Rotary Club of Fall River Community Gardens
Grant Round:
2012
Grant Program:
Small Grants
Grant Type:
Other Grants
Grant amount requested:
2,500.00
Please provide a brief description of the project for which you seek funding.
The Rotary Club of Fall River plans to start a community garden in the Spring of 2012. It will be located at Bristol Community College(BCC) in Fall River, MA. We have enough land to create fotry (40) 4'x5' lots. We plan to offer these at a minimal fee ($10) to the residents of Fall River. BCC has stated that if this project is a "hit" then will will be given more land the following year to expand and offer more plots.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| hiring tiller to till soil | $250.00 | Materials | |
| topsiol | $200.00 | Materials | |
| fertilizer | $200.00 | Materials | |
| materials to build storage shed | $500.00 | Yes | Materials |
| lumber to divide land into 4'x5' plots | $450.00 | Yes | Materials |
| rain barrels and compost bin | $600.00 | Yes | Materials |
| tools | $250.00 | Yes | Materials |
| wire fence to surround plots | $150.00 | Yes | 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.
Our Rotary Club members plan to till the land; bring in top soil, fertilizer; lay-out the 4'x5' plots; install a fence around the entire site; set up a compost area; build a tool shed; set up rain barrels - the site does not have a source of water close by. We have an agreement with the City of Fall River that they will fill our water barrels and keep them full for us over the course of the growing season. All our club members are eager to get this program up and running. Once this is set up we will offer the lots to the residents for a $10 fee. We have drawn up a contract that will have to be signed by the lot owner. The Rotart Club members plan to stay involved and oversee and manage the project.
If your group receives a NEGEF Grow grant, how do you plan to pay for remaining expenses?
| $ Amount | Source |
|---|---|
| $400.00 | 40 plots at $10 each |
Please list these materials or services
| $ Amount | Item |
|---|---|
| $500.00 | use of land donated by Bristol Community College |
| $1,500.00 | labor to build shed |
| $250.00 | labor to till soil |
Please describe what changes will occur in your community and its environment when your group's project is successful.
The City of Fall River is a working city of approximately 85,000 residents. Our unemployment rate is approximately 13%; the city had many working mills but the last ones shut down in the past 2 years. Our residents are having a terrible time making ends meet. The majority of people live in 3-tenament houses and do not have a yard or are not allowed to use the yard as it belongs to the landlord. We want to provide an area for our residents to be able to plant vegetables to help them stretch their dollars and also get nutritional food.
Please list how many people in your community your group expects to actively engage in this project.
40
What relevant skills does the group need (but does not currently have access to) to help move the initiative forward?
We do not have any professional gardeners or garden supply owners in the group. BUT - a few of our members are from the neighboring town of Westport, MA - and this is a farming community. We hope that we will be able tap into this community to help us with tilling the soil and gettinsoild and fertilizer. We do not have a source of water on site. We plan to set up water barrels. The City of Fall River has agreed to fill our barrels for us on a weekly basis.
What relevant skills do current members of the group have to help move the initiative forward?
The Rotary Club of Fall River has approximately 80 members. We are business owners, presidents, top executives, etc. We have many , many contacts to help get the project moving. Our main concern was a location and we have partenered with Bristol Community College for land on their campus. We have the ability either through our own club members our through our contacts to get the ball rolling. About half the club members are physically willing, able and ready to get the garden going.