10-2SG Tutorial Center Youth Agriculture Project
Grant Round:
2010 September
Grant Program:
Small Grants
Grant Type:
Other Grants
Grant amount requested:
1,500.00
Grant amount awarded:
$0.00
Attachments
Please provide a brief description of the project for which you seek funding.
We seek funding support for a specific component of our Youth Agriculture Project that will greatly increase sustainable food production -- a water well or water delivery system.
Background:
The Tutorial Center has been operating a very successful Youth Agriculture Project in Bennington, VT for 5 years. The program educates at-risk youth in organic farming, plants and crops, and soil principles, and trains them in planting, growing, caring for, harvesting, and selling organic crops. Each season the youth raise and donate over 1,000 pounds of produce to area soup kitchens and homeless shelters.
This past year, we linked up with Transition Town Manchester to extend our Youth Agriculture Project model into the Manchester region. A first pilot youth crew worked from May into September to transform the under-developed and under-used Manchester community garden space into a viable and productive organic garden.
The pilot youth crew of 5 at-risk teenagers (1 male, 4 female) worked with an experienced gardener and a farmer volunteer to till and prepare the soil; establish a work shed and work tables; fence in the 1-acre site; and then plant crops such as sage, mint, onions, broccoli, tomatoes, pumpkins; tend and harvest the crops; and sell crops at the local Farmers' market . Each week baskets of food were donated to the local Meals on Wheels program for delivery to the needy.
Through the community partnership of The Tutorial Center and Transition Town Manchester, with support from dozens of area farmers, gardeners, and businesses, the community made great strides in supporting sustainable agriculture. The at-risk youth made great strides as well. As one mother wrote to us in the beginning of September: "Jane (not her real name) had the greatest 'personal growth spurt' this summer that we have ever seen. This summer has literally done wodners for her. [We are] impressed with how knowledgeable Jane has become in organic gardening."
Our goals for the continuation of the Youth Agriculture Project/Transition Town Manchester partnership are to further develop the community garden space and engage more residents in having a plot; promote the overall concept of sustainable farming and agriculture; use sustainable farming and food systems as a vehicle for exciting youth of all ages -- at-risk and others -- in healthy lifestyles and sustainable communities.
This year , we made great progress in transforming the 1-acre field into a productive organic garden. The soil was tilled and managed, a shed was added, the plot was fenced in, work tables were set up, land-friendly organic crops were raised, a distribution system was established for getting food to the needy. But one hurdle continued to arise -- getting water to the garden. This year, we used a water storage tank, but that clearly is not a sustainable water solution. We are seeking your funding support to establish a water well on the property, or to develop an alternative water delivery system.
Primary Issue Area:
Food
Please break-down/categorize the program expenses:
| Proposed Item | Estimated $ Amount | Would grant funds be used for this item? |
|---|---|---|
| Program coordinator | $8,000.00 | |
| Community Liaison | $2,500.00 | |
| Tools | $500.00 | |
| Supplies | $750.00 | |
| Seedlings | $500.00 | |
| Outreach & promotion | $2,500.00 | |
| Transportation | $1,000.00 | |
| Garden labor | $12,000.00 | |
| Well or water system | $3,000.00 | Yes |
Whom does your group need to make this project happen?
Please explain how your group will engage members from your community in this project.
The figure in the answer to Question 5 includes just the core project staff, organizational leaders, directly-active volunteers, youth team, and major community supporters (donated materials, etc.). To date, we have been successful in obtaining literally every required support from some person/group/business in the community…except the water well!
Outreach has included virtually the entire community via news press, a steadily running public service announcement about the project on public access TV, visibility at the Farmers' Market through our booth, and widespread "word of mouth." [Visit our website to view our Public Service Ad!]
This fall, we are holding converstions with the area elementary school to engage their teachers and children in this oportunity for applied learning. This winter, we will be planning with Transition Town Manchester the strategies for recruiting a growing number of area residents to have their own space in this exciting community garden.
If your group receives a NEGEF Grow grant, how do you plan to pay for remaining expenses?
| $ Amount | Source |
|---|---|
| $8,250.00 | The Tutorial Center |
| $1,500.00 | Community Donations |
| $1,500.00 | NEGEF Grant |
Please list these materials or services
| $ Amount | Item |
|---|---|
| $2,500.00 | Transition Town Manchester |
| $1,500.00 | Local business donations |
| $3,500.00 | The Tutorial Center |
| $12,000.00 | Youth volunteers |
Please describe what changes will occur in your community and its environment when your group's project is successful.
We have already seen a major positive outcome from our first steps: youth are successfully engaged in sustainable agriculture in a way that will impact their future life and work decisions. This outcome is formally measured and tracked as part of our project research.
In addition, the partnership with Transition Town Manchester has added to a building community conversation about the need for, and merits of, sustainable lifestyles.
Specifically, our Youth Agriculture Project has brought largescale public attention to the role of a community garden in a business and arts-focussed community, evidenced by the volume of donated materials and the number of community people who have stopped by "to see what's going on here." Linking the educational mission of the project to the goals of Transition Town Manchester has brought the role of youth in building a sustainable community to the forefront of discussions.
Visibility of the project and its mission was seen when the Manchester Town Offices asked to have the youth team re-landscape a portion of its building gardening.
We will expect to see an increasing number of individuals, and hopefully businesses, establish -- or sponsor -- a plot in the community garden.
Please list how many people in your community your group expects to actively engage in this project.
30
What relevant skills does the group need (but does not currently have access to) to help move the initiative forward?
The project will continue to need individuals who can commit their organizations to being partners in the project's activities; in other words, individuals who are the current "decision makers" for their group or constituency. We have some, we will need more.
What relevant skills do current members of the group have to help move the initiative forward?
The Tutorial Center has 5 years of successful experience in creating and managing successful community gardens using youth teams. In additon, The Tutorial Center brings a commitment to sustaining the project financially to the best of its ability.
Transition Town Manchester brings a well-established community network that actively works on the mission of building resilient, sustainable communities through forums, discussion groups, and training sessions.