Increased Access to Healthy Food & Outcomes Associated with Local Food Systems Elizabeth Patton-Whiteside East Side Health District 650 N. 20 th Street East St. Louis, IL. 618-271-8722
By the Numbers.. 3 years from an idea to groundbreaking
MISSION To promote wellness in our community by using the garden as an educational tool for local families and individuals by creating a sustainable, healthy and readily available community food source. 3
Creating a Community Garden Clear vision Sustained effort over several years Strong Commitment from at least 3-5 individuals Resources --- Time (volunteers) --- Money
Vision
Vision Community Garden for Senior Citizens Farm for the Poor Low income Garden Educational Demo Community Use
+/- 20 garden members
What Next? Community Asset Mapping Garden Needs and Assets Community Outreach Budgeting and Fundraising
Community Asset mapping
Identifying Potential Partners
Potential Partners Churches Citizen groups-rotary & Lions Clubs Colleges & Universities Community & Senior Centers Cooperative Extension Food banks Health Department High Density housing Developments Mayor s initiative for Food & Fitness Electric Company Water Company Neighborhood Associations Parks & Recreation Private Business Railroad & transit lines Schools Police department Local Artists Kids clubs Youth Groups Green building Councils
Volunteering. With-in the garden Coordinating deliveries Teaching Gardening Classes Collection of Produce Hosting garden tours Planting, Mowing community areas Repairing and cleaning equipment Turning compost Picking up trash Maintaining Paths Mentoring Outside the garden Using Social media Phone calls, e-mails to community partners Mailings Newsletters Website brochures Putting up Signs and Banners Collecting Donations
Cost of setting up the garden Cost is approx. $1.00 per square foot per year for the first 5 years. Ex: a plot 100ft x 100 ft= 10,000sq ft It will cost $10,000/year to start.
IMPOVERISHMENT 15
F.R.E.S.H. COMMUNITY TEACHING GARDEN East St. Louis, IL. 62205
HARVEST
F.R.E.S.H. FARMER S MARKET
ILLINOIS WIC FARMER S MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM 2013 Issued 175908 Redeemed 2012 236469 2011 221322 $0 $100,000 $200,000 $300,000 $400,000 $500,000 $600,000 $700,000
EAST SIDE HEALTH DISTRICT WIC FARMER S MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM VOUCHER REDEMPTION 2013 $7,380 2012 $11,526 2011 $4,962 Redeemed $666 2010 $0 $5,000 $10,000 $15,000
The Illinois EBT Wireless Project is made possible by partnerships with USDA Food and Nutrition Service The Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the Governor s Rural Affairs Council chaired by Lieutenant Governor Simon Illinois Department of Agriculture. Illinois Department of Human Services. Illinois Farmers Market Association Experimental Station Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Aims to expand access to fresh produce for low-income residents and boost the sale of locally grown, healthy food across the state by enabling farmers markets to accept Illinois Link cards, which access federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, wirelessly at minimal cost for the first time.
LINK UP Illinois is a program of Experimental Station, in partnership with the Illinois Farmers Market Association and Wholesome Wave.
Double Value CouPon Structure How much will you double up to? How will you distribute incentives? Tokens, Paper, or instant?
Grant monies to farmers markets and food access points for Double Value Incentives on government funded benefit programs. Mainly the SNAP & WIC Farmer s Market Nutrition Program/Senior Farmer s Market Nutrition Program. In exchange for funds, markets are required to report back empirical data.
Community Impact Enhanced healthy eating habits by exposing the families to various fruits and vegetables Participants learned sustainable agricultural production gardening & composting of food waste into useful soil Increased physical activity and promoted healthy lifestyles Showed how to recycle and reuse materials Increased community volunteerism Job creation
Community Impact Increased accessibility to those with physical and/or mental limitations Provided a great family project for all ages Low Cost Promoted self sufficiency Promoted sustainability Taught productive use of open space for community enhancement, socialization and decreased violence Created the F.R.E.S.H. Farmer s Market
THANK YOU Eli East Side Health District 650 N. 20 th Street East St. Louis, IL. 62205 (618) 874-4713 ext. 220
Thank You ********************************** CONTACT INFORMATION: Elizabeth Patton-Whiteside, RN, BSN, MBA Public Health Administrator East Side Health District 650 N. 20 th Street East St. Louis, IL. 62205 (618)271-8722 ext. 100 (office) (618)271-0754 (fax) epatton@eshd.org (email) www.eshd.org (website