Adding Community Value to Gardens

1. Adding Community Value to Gardens Beth Hanna Hava Blair Nick Heckman

2. Welcome • Introductions • Group Goals

3. Tallgrass Prairie Organic CSA Farm Community Gardens Sugar Maple Woodland Kids’ Garden Troy Gardens

4. Trainings Resources Evaluation

5. “It’s interesting, salsa has everything in it that I didn’t like, but I like it. I mean, it has onion, tomatoes, peppers…but it tastes good!”

9. Yes, I would like to continue to garden. I would grow chives, my favorite, carrots, peas, raspberries, strawberries, sunflowers; I think I might get chickens too. Not blueberries, I only like those with ice cream. -Marisol Llanos-Gomez, age 9

11. Riverview Gardens is a financially • self-sustaining social enterprise, primarily • focused on job-training for people in need, • utilizing urban farming in a park setting.

12. SecondaryFocal Points • Providing purposeful, dignity-building activity • Providing transitional employment as people prepare for permanent employment • Working with schools to help at-risk youth develop productive work ethics • Making healthy food accessible • Change our community’s perceptions of • people in need

13. Why Riverview Gardens? • Our community is faced with growing challenges: • The number of homeless individuals has risen by 48% • since 2005 (LIFE) • Unemployment was the most common primary reason for • homelessness in 2008-2010 (LIFE) • The number of nonprofits has doubled since 2006 while • available funding has remained stable (LIFE) • The number of people receiving food share benefits has • more than doubled in the last 5 years (LIFE) • Access to fresh local food is limited for low income • people (RUDD Report) • Riverview Gardens addresses all of these needs

14. Developing Our Space • COMMUNITY CENTER • Stone Cellar at Riverview Gardens • Community Events • Cooking Classes • Bread Share • Educational Workshops • URBAN FARM • Production areas… • Hoop Houses • Outdoor Gardens • Food Forest • (fruit/nut trees) • Aquaponics • Supplying produce for… • Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) • Restaurants • Institutions • Farm Markets • NATURAL PARK SPACE • Native Prairie • Picnic Areas • Trails • Running/Walking • Mountain Biking • X-Country Skiing • Snowshoeing • Open to the community • for daytime use.

15. An Aerial View

16. ServiceWorks ServiceWorks provides men and women in need or experiencing homelessness with transferable work skills. The program is designed to foster growth as a coworker, leader and community member through dedication to improvement in the following areas: • Quality of Work • Efficient Use of Time • Relationships with Peers • Relationships with Leaders

17. ServiceWorks Progress(Year to Date) # of Participants

18. Progress Update (18 Months)

19. Shared Harvest • Farmers bring an abundance of produce to farmers’ markets every summer • Unsold produce can go to waste • Connect local farmers with local food pantries by facilitating donations of fresh produce at the end of the farmer’s market • Volunteers collect, box, and deliver produce to food pantry

20. WorkShare • Individuals in need volunteer their time in return for a community supported agriculture (CSA) share. • Requires the farmer to train and manage schedules • With good training, WorkShare members contribute significantly to farm operations

21. Cooking Classes • Demonstrate how to use fresh, whole produce to create delicious meals • Outline process of meal planning and budgeting • Opportunities to collaborate: UW Extension, local culinary & nutrition program students, local chefs

22. Neighborhood Market Initiative • Market stand on trailer can travel to any neighborhood • Identify neighborhoods will low access to fresh produce • Park in any legal parking space • No license required for selling fresh fruits and vegetables • Identify leaders in each neighborhood to promote program • Collaborate with local groups to make weekly markets a neighborhood event

23. Hunger Task Force Has a Farm

24. Hunger Task Force Has a Farm

25. Hunger Task Force Farm & Fish Hatchery • Milwaukee County Park System property • Operated by Hunger Task Force under a 30–year lease with Milwaukee County

26. Our Farm Feeds the Hungry Free of Charge!

27. Our Farm Feeds the Hungry Farm fresh produce is delivered free of charge to 81 pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters in Milwaukee County.

28. Farm Facts • 25+ varieties of vegetables • Provides reliable source of fresh produce, including culturally appropriate food items • 1 million lbs 2013

29. Farm Facts 4 Orchards

30. Farm Facts Farm Includes a Greenhouse

31. Fish Hatchery The farm also includes a fish hatchery that is used to raise trout, sunfish, perch and bass . . .

32. Fish Hatchery Facts for transplant into Milwaukee County Park ponds for recreational fishing.

33. Why does Hunger Task Force Operate the Farm? • It provides a reliable source of high quality produce to feed hungry people in Milwaukee County.

34. Other Benefits of the Farm Include. . . …opportunities for youth and adult education.

35. Nutrition Education

36. Other Benefits of the Farm Include. . . …opportunities for youth and adult education.

37. Hunger Task Force Farm & Fish Hatchery The fish hatchery supports a recreational urban fishing experience.

38. Hunger Task Force Farm & Fish Hatchery Conserves one of the last significant open areas in Milwaukee County, including a rare example of an Oak Savanna.

39. FOR MORE INFORMATION www.hungertaskforce.org 414-777-0483 Maureen@hungertaskforce.org

40. Discussion Groups