Doing Gardens Differentlyv2
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The document discusses plans to revitalize the Brown Middle School garden in Atlanta, Georgia. It provides background on how the garden was initially created through a collaborative community effort. It then discusses how the garden was productive in its first growing season by producing various vegetable crops. However, the community group that had been governing the garden is dissolving. The document considers having the local non-profit Impact Church take over operations of the garden in order to strengthen community ties and engagement. It outlines challenges such as capacity and funding that would need to be addressed for a successful transition.
Doing Gardens Differentlyv2
- 1. Doing Gardens Differently ! mpact Church & Brown Middle School (BMS) Garden Prepared by Julie Borders For Rudy Fears 21 January 2010
- 2. Agenda BMS Garden Background “Ripe” Environment “Bearing Fruit” Re-trenching Meeting the Challenges Next Steps
- 3. Brown Middle School Garden Background Collaboratively created by various West End Stakeholders in 2008 501(c)(3)Created Vibrant Communities (CVC) Community Association West End Historic District (WEND) City-sponsored Neighborhood Planning Unit – T (NPU-T) District 2 Atlanta Public School Board Representative Khaatim El Brown Middle School Staff Envisioned as a Multi-user Site Edible School Yard Community Garden Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Business Governed by Multi-year APS Facility-CVC Lease CVC Dissolution in process New Project Sponsorship Search
- 4. “ Ripe” Environment Macro Trends Back to Basics : Green (Eco) / Food Literacy Movement 1 st Lady’s White House Garden President Clinton’s Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiatives / School Lunch Report Cards Abundance of Unused + Misdirected Land & Physical/Mental Energy Micro Trends Neighborhood & Spelman College Food Literacy Efforts Established Community & Church Gardens in West End APS-mandated Wellness Programs Abundance of Unused Land + Misdirected Physical/Mental Energy
- 5. “ Bearing Fruit” Brown’s 1 st Growing Season Eight Raised Beds / 10+Prepped Rows / Compost & Mulch Piles Participation from Multiple Volunteer Groups & Individuals Vegetable & Herb Crops included Tomatoes, Okra, Corn, Beans, Peppers, Squash, Collards, Kale Basil Sold & Donated Produce Atwood CSA & SWOOM Community Markets Hosea Feed the Hungry
- 6. “ Bearing Fruit” Other Local Youth & Multi-Gen Garden Examples: School-based KIPP WAYS Academy www.kippways.org Washington Park Community Charter Elementary School Saturday Program Pearl Academy Agricultural & Environmental Center www.pearlacademy.org SWAT Elementary & Middle Specialized School Summer Camp + Circle of Life Gardening Center – Youth Entrepreneurs
- 7. “ Bearing Fruit” Other Local Youth & Multi-Gen Garden Examples: Community Center - based Operation PEACE www.operationpeace.org Villages of Bedford Pines Community (Old 4 th Ward) Neighborhood Development Organization Summer Program for Elementary & Middle School Children
- 8. “ Bearing Fruit” Other Local Youth & Multi-Gen Garden Examples: Church – based/located Good Shepherd Community Church West End Religious Organization Agricultural/Gardening Ministry Healthly Belvedere www.healthybelvedere.org Partnership among Kaiser Fiundation Health Plan of GA, The community Foundation of Greater Atlanta + the Belvedere Community in Peace Lutheran Church Site
- 9. Re-trenching The Need CVC Board Volunteer Fatigue / Circumstantial Changes Multi-year Lease Remaining Time Continued Stakeholder Interest The !mpact-Brown Opportunity Closer/Deeper Bond between/among Key Community Organizations Community Development: Economic/People The Challenges Organizational Fit Capacity/Skills Funding West End Resident Engagement
- 10. Meeting the Challenges Organizational Fit Impact Give Back + Youth Development Programs Future of Impact co-location with Brown Future Turnover Potential Capacity/Skills !mpacter Rudy Fears Community Gardening Activists Julie Borders Eugene Cooke Yasmin Mouzon Organizational Resources GA Organics Atlanta Urban Gardening Program Fulton County Extension Program, UGA American Community Gardeners Association The Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta The Foundation Center Funding Initial !mpact Infusion Self-sustaining Goal (Earned Income) CSA component After School Programs/Summer Camps Childrens Parties West End Resident Engagement Robert Thompson, CVC Executive Director Reconnection with WEND & other community organizations
- 11. Next Steps Determine Key Decision Criteria Size Initial Investment Communicate Plan of Action to Concerned Parties