair-accessible gardens.

Sustainable Renton has been getting feedback and interest from people on their Facebook page.

Conkling said he recognizes the need for an urban community farm based on the fact that the current community gardens in the city have a waiting list.

“There really is a swelling interest right now in reconnecting with our food system – not only on the national scale but right here in our own community,” he said.

Members of the group are considering enlisting the support of the City of Renton Parks and Planning departments, Seattle University Environmental Studies department, King County Master Gardener program, Seattle Tilth, local permaculture groups, and others.

For more information on Sustainable Renton visit their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/SustainableRenton or email sustainablerenton@gmail.com.