Application (pages 3-5) is due by Saturday, March 14 th, 2015

Transcription

1 2015 Community Garden Start-Up Assistance Application The Garden Project PO Box Lansing, MI Phone: (517) Fax: (517) About The Garden Project: The Garden Project is a program of the Greater Lansing Food Bank dedicated to growing healthy food and cultivating connections. The Garden Project provides gardening opportunities so that community members can grow, harvest, prepare and preserve their own vegetables and fruits. Through the cultivation of fresh food, The Garden Project also aspires to cultivate community connections as families and neighbors garden together, fostering a sense of pride in well-tended gardens that serve as community gathering spaces. What is a Community Garden? Very simply, it is: Any piece of land gardened by a group of people. It can be urban, suburban, or rural. It can grow flowers, vegetables or community. It can be one community plot, or can be many individual plots. It can be at a school, hospital, or in a neighborhood. It can also be a series of plots dedicated to "urban agriculture" where the produce is grown for a market --American Community Gardening Association Garden Start-Up Assistance: In 2015, The Garden Project will provide start-up assistance to a limited number of groups. Garden Project assistance may include garden resources such as tilling, seeds & plant starts, tools, construction material, educational assistance, training and more. A more detailed list is provided on the following page. This application must be completed in order to be eligible to receive start-up assistance. Examples of groups eligible to start new gardens include block clubs, groups of school personnel or PTA s, churches, non-profit service organizations, or a group that has formed specifically to start a garden. Gardens formed to serve lower income populations and garden groups demonstrating high capacity & motivation are favored to receive startup assistance. Application Requirements: Groups applying to start a new community garden must have identified at least 5 persons (from different households) interested in seeing the garden become a reality. At least two members of this pilot leadership team are required to attend the 2015 Garden Leaders Training. (Dates: 2/21, 2/28 & 3/14. Sign up info at The chart on the following page provides more information about what the community group and The Garden Project will each be expected to contribute as a partner in starting a garden. Application (pages 3-5) is due by Saturday, March 14 th, 2015 If you have any questions about the application or starting a community garden, contact: Julie Lehman at (517) or gardenproject@greaterlansingfoodbank.org

2 MARK ALL ITEMS WHICH YOUR GROUP IS ALREADY PREPARED TO PROVIDE. What YOUR COMMUNITY GARDEN GROUP will provide: A motivated, resourceful group of at least 5 people to plan and implement the garden. At least two (more are welcome) leadership team members to attend Garden Leader Training. What THE GARDEN PROJECT will provide: Assistance, training and consultation with planning and coordinating your project. Connection with network of community gardeners, volunteers and professionals in the fields of gardening and food. Access to resources and/or funds. Access to Garden Leader Training focused on annual garden planning, working with volunteers and gardeners, identifying community assets and much more. Volunteer support and necessary labor to install and maintain the garden. Includes community organizing, planting, watering, weeding, seasonal clean-up and etc. through the season and in coming years. Assistance in publicizing volunteer needs and identifying volunteer groups through our network. Maintenance of any garden infrastructure and willingness to seek other sources of funding and support for ongoing garden improvements. Selection, planting and maintenance of plants. Recognition of The Garden Project of the GLFB as a partner in media reports, signage, etc. Demographic information on the gardening group as a whole, or a registration form for each participating household (depending on garden). Upkeep of garden and any preparations for tilling/other services. Potential assistance of up to $500 for a one-time start-up grant for materials like compost, fencing, water hook-up or other items. Notification of outside funding opportunities and support/consultation in seeking other funding. Vegetable seeds, vegetable and flower transplants, and select perennial plants for your garden. (Variety dependent on donations--we cannot guarantee all the variety of a commercial supplier). Signage recognizing the garden as part of the GP network. Help with press releases and other communication tools. Inclusion in promotional and online maps, newsletters and other GP P.R. materials. Access to our Resource Center to borrow tools, books and information, supplies, and more. Regular newsletter and updates. Free workshops and classes on gardening and food. Coordination of sign-up process/registration if desired. Annual or one-time assistance with plowing/roto-tilling. Liability insurance and aid in negotiating land use agreements as necessary. The Garden Project is here to be a catalyst, consultant and connector to help community group gardens in the Lansing area grow and thrive. Every garden is different, and the services we provide may vary depending on garden characteristics / other factors. This table is a tool to help identify mutual responsibilities and expectations.

3 2015 Community Garden Start-Up Assistance Application Due by Saturday, March 14, 2015 (See cover sheet for more info.) 1. Please describe your group. Include purpose, parent organization (if any), number of members & frequency of meetings (if regularly scheduled). 2. Please list the contact information of five people (from different households) interested in seeing the garden happen. Include yourself first. My Name: Evening phone: Contact #2 Name: Contact #3 Name: Contact #4 Name: Contact #5 Name: 3. Do you have a site in mind for your garden? If so, please list the location (include address, jurisdiction & any relevant landmarks), who owns the land and how the site is now used. Page 3 of 6

4 4. What do you hope to accomplish by starting this garden? 5. Please describe the assets or resources your group currently has access to (i.e., gardening tools, capable volunteers, funding, gardening know-how, leadership know-how, knowledge of community/ neighborhood, etc.) 6. List any other current or potential project partners that may lend support to your project (i.e., area businesses, schools, youth groups, neighborhood groups, etc.) 7. How will the garden be sustained into the future? What resources/funding will be needed to keep the garden going from year to year? 8. How many households do you expect to be involved? 9. How many individuals do you expect to be involved? Page 4 of 6

5 In order to take the next steps, we need to know, as specifically as possible, what kind of resources The Garden Project can help provide. Every garden is a little different, so we rely on you to work with your team and decide what resources you feel you can bring in on your own & where you would like assistance. (In years past, resources that GP have helped with include: tilling, tools, compost, sheds, construction materials, lumber, fencing, children s materials, painting supplies, volunteer groups, etc) If you are unsure of what resources you will need from The Garden Project at this time, that is ok! Simply say so below and we can work with you and answer these questions jointly as the weeks unfold. But the sooner requests are made, the better. We aim to have all of our startup resource requests received by mid-april. If you need to talk over options, call us at ) Describe the resources needed & estimated costs for the project. (Be specific in your estimate, listing estimated materials and the costs of those materials, as well as where you found those prices. If there are labor costs, please include those in the estimate. If you like, you may use the table on the following page.) 2) Provide an estimated timeline for your project, including, when you plan to complete it. 3) Describe the number of volunteer hours (if any) you estimate will be involved in your project and how you expect they will be completed (I.e. the project will take an estimated 20 hours to complete through one 2 hour workday with 10 gardener/volunteers participating) Thank you for completing this application. Please return it by 3/14/15 to The Garden Project: P.O. Box Lansing, MI gardenproject@greaterlansingfoodbank.org fax: (517) You will be contacted by a Garden Project staff person after we receive your application. Page 5 of 6

6 Table for Resources Needed & Estimated Costs (optional) ITEM OR SERVICE NEEDED COST PER ITEM X quantity needed = AMOUNT Page 6 of 6