As the year comes to a close I'd like to share a few highlights from our community garden projects over the last year. Congratulations to all the garden coordinators, garden collaborators and to the community gardeners themselves for making it through the first community garden season! To see photos of each site over the last year, please click on the photo slideshows on the left side of this blog.
Briggs Avenue Community Garden (Durham)
• 15 community collaborations formed including those with Duke Medical residents, Master Gardener Volunteer Program, Home Depot and long term volunteer commitments from Durham Tech Community College employees
• 22 garden beds assigned to gardeners; 62 raised beds built in total
• An 8 foot tall deer fence surrounding the garden plots is near completion; water well, pump and electrical hookup were installed on site
• 22 youth participated in two summer agri-entrepreneurship programs led by the garden coordinator
• Over $14,900 from in-kind donations and grant monies was received (not including CYFAR grant $); 190 adult volunteer hours and 30 youth volunteer hours were recorded
• Both the garden’s advisory council and the community gardeners are meeting monthly
Lewiston Community Garden (Bertie)
• Parcel of land was prepped for the garden; gardening supplies and equipment (rototiller) were purchased
• Key partnership formed with the Bertie Resource Center; several visits from youth groups who came to work and learn in the garden
• Interest within the community for the project is growing as noted by the garden coordinator
• Garden harvest was shared among community members and was also donated to the Resource Center
• 170 adult volunteer hours and 5 youth volunteer hours were recorded; in-kind donations of materials were received
Wagram Community Garden (Scotland)
• 24 garden plots were built; 19 different families were working in them throughout the last year
• Interviews with 8 gardeners showed that all of them successfully grew food in their plots and were satisfied with the program overall
• 5 gardeners who returned surveys estimated the value of the produce they grew at $1,245; 7 out of 8 gardeners thought they spent less money on food due to the food they grew in their garden
• Planning is underway for a high tunnel to be reconstructed at Scotland County High School for use with a youth agri-entrepreneurship program
• $2500 was received in grant money + more from in-kind donations of materials; 35 volunteer hours were recorded
• Monthly gardener meetings are being organized
Sustainable Communities Project - Community Garden Curriculum
The first complete draft of the CYFAR Sustainable Communities – Community Gardening Curriculum should be ready by the beginning of next year. Thanks to the following people who have put together the curriculum modules:
- Keith Baldwin: Horticulture
- Montreka Dansby: Diet and Nutrition
- Travella Free: 4H Youth Entrepreneurship
- Michelle Eley: Community Development
- Meeshay Wheeler: Parenting
Looking forward to a year ahead filled with bountiful harvests.
Happy Holidays to all!!!
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