St. Louis County Council approves $3.2 million for Rustic Roots and network of North County farms

The St. Louis County Council on Tuesday voted 7-0 to pass substitute bill 1 for bill 54, advancing a plan supporters say will expand local farming infrastructure in North County and provide fresh food to residents.

Backers, including Councilwoman Webb and dozens of public commenters who spoke during a lengthy public forum, asked the council to use previously set-aside ARPA funding to support Rustic Root Sanctuary and a network of small farms. Janet Lewis, founder and executive director of Rustic Root Sanctuary, told the council that the community had already been working toward food security and urged passage: “We have a solution, and we’ve been working that solution,” she said.

Supporters framed the proposal as a three-part effort: funding for a harvest hub (a shared facility for washing, packing and cold storage), capacity development for small farmers, and direct distribution that would expand programs such as senior food bags and school- or clinic-linked produce distribution. Several speakers tied the measure to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money set aside by the county in 2022; Lewis said $55,000,000 had been earmarked for food-security projects in that process.

Public testimony included farmers, nonprofit leaders and residents from North County who described reliance on Rustic Root Sanctuary and similar farms for produce, education and community services. “They offer free produce to Spanish Lake seniors,” said speaker Crystal Stevens. Earth Dance Organic Farm School founder Molly Rockhamin Cordy described the bill as “absolutely right to appropriate $3,200,000” to support an agri‑village, a harvest hub and capacity development for six farms.

Council discussion focused on administration and accountability. Councilmember Bangert asked for time to review detailed memoranda of understanding and budgets that had been provided at the committee hearing earlier that day. Councilmember Clancy said she had concerns about administration and the timeline for getting funds distributed but acknowledged the proposal addressed a real need. Councilmember Harter said the county had set aside $5 million for food insecurity during the ARPA deliberations and expressed concern about how much of that remains available after the substitute bill’s appropriation.

Council members who spoke before the final vote signaled differing priorities but generally supported the measure. Councilmember Archer said he would vote yes while stressing the need to “be a good steward” of taxpayer money and to monitor how funds are spent.

The council invoked Rule 19 to take up the bill on final passage; Councilwoman Webb moved final passage and the roll call showed seven ayes and no opposing votes. The measure passed and the council chair announced substitute bill 1 for bill 54 was finally passed.

The vote does not itself implement specific contracts or immediate disbursements; several council members asked staff to provide additional documentation and implementation plans after passage. Supporters pledged to provide budgets, memoranda of understanding and program details to the council for follow-up oversight.

If fully implemented as proponents describe, the funding is intended to increase access to fresh produce in areas of North County that speakers described as food insecure, provide shared processing and storage infrastructure for multiple small farms, and create distribution channels to serve seniors, school programs and other community partners.

Ending: Council members and proponents said they would return to the council with required documentation and with implementation details. Councilwoman Webb, visibly emotional after the vote, said her office would provide the council “all of the documentation, accountability that is required to ensure that the money you spent here was well spent.”