11/8/2012 WHAT IS A COMMUNITY GARDEN? An area of land which is cultivated by members of a community. MAKING PITT FIT COMMUNITY GARDEN

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1 MAKING PITT FIT COMMUNITY GARDEN Growing a Community and a Garden Presented By: Alice F. Keene Pitt County Government WHAT IS A COMMUNITY GARDEN? An area of land which is cultivated by members of a community. HEALTH BENEFITS OF COMMUNITY GARDENS Gardeners and their families can consume a wider variety and larger quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables. Gardeners can increase their levels of physical activity and achieve improvement in their overall physical and mental health. Apartment dwellers have greater access to outdoor activities and sunshine. Children can have contact with plants, insects and the natural environment. 1

2 AMERICA S FIRST DOCUMENTED COMMUNITY GARDEN WAS IN WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA In 1753, Moravians established Bethabara as a temporary settlement while they laid plans for a more permanent town, which become known as Salem. In Bethabara, the Moravians built homes, opened shops, and planted community gardens. The families shared the produce harvested from the gardens. Source: ng/colonial-legacy.aspx?page=3#ixzz1yrf7bhjp Photography by Lee Anne White WWI AND WWII FOOD SHORTAGES WWII- 40% of national vegetable supply was grown by 20 million Americans in Victory Gardens CHILDREN S FARM GARDEN: NYC DEWITT CLINTON PARK 2

3 DeWitt Clinton Park Today DeWitt Clinton Park is one of the few recreational facilities which is large enough to play soccer, softball and baseball in Manhattan. The largest community gardening program in the nation. GreenThumb provides programming and material support to over 500 community gardens in New York City. Workshops are held every month of the year, and gardeners are provided with free resources such as seeds, transplants, tools etc. Annual competitions held to recognize positive gardening outcomes. Program is entirely administered by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation A MEANS FOR NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 3

4 Resources: Video clip on community gardens in NYC l Handbooks with best management practices GROW YOUR PARK- NRPA PROGRAM Connecting children to nature, gardening, fresh food, and nutritional education through community-based edible garden programs. Garden programs are key to broadening children s exposure to and knowledge of the foods that lead to lifelong nutritional decision-making. Source: NRPA RESOURCE-HANDBOOK NRPA has developed a handbook designed for park and recreation agencies to plan, fund, implement, and sustain community garden programs. BUILDING A COMMUNITY GARDEN IN YOUR PARK: Opportunities for Health, Community, and Recreation Link: ts_and_partners/youth_development_and_play/ Building-Community-Garden.pdf 4

5 A COMMUNITY GARDEN IN MANHATTAN 2 blocks from DeWitt Clinton Park A COMMUNITY GARDEN IN ENGLAND FUNDING FOR THE MAKING PITT FIT GARDEN Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation Increased physical activity Increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables Intergenerational gardening program The Center for Disease Control (CDC) Communities Putting Prevention to Work Grant (CPPW) - Take Step Two Increased physical activity Increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables Sustainability of programs through local policy adoption. Vidant Medical Foundation Community Benefit Grant promotes outreach projects that focus on wellness and prevention 5

6 Build Support and Seek Partners Build your garden community before you build your community garden. Identify partners early, and gather feedback from a broad spectrum of your community. Partners: Pitt County Public Health Department Planning & Development Department Community Schools and Recreation Pitt County Cooperative Extension Soil and Water Conservation Best Practices for Community Gardens Raised beds. Beds 8-10 tall. Use non-toxic materials such as concrete, cedar, or recycled plastic lumber to construct the beds. Consider wheelchair accessible beds as well. Plant quality is only as good as the soil quality. Need well drained soil, perform soil test to check ph, soil fertility and organic matter content. Safety and sustainability go hand in hand. Minimize potential exposure to toxic chemicals by establishing pesticide and chemical guidelines. 6

7 Best Practices for Community Gardens Make a plan. Beds 4 wide with 3 paths between for access. Fence it in. Minimize damage from humans and animals Best Practices for Community Gardens Create a Community Garden Advisory Board. To help manage the daily operations, maintenance, and supervision of the garden plots. Publish the rules and promote your garden. Determine plot fees, method of plot assignments, garden rules etc. Permanent signage should document the rules GARDEN LAYOUT 7

8 BASIC INFORMATION There are 92 garden plots in the garden. The 4 x 20 plots rent for $15 for the entire year A $10 deposit is held for garden clean-up. At the start-up for the garden, 70% of the gardeners indicated they wanted to be organic gardeners. The garden is divided into organic and nonorganic sections. Gardeners must volunteer for 5 hours each year to help maintain or support the garden. DAY 1 - NOVEMBER 2010 Bringing the water line to the garden 8

9 Getting water into and out of the garden. Water lines installed Drainage tiles installed GROUND BREAKING- APRIL 5,2011 THE GARDEN MAY 10,

10 WELCOME TO OURGARDEN SUMMER 2011 JULY 2, 2011 THE GARDEN JULY 2,

11 INTERGENERATIONAL GARDENING PROGRAM Five kindergarten classes from Wintergreen Elementary participate in a garden program in the spring. Family members and senior volunteers assisted with the students. Two afterschool and two summer camp groups also participate in a garden program. LENDING A HAND PLANTING STRAWBERRIES 11

12 HARVESTING POTATOES BUG HUNT ANOTHER USE FOR DUCT TAPE 12

13 GOT ONE! TEAM WORK NO BUG LEFT BEHIND! OUR YOUNGEST GARDENER 13

14 MAKING NEW FRIENDS ZUCCHINI BREAD WITH THE MORNING CREW GARDEN PARTY 14

15 THUMBS UP FOR RATATOUILLE ALL THE INGREDIENTS CAME FROM OUR GARDEN Pergola Built by Volunteers 15

16 EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT- BUILDING AN ARBOR/SWING THE COMPLETED PROJECT HE ALSO BUILT A COMPOST BIN 16

17 BOY SCOUTS BUILDING RAISED BEDS RAISED BED FOR WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY SOME GARDENERS PLANT FALL GARDENS 17

18 GREEN MANURE CROPS FOR OVERWINTERING FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact: Joni Torres Telephone: Websites: or Click: Pitt County Extension Program Click: Pitt County Community Garden Alice F. Keene: THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF A COMMUNITY GARDEN IS THE COMMUNITY 18