Reach ‘ em , Teach ‘ em , and Let ‘ em Grow!

1. Reach ‘em, Teach ‘em, and Let ‘em Grow! Education for Sustaining Community Gardens

2. How to start and SUSTAIN a community garden Community Engagement • People • Passion • Plans • Permission • Promises • Place • Pennies • Partnerships

3. A non-profit organization in Birmingham, AL that promotes sustainable agriculture and healthy eating

4. Our History JVUF began in 2001 by getting access to an abandoned lot on the Southside of Birmingham. There are over 20,000 acres of vacant land inside the city limits.

5. what we do at Jones Valley Urban Farm • Production organic farming on 28 acres in 3 sites • Retail, wholesale, and farmers’ market sales, and on-site stands • 50 subscription-member CSA • Policy and outreach activities • 37 member community allotment garden • 12 educational programs for children and adults

6. Growing Together An educational program that provides community gardeners • Resources • Skills • Tools • Training to develop and sustain their own community gardens

8. Reach ‘em

9. Getting the word out: community organizing 101 1. How to engage the community • Outreach • Excitement • Incentives 2. Establishing the group • Relationships • Roles • Rules

10. Involve community members to help sustain the garden

11. Strengths and Supports - Meetings, announcements, fliers, and relationships - Food system contacts - Media contacts - Neighborhood associations - RC&D Councils - County Extension - Churches and Schools - The Community Collaboration Manual

12. Find the tools and resourcesto make your garden grow(and your community)

13. …keep reaching… • Developing group vision • Why • Who • How • What outcomes • Build community support and buy-in • Identify and access community resources 5. Build relationships • Make friends • Ask them for help

14. Find money and volunteer help to keep you growing

15. Teach ‘em

16. Engaging gardeners in Educational Methods 1. Gardeners choose what they want to learn 2. Homework 3. Time and support 4. Peer support and peer learning • Build relationships • Learn from each other • Strength in numbers

17. Choose a garden site with the right sun, slope, safety and soil

18. Teaching what we’ve learned

19. Experiential Education 5. Education isn’t complete until you’ve assessed/evaluated the learning • The value of reflection • Reality checks • Cost/benefit assessment in more than just $$$... • Learn from successes and failures

20. Plan the garden’s crops and budget

21. Connecting gardeners to other learning opportunities • Service learning opportunities • Extension, Master Gardeners, and higher education • School, church, scout, and other community groups • Community specialists – chefs, landscape designers, seniors, horticulturists, fitness, etc.

22. Growing Good Food organically

23. Tips for Successful Gardening Crop Plan for Successions Start with the soil Building compost Propagation Basics Irrigation Pests Weeds Harvesting Methods

24. Transforming Communities 1. Developing capacity and leadership 2. Providing positive activities and ongoing educational opportunities 3. Extending partnerships • Food policy councils • Farmers markets • Farm to school programs • New enterprise development

25. Grow plenty of fresh healthy food for your families

26. Follow-up & Follow-through Check-in and support Visit, call, text, email, or write Continue to invite new partners to the table Seek or initiate new opportunities

27. Growing Together Progress • 16 gardens started or supported by Growing Together since 2008 • All gardens are still active, some operate seasonally

28. Contact Us Edwin Marty Jones Valley Urban Farm 205-439-7213 www.jvuf.org Director@jvuf.org