Class 1: Community Engagement & Planning The primary focus of this class is why and how to include your community in developing a community garden. This class will explore goals, discuss organizing volunteers and funding, and help you set priorities for your garden. Why are you starting a community garden? Starting a Community Garden 1 Habitat Plants Urban Harvest, Inc. www.urbanharvest.org info@urbanharvest.org Dill Cilantro- Coriander 1
African Blue Basil Clasping Leaf Coneflower Indian Blanket Plains Coreopsis Plains Verbena Showy Evening Primrose 2
Blacked-eyed Susan Butterfly Weed Asclepia tuberosa American Beautyberry Callicarpa americana Hummingbird Bush Hamelia patens Wax Myrtle Wild Red Columbine Aquilegia canadensis 3
Habitat Plant Resources Native Plant Society of Texas www.npsot.org Habitat Gardening for Houston & Southeast Texas by Mark Bowen Native Plants of Texas Region by Region by Sally & Andy Wasowski Plant/Insect list www.ci.austin.tx.us/growgreen/downloads/ beneficial.pdf Who is Urban Harvest and what do we do? Foundation Education Program Urban Harvest Farmer s Markets Community Gardens Program Urban Harvest Affiliated Gardens Starting a Community Garden Allotment Garden School Garden Donation Garden Class 1: Community Engagement, Planning and the Habitat Garden Class 2: Garden Designs, Fruits and Vegetables Class 1 Summary Including your community in developing your community garden Setting Goals & Priorities Organizing volunteers Funding Planning the Garden Habitat Plants Class 2 Summary Review Homework Review your components Choosing a site Designing the site Fruits and Vegetables 4
Community Gardens How is community defined? Importance of Community What is a Community Garden? Social aspects of a garden Community Building Characteristics of Asset Based Community Development The ABCDs of Community Gardens Identify local assets based on Individual gifts (talents/skills) Associations (personal & group) Local institutions Local ecology Commerce Characteristics of Asset Based Community Development Internally focused in terms of time, energy & emphasis The development strategy concentrates upon the agenda building and problem solving capabilities of local residents, local associations, and local institutions. Characteristics of Asset Based Community Development Relationship driven: To engage in this approach one must continually ask, Will this action strengthen the relationships between residents, local associations and local institutions? Why Garden? Quality of Life Benefits Enjoyable Exercise Readily available healthy food Keeps income in the community Improves realty values Improves work ethic Why Garden? Environmental Benefits Rebuilds habitat Reduces pollution Reduces energy use 5
Who do Community Gardens Benefit? Everyone Schools & other youth organizations Low income households Community Garden Purpose Group Food Donation General Education School and Youth Enabling or Therapy Market What do Community Gardens provide? Education Inspiration Community Building Group Food Gardens Definition Types Allotment garden Cooperative garden Types Locations Labor Alabama Gardens Harry Holmes Healthy Harvest Community Garden Allotment Baltic St. Garden Brooklyn, NY Dowling Garden Minneapolis, MN Sacramento, CA Upper Kirby Dist CG South Austin, TX 6
Donation Gardens Definition Additional benefits Amount of Food Produced Challenger 7 Garden Donation Gardens Huff Memorial General Education Gardens Definition Multipurpose Adult Education Serve a large variety of groups School and Youth Gardens (Outdoor Classrooms) Definition Importance Community Benefits How can an Outdoor Classroom Be Used? Integral part of curriculum After-school program Special considerations Administrative support Parent groups Examples 7
Enabling or Therapy Gardens Outdoor Lessons Definition Who is served by Enabling/Therapy gardens? American Horticultural Therapy Association www.ahta.org Market Gardens Definition Types Therapy/Enabling What You Need to Start a Community Garden Answer Before You Start Why Why are you starting a community garden? Who: Who will the garden serve Who will work in the garden Who will run the garden What What is the purpose of your community garden? A purpose/goal Is it feasible? A Plan A Design A Budget & funding Volunteers 8
What You Need for Success: A Team A Site Funding/Budget Knowledge Organizing A Management Team for your Needs Organizer/ Leader Fund Raiser/Grant Writer Volunteer coordinator Garden Expert/Trainer Organization/Management Community gardens must have many volunteers for success Regular volunteers (come every week) Groups (come once) Multiple back-up is essential Break management into manageable pieces Committees for various ongoing tasks (fund raising, compost, mulch, volunteers, planning, training) Volunteer Recruitment Local business, churches, universities, civic associations Parents garden committee regular planning meetings opportunity to share knowledge, train Active supportive school/organization administration Making Your Garden Sustainable Implement in stages Institutionalization: Community gardens becomes sustainable when they are built into the goals and objectives of an organization Curriculum/TEKS Included in the budget (civic assoc, school, church, etc) Part of the mission (i.e. feeding the hungry) Part of the ministry Teachers/Staff are hired to fill a role or they have as their goals to include gardening in their day. A Good Community Garden Site Includes Sun and Shade Proximity to Entrance and Water A Future Continuity Access Considering Garden Components Vegetable garden Fruit Trees Herb garden Wildscape or Habitat garden -includes, insectary, ponds and wetlands Heritage gardens Urban Forests Compost People care (rest area, toilet) 9
Finding Land Observe where there is unused land in your community Vacant Land: who owns the property? Church Land School Property Parks Funding/Budget Start small Plan for growth & sustainability Budget components Building Materials Supplies, Maintenance Water Insurance Fund Raising Begin by looking at what is available in your community Next contact large businesses in your community and local grants Last Choice look at national grants www.garden.org www.kidsgardening.com/grants.asp Creating a Budget About $1000 to build a small vegetable garden (4 beds 4ftx20ft each). A small orchard (6 trees, mulch, tree barriers) costs $400 or less. Assumes best materials and all volunteer labor We can do this with you. Set an appointment to meet with the community gardens coordinator. You may need to create an estimate even before you are able to draw up a design. A large community garden or outdoor classroom can be built from a master design in phases over years so funds can be acquired slowly. Sample Gardens (Built w/best materials & assumes all labor done by volunteers) Small vegetable garden 2 beds + 3 fruit trees = $1,400 (20 x 4 bed) Medium vegetable garden 4 beds + 6 fruit trees = $1900 Large vegetable garden 6 beds+ 10 fruit trees = $2500 Habitat garden: 20 x10 = $1,500 Pond = Depends greatly on size and needs Knowledge Urban Harvest Classes Volunteer Tour community gardens Networking meetings 10
When To Plan And Build The Garden/Outdoor Classroom Planning anytime but TAKE YOUR TIME Building Community Gardens Gardens don t grow unless they are planted in the right place by people who know how to garden. Similarly, community gardens gardens won t grow unless they are put in the right place by people who know how to make them thrive. Homework 1. 2. 3. Who is going to be a part of your project or who are the members of your team? Meet and discuss the project? If school, how many teachers are going to be involved in the project? Do you have support from the administration? What is the purpose/goal(s) of your garden? Decide on the priorities and, for schools, what are your curriculum objectives? Begin locating funds for your project and/or writing grant applications. Recommended Classes Homework continued 4. Create a lists of ways you plan to develop the social connections among your volunteers. How are you going to make coming to the garden an enjoyable time that is about more than just work? 5. Visit several community gardens. Talk to their coordinators about how they operate. Find out what has and has not worked and why. Spend some time volunteering in a community garden at least 1 time, preferably multiple times. 6. Identify your assets (refer to ABCD slides in handout). Create a bio-diverse multi-habitat landscape Starting a Community/School Garden 2 Hands On: Constructing the Home Fruit and Vegetable Garden Growing Organic Vegetables Series of 10 classes starts in January each year Fruit Tree Classes Growing Great Tomatoes Introduction to Permaculture Seed Selection and Ordering Seed Saving Propagation-transplants Hands On: Backyard Composting and Maintaining Healthy soil More classes can be found at www.urbanharvest.org And establish sustainable environments that grow richer over time 11