11-2SG Cumberland Community Garden
Grant Round:
2011 September
Grant Program:
Small Grants
Grant Type:
Other Grants
Grant amount requested:
1,300.00
Grant amount awarded:
$1,300.00
Attachments
Please provide a brief description of the project for which you seek funding.
1) We propose evolving the new Cumberland Community Garden, which is completed dedicated to growing food for local food pantries, to a community garden that includes low cost rental plots for residents interested in growing their own organic food and contributing time to the food pantry garden. We would like to engage more of our neighbors in becoming aware of and actively involved in this effort to improve the availability of local, organic food, raise awareness of hunger in the local community and involve residents in efforts that make our town a better place to live: higher levels of civic involvement, participation in local decision making, elimination of food insecurity, etc. 2) Much of the town was previously farmland and a few family farms remain. Until this year, there was no community or even a pick your own organic farm in town. There is only one food pantry in town. It is located at the Cumberland UCC Church. Volunteers report that approximately 30 families seek assistance from the pantry which is only open twice a month. The church started a small garden on its property, but the food pantry does not have the means to supply significant fresh food to the recipients. 3) It was the recognition of these two deficiencies -- lack of an organic community garden or farm coupled with the recognition of an increasing need for fresh food for some of our neighbors -- that led to this project. With tremendous support from Cumberland's planning board, public works employees, local farmers, small businesses and volunteers, the groundbreaking for the garden took place in mid-June 2011. In less than 3 months of gardening, we have harvested over 350 pounds of vegetables from the 60 x 80 garden for local food pantries. 4) The project we are proposing for 2012 is to expand the garden from its current 4,000 square feet to 6,400 square feet or more. The timeline is as follows: • Report results to town with recommendations for future growth – Fall 2011 • Survey town residents for interest in lot rental – Jan-Feb 2012 • Determine resources needed based on survey – March 2012 • Plan and begin to execute fundraising events & publicity– Winter 2012 • Start seedlings – Winter 2012 • Expand garden, amend and prepare for planting, build kiosk/shed – Early Spring 2012 • Plant and harvest garden – Spring-Fall 2012
Project Summary
The Garden received a grant in 2011 to expand from its current 4,000 square feet to 6,400 square feet (or more). Funds were used for (building) supplies and materials to make the expansion possible.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| posts for new fencing | $500.00 | Materials | |
| carryover expense for waterline from 2011 | $570.00 | Materials | |
| soil amendments | $350.00 | Materials | |
| seeds and plants | $100.00 | Materials | |
| garden gate | $300.00 | Yes | Materials |
| row covers | $100.00 | Yes | Materials |
| mulch/hay | $300.00 | Materials | |
| plowing, rototilling, defining rental plots | $300.00 | Materials | |
| hoses and plant supports | $200.00 | Materials | |
| misc. supplies | $180.00 | Materials | |
| signs, printing, mailing | $300.00 | Yes | Materials |
| organic pest management controls | $100.00 | Yes | Materials |
| permanent fencing | $500.00 | 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.
We will engage community members in several ways. Because our garden is in such a central location in our town’s main recreation area, hundreds of people have already seen us in action and many of those have stopped to speak with us while we are working. We have a blog for the garden that is mentioned in the town’s e-news and have had coverage in our local newspaper. We are working with both our town’s employees and church volunteers. We have early involvement and strong interest from both local Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troops. We have promoted the project at the Cumberland Library and with local businesses. Cumberland has just 7,200 residents, so word of anything new travels fairly quickly. The town survey that will go out this winter will go a long way in communicating what we are doing and why. As we grow our volunteer base and add rental plots, we envision a number of activities: “Adopt a Blueberry Bush,” building an accessible garden, harvest day/harvest supper, etc. Also, the Boy Scouts’ kiosk/storage shed will contain a bulletin board to further inform residents about opportunities to get involved. Once individual plots become available, it will be easier to engage more people.
If your group receives a NEGEF Grow grant, how do you plan to pay for remaining expenses?
| $ Amount | Source |
|---|---|
| $800.00 | individual donations |
| $100.00 | Lion's Club |
| $800.00 | seedling sales |
| $300.00 | pumpkin and blueberry bush sales |
| $500.00 | other local grants |
| $1,300.00 | NEGEF grant |
Please list these materials or services
| $ Amount | Item |
|---|---|
| $100.00 | compost - donated/delivered |
| $100.00 | mulch/hay |
| $45,000.00 | volunteer labor @ $25/hr |
| $2,000.00 | town employee labor @ $50/hr |
| $5,000.00 | land and water |
Please describe what changes will occur in your community and its environment when your group's project is successful.
The most obvious measurement is the amount of food we can produce and distribute. However, there are many other attributes that will lead to the success of the community garden in the long term including: - Number of residents who respond favorably when the town surveys for interest in the garden and express interest in leasing plots - Our ability to attract and maintain a larger, active, more diverse volunteer base. - The number and size of donations - Feedback from the food pantries, in terms of the types of vegetables we provide - The ability to scale our efforts up or down based on the resources (money, soil amendments volunteers, etc). - Our ability to maintain positive relationships with local farms and local businesses. We want to be viewed as complementary in creating awareness and appreciation of local, organic foods and farms. - The involvement of additional community groups (churches, civic groups, Scouts, etc.) in this endeavor. - Number of visitors who click on the link from the town e-news to the garden blog. Although we have not kept count of the number of visitors to the garden, we are in a central location. Every day volunteers are working, people stop to ask what we are doing, to thank us, and to offer encouragement. One benefit is that neighbors are meeting neighbors and sharing interests. Another is that we’re raising awareness of hunger in our own community (several people did not know we even had a food pantry in town). An additional benefit is the opportunity for prospective gardeners to learn from and work beside experienced volunteers rather than face the daunting task of starting a vegetable garden on their own.
Please list how many people in your community your group expects to actively engage in this project.
100
What relevant skills does the group need (but does not currently have access to) to help move the initiative forward?
We would like to include bee hives as part of our future growth and to educate our communities about the role and plight of bees. We do not have this capability right now. We also do not have expertise in accessibility issues (gardening with disabled, elderly, etc.) and would seek knowledgeable resources before moving forward with this. As we grow, we will undoubtedly identify skill sets that are needed, but not readily available within our core volunteers.
What relevant skills do current members of the group have to help move the initiative forward?
Our active volunteer group has many of the skills needed: We have a lifetime organic gardeners/farmers, master gardeners, a professional fundraiser and church members experienced with food pantry procedures. One of our volunteers is also treasurer for several school/civic groups. Amongst our volunteer group we have sufficient computer/web expertise for our current needs. Because our town officials and public works employees have been so helpful, we have been able to leverage their resources as well (banking, water line installation, etc.)