10/20/15. Putting the Community in Community Garden. Agenda Food and Faith. It s More than Just Food!

Transcription

1 Putting the Community in Community Garden It s More than Just Food! Agenda n 1.Why should churches even consider building a community garden? n 2. Should your church build a community garden? n 3. What do you need for a successful community garden? n 4. Considerations for getting started. n 5. Fun elements to add n 6. How gardening builds community 1. Food and Faith n We have a biblical commandment to tend the earth and take care of it. n In tending the earth, we have a better understanding of the parables of Jesus. Gardening is also incredibly therapeutic. n Social Justice issue : many people do not have access to local, affordable, fresh vegetables. 1

2 Good books about Food & Faith 2. Before you build Do your research n Is there a desire for a community garden? n Do you think there is sustained interest that will last past the initial dig? n Instead of building a new community garden, think first - Is there a garden nearby that your church can help lend resources to? This may be a GREAT time for new partnerships with other churches or entities. Don t build a garden just so you can own it. n Where are natural partnerships that could be built for the continued work of the community garden? What you need for a community garden: Place. 2

3 Things to consider for space n Is it near electricity? n Is it near water? This is a big one. n Is there too much or too little shade? n What s the ground like? n Will you have access to tools? Get a gardener to look at the space. What you need for a community garden: People. People n Volunteers can come from anywhere. n Think about how to make your garden the most accessible place possible (i.e. wheel chair height beds, kid s gardening area) 3

4 What you need for a community garden: Partnerships What you need for a community garden: Partnerships Possible places to look for partnerships: Local Universities Ex) Mercer University Soil testing, student volunteers, professors who care UGA Extension Center Office in many counties Extension Offices have Master Gardening Programs that can give you great advice and might even have a gardener to lend to you that s working on their hours to receive their certification. They also have GROWING CALENDARS! Neighborhood Associations If your church is in a neighborhood association or business district, that s a natural place to look for partnerships. Ours is the Beall s Hill Community Garden at Centenary So you decide to build a garden Decisions you need to make: 1. Will you have raised beds or will you do row gardening in the ground? Considerations: how is the soil? Were there old buildings on the site? Do you live in a polluted area? Beds are simple to construct. Wooden beds 5 years life, cheap, pretty Cement beds long life, expensive, can be pretty. 4

5 Decisions you need to make pt. 2: 2. Will you go organic? Perks: - Kids can eat the food right out of the garden - Good for the environment. Cons: Have to think creatively about things like how to kill ants in the garden. No pesticides mean no weed killer. Decisions you need to make pt. 3: 3. How will you define community garden? Multiple ways: -Bed rental - Communal Beds -Community work days - Pay for space? Fun Elements to Add 5

6 How Gardens Help Build Community n Work Days n Integration of folks across socio-economic barriers Taste of the Garden Event 6

7 10/20/15 Cooperation and Sharing A Place to Have Events Grand Openings 7

8 Things we are hoping for in the future n How can we do agri-jobs? n Sell food to restaurants? At farmer s markets? n Should we move towards animals? n Bees, sheep, chickens? n Better Integration with schools? After school programs? n Creating our own better soil through communal composting Resources For Gardening Resources: UGA Extension Office - Growing Calendar: Experience Works (to get a gardener if there s one in your area looking for work): Soil and Sacrament: A Spiritual Memoir of Food and Faith Fred Bahnson, Simon & Schuster, Good Food Grounded Practical Theology Jennifer Ayres, Baylor Press, Will Allen s Growing Powerhttp:// Georgia Interfaith Power and Light 8