Community Garden at the Eldersburg Library Eldersburg Branch Carroll County Public Library Eldersburg, Maryland

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1 Eldersburg Branch Carroll County Public Library Eldersburg, Maryland April Whisenand INFO Grant Proposal 5/29/2011

2 1 Abstract The Eldersburg Branch of the Carroll County Public Library in Maryland would like to transform currently unused ground into a thriving organic community vegetable garden where intergenerational programs will be presented in a hands-on outdoor classroom environment. The garden will provide access to those who would otherwise not have access to a garden space. In addition to the educational value of the garden, the garden will engender a strong sense of community, promote an active and healthy lifestyle, produce nutritious food, create a community green space, promote environmental awareness and attachment, and encourage civic pride.

3 Introduction Statement The Eldersburg Branch of the Carroll County Public library in Maryland would like to repurpose an unused acre of its land by transforming that space into an organic community vegetable garden. The mission statement of the Carroll County Public Library is leading the way to life-long learning and enjoyment a mission that this project supports. In fiscal year 2010, Carroll County Public Library had over 1,144,000 visits, presented 6,630 programs and circulated over 4,214,000 materials and the hope is to increase those numbers in subsequent years. CCPL is currently in the process of solidifying the strategic plan for The first steps for making the strategic plan were taking into consideration the 18 potential roles for libraries put out by the Public Library Association. After considering all 18 roles CCPL s Management Council decided which to concentrate on as a part of the strategic plan. Input was sought from a variety of sources during this process including customer surveys, staff suggestions, and an expert consultant, and the priorities were whittled down to five. One of the five priorities that CCPL has decided to focus on during the next five years is: Know your community through community resources and services. The goal of this priority is that Carroll County residents will have a greater opportunity to learn about their community and make community connections through library resources and events. This priority and goal as well as CCPL s mission statement dovetail nicely with the goals of this proposed project. As you can see with FY10 s 6,630 programs there already is a strong emphasis on the library providing free community programs and services. The addition of a community garden would be a perfect extension of the popular garden programs that are hosted by local Master Gardeners

4 3 that already partner with CCPL. Each program presented yields an average of about 30 people of all ages. Along with the Library s Master Gardener partnership the library personnel that handle will manage the garden are library associates Christine Kirker and April Whisenand. They will facilitate communication between the Master Gardeners, other library staff, and the external relations department as well as coordinate the Garden Party Kick-Off event. In addition to being an outdoor classroom for programs, the community garden would also foster a strong sense of community and civic pride by bringing people together for a common good, it will also facilitate a healthy and active lifestyle, produces nutritious food, and conserve a green space for all to enjoy (Needham 2). Statement of Need The implementation of a community garden allows for hands-on experience for people of all ages who may not have the opportunity for garden cultivation. The community garden would further outreach to the community and bring in additional people to the already popular gardening programs. The programs are currently instructed as if the participants have their own space to use. This will afford citizens the opportunity who have an interest in learning to garden but may not have the space or funds to maintain their own personal garden. There are two retirement communities in Eldersburg. The residents of these communities do not currently have access to a garden space and this would grant those residents that opportunity. Additionally there are many apartment complexes where the residents also do not have access to their own garden. The project would benefit an intergenerational group of individuals with a shared interest in gardening.

5 Community gardens are set up in a variety of fashions; unfortunately, with most there is either a plot rental fee or membership dues involved (communitygarden.org). Our goal is provide free access to the garden space to go along with the library s goal of providing services to the community for free. With that being said, the Library would be taking on the burden of financial responsibility of the project. A responsibility that other community gardens generally pass on to its members. Objectives The main objective of this project is to transform unused ground at the Eldersburg Branch Library into a thriving organic community garden where weekly garden programs presented by a local Master Gardner would occur. Upon receiving the funds, the equipment and materials needed, could immediately begin to be obtained. Once the tools arrive the transformation process could begin and hopefully within two months the community garden would be ready to be used as an outdoor classroom. With the addition of the garden we would hope to see at least a 20% initial increase in attendance to the gardening programs that would continue to increase from there. The local organic vegetables yielded from the garden will be sold and the money would be enough to cover the next season s seed monies in order to make the garden as self-sufficient as possible. Methods Upon receiving the funds the materials required could begin to be obtained. At that point County Facilities, that maintains the library s property would begin setting up the rainwater

6 5 collection tanks, tool shed, and composting station. As a part of the weekly programs the Master Gardeners and library programmers would begin tilling and preparing the soil for the vegetable plots. With about two months preparation time to obtain all the materials necessary, set-up and prepare, the library would host a Garden Party to kick-off the grand opening of the new community garden. We will have a keynote speaker who is a Master Gardner and professor from the University of Maryland as well as representatives from the Park and Recreation Department, Farm Bureau, and local environmental organization. After the Garden Party Kick-Off celebration occurs that s when the Community Garden will officially open as an outdoor classroom (although it was truly being utilized for that purpose during the weekly garden programs that prepared the space.) At that point the library would be providing free weekly intergenerational programs that take place in the garden teach about different aspects of organic vegetable gardening that would be conducted by a local master gardener. The weekly programs will not only serve to maintain the garden but also keep them for the most part self-sustainable. Class themes such as organic composting, seed-gathering, and when to start seeding indoors will keep the costs of maintaining the garden low after the initial output of funds, as well as teach members of the community this valuable information. A consist theme from our customer surveys regarding our programming was that parents desired adult programs that could be attended simultaneously while with their children are also participating in programs. The weekly program that we would offer is one that children could either participate with their parents or participate in the children s gardening patch, which would teach gardening basics to children. The programs will run year-round so people can learn about

7 strategies and maintenance of the land during change of seasons and how to prepare your garden during different times. Evaluation The garden will mainly be evaluated by attendance of the associated programming. We hope for a 20% increase of attendance in the gardening program due to the increased access that the outdoor classroom provides attendees. We will survey attendees of the programs to see how satisfied they are with the garden and the hands-on training in the outdoor classroom. CCPL will also include questions about the garden on all subsequent customer surveys to see how customers within the community view it. We will evaluate the garden and its surrounding programs yearly to make sure the needs and interests of the community are consistently being met. Dissemination The External Relations Department of the Carroll County Public Library will fully publicize the garden and the surrounding programs by advertising through the local newspaper, Currents, our brochure of events, and posters to be hung up at the library, local community senor centers, businesses, and schools. The garden is intended for use and edification of people of all ages. By advertising the garden in these various establishments, the intent is that it would draw interested people of all ages to come and participate. There will also be signage promoting that the garden will accept compostable material furthering its green appeal within the community. This would instill a sense of ownership and commitment to community members that have no

8 7 interest in directly participating in the garden; however they are interesting in indirectly enhancing it by providing their compostables. The programs and garden will also be featured on CCPL s website. In addition to the website CCPL will also utilize social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to have a direct dialogue about the community garden with the public. The use of social networking sites will hopefully interest teen involvement in the gardening programs as well as maintaining up-to date public input regarding our garden. We will also utilize a Community Garden Facebook page to document the process, from transforming the ground into garden plots and then into a bountiful yielding garden to further piqué the public s interest. Budget Supplies/Material 3 Bin Composter $ 1,200 Shed $ 1,200 On-site Tools (Hose, Shovels, Trowels, etc) $ 1,000 Rainwater Tank $ 2,000 Plants $ 300 Fertilizer/Soil $ 100 Publicity $ 50 Materials Total $ 5,850 Labor Library Programming $ 600 County Facilities $ 500 Publicity $ 50 Labor Total $1,150 Total $7,000

9 References Back, Lisa. (2011) Customer Satisfaction Survey Fall retrieved May 29, 2011 from Needham, G. (n.d.) How Does Your Garden Grow?. Parks and Recreation, 43(8), 32. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Smith, Jeremy N., Chad Harder, and Sepp Jannotta. Growing a Garden City: How Farmers, First Graders, Counselors, Troubled Teens, Foodies, a Homeless Shelter Chef, Single Mothers, and More Are Transforming Themselves and Their Neighborhoods through the Intersection of Local Agriculture and Community--and How You Can, Too. New York: Skyhorse Pub., Print. By typing my name below I certify that: This paper is entirely my own work. I have not quoted the words of any other person from a printed source or a website without indicating what has been quoted and providing an appropriate citation. I have not submitted this work to satisfy the requirements of any other course. Name: April Whisenand Date: 5/29/2011