11-1SG Dudley Conservation Land Trust
Grant Round:
2011 February
Grant Program:
Small Grants
Grant Type:
Other Grants
Grant amount requested:
2,500.00
Grant amount awarded:
$1,000.00
Attachments
Please provide a brief description of the project for which you seek funding.
The Dudley Conservation Land Trust will be holding its 3rd Annual Plant Sale in May 2011 and, for the second year, a weekly Farmers’ Market running from June to September. The Annual Plant Sale is the DCLT’s major fund raiser each year. It provided about half of the operating funds raised in 2009 and 2010, respectively. The fledgling Farmers’ Market last year raised $811.50 with one regular vendor, Chaplin Farms, a few less regular vendors, and core group members selling their own produce, cut flowers, and baked goods and contributing a portion of their proceeds back to DCLT. Vendors are charged only $10 per Sunday for booth space and have offered fresh fruits and vegetables, breads and pies, locally produced honey and cheeses. For 2011, the DCLT has decided to hold its Farmers’ Market in the same location as the Plant Sale - the parking lot of a local business on a main street in Dudley. This location is expected to increase awareness, participation, and traffic at the Market and will provide greater continuity with the Plant Sale. Both events offer the community a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables grown locally and in a sustainable manner. The plant sale allows the public to purchase plants such as herbs and heirloom vegetable seedlings, as well as popular bedding plants and native plants. The Farmers' Market makes locally grown produce available on a weekly basis - in season - for those who are unable to cultivate their own. Both events serve as a forum to educate members of the community about the mission of DCLT, about the benefits of sustainable agriculture and healthy, fresh, locally grown produce without the need of dangerous pesticides and harsh chemical fertilizers.
Primary Issue Area:
Food
Please break-down/categorize the program expenses:
| Proposed Item | Estimated $ Amount | Would grant funds be used for this item? | Type Of Expense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canopies (7) | $1,400.00 | Yes | Materials |
| Potting soil | $150.00 | Materials | |
| Seeds | $50.00 | Materials | |
| Pots | $75.00 | Materials | |
| Folding Tables - (7) | $350.00 | Yes | Materials |
| Materials for Trellises | $200.00 | Materials | |
| Weighing scale | $300.00 | Yes | Materials |
| Signage, Advertising | $500.00 | Yes | Materials |
| Reusable table covers | $200.00 | Materials | |
| Plants for plant sale | $1,500.00 | Materials |
Whom does your group need to make this project happen?
Please explain how your group will engage members from your community in this project.
We plan to increase awareness and participation in the Farmers' Market with more advertising, such as publicity on the local cable channel and in local newspapers. We will have articles in the DCLT newsletter and plan to have posters and signage throughout the community. The new location is also expected to increase visibility and participation. We will actively seek out local farmers to invite them to participate. We also want to encourage backyard gardeners to sell their own produce and specialty items. We plan to add empty chairs and tables at both events to encourage a gathering spot for members of the community to sit and talk, exchange recipes and growing tips, and discuss local issues with group members and each other.
If your group receives a NEGEF Grow grant, how do you plan to pay for remaining expenses?
| $ Amount | Source |
|---|---|
| $2,500.00 | NEGEF Grant |
Please list these materials or services
| $ Amount | Item |
|---|---|
| $1,000.00 | Donation of venue space |
| $500.00 | Growing seedlings |
| $300.00 | Trellis production |
| $50.00 | Transportation |
| $600.00 | Harvesting-40hrX$15/hr |
| $150.00 | Planning Mtgs 10 X $15 |
Please describe what changes will occur in your community and its environment when your group's project is successful.
We hope to foster a greater appreciation of fresh produce and its value, an understanding of the health benefits of sustainably grown produce and the variety of available herbs, fruits, and vegetables which can be grown locally. We want to encourage more people to grow their own produce. The Farmers' Market will offer local farmers, producers and artisans a venue to sell locally. We will promote a greater sense of community and increased awareness of the DCLT’s mission.
Please list how many people in your community your group expects to actively engage in this project.
500
What relevant skills does the group need (but does not currently have access to) to help move the initiative forward?
The core group of DCLT members would greatly benefit from attending workshops to gain more knowledge about the best way to manage and promote the Farmers' Market and the Annual Plant Sale. Although we have several ideas and would like to make these events more profitable, as well as offer future workshops, we are currently limited by our financial and people resources.
What relevant skills do current members of the group have to help move the initiative forward?
Several members of the group have experience and a good deal of success cultivating plants, including growing plants from seed and saving seeds from heirloom varieties. These experienced gardeners have the knowledge and desire to introduce the public to new varieties of produce, and to share information about growing, storing and using produce. They have educated patrons on the benefits of locally and sustainably grown produce, as a way to decrease the carbon footprint.