Cities of Service:
LETS GROW
a service blueprint
IMPACT AREA: h e a l t h
Lets Grow
is a high-impact service strategy in which the mayors office engages volunteers to improve access to healthy foods in low-income neighborhoods where grocery stores and fresh produce markets are scarce.
IMPACT AREA: HEALTH
citiesofservice.org
LETS GROW
Lets Grow is a highimpact service strategy in which the mayors office engages volunteers to improve access to healthy foods in low-income neighborhoods where grocery stores and fresh produce markets are scarce.
By establishing fruit and vegetable gardens in partnership with local community-based organizations and volunteers, mayors can begin to address health challenges related to hunger, food insecruity, and poor nutrition, which are often found in communities with little access to fresh fruits and vegetables (food deserts).1 This blueprint provides a plan for engaging volunteers in the design, development, and maintenance of community gardens that provide residents, particularly children and their families, with a better understanding of healthy food and access to it.
BACKGROUND
People tend to eat food that is convenient and affordable. But in food deserts, fresh and healthy food is neither convenient nor affordable. Many residents in these often low-income areas too frequently eat a diet that is devoid of or low in fresh fruit and vegetables, which can lead to a variety of health-related problems.2 Studies show that food deserts have been linked to increased rates of childhood obesity,3 diabetes, and other food-related diseases caused by poor diets.4
1 Food deserts are places where there is low income and low access to affordable and healthy, nutritious food. In many places, this means locations where at least one fifth of the population lives at or below the poverty line and where there isnt a supermarket within a one-mile radius (or within a 10-mile radius in rural areas). In densely populated, pedestrian-oriented urban areas, this radius is even smaller. All things told, about 13.5 million people nationwide have little or no access to stores selling healthful food. http://www.good.is/post/usda-s-food-desert-locator-map. 2 US Department of Agriculture. Access to Affordable and Nutritious FoodMeasuring and Understanding Food Deserts and Their Consequences: Reports to Congress. 2009. Washington, D. C.: Economic Research Service, US Department of Agriculture. 3 Schafft, Kai A., Jensen, Eric B., and C. Clare Hinrichs. Food Deserts and Overweight Schoolchildren: Evidence from Pennsylvania. Rural Sociology; 74(2): 153-177. 4 US Department of Agriculture. Access to Affordable and Nutritious FoodMeasuring and Understanding Food Deserts and Their Consequences: Reports to Congress. 2009. Washington, D. C.: Economic Research Service, US Department of Agriculture.
IMPACT AREA: HEALTH
(Background continued)
Connecting residents to community gardening has been found to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, even among household members that do not directly participate in gardening.5 By providing a place for residents to grow their own fruits and vegetables and the support they need to keep the gardens flourishing, Lets Grow is designed to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables in the community and provide a natural venue for events that promote healthy eating.6 1
REQUIRED ELEMENTS
Mayors office, with the help of city agency and community partners, determines where in the city to focus the community garden initiative. Target areas should include low-income neighborhoods where grocery stores and fresh produce markets are scarce.
2 3
Mayors office identifies ways to support local or neighborhood partners in establishing garden sites and engaging community members as gardeners. All community gardens require land suitable for gardening, access to water, gardening supplies, equipment, and funds for the garden to be established and maintained.
Community volunteers of all ages and skill sets are engaged to support the gardens, working on projects ranging from site design and construction to garden maintenance and weeding, from event organizing to the harvesting and distribution of produce. At least one community-based volunteer should be tasked with being the Garden Lead/site coordinator, helping to organize community volunteers and serving as the gardens link to local government.
5 Carrie Draper & Darcy Freedman (2010): Review and Analysis of the Benefits, Purposes, and Motivations Associated with Community Gardening in the United States, Journal of Community Practice, 18:4, 458-492 6 Twiss, Dickinson, Duma, Kleinman, Paulsen, and Liz Rivelria. Community Gardens: Lessons learned from California healthy cities and communities. (2003) American Journal of Public Health; 93(9): 1435-1438.
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Mayors office tracks and reports impact metrics for every garden, often collected from local partners each quarter. a. Required metrics include: Number of new garden plots created Number of garden plots maintained Pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables harvested and distributed, or servings of food, if possible to calculate Number of families benefiting from the harvest Increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables amongst those benefitting from the harvest as measured by pre- and post-surveys
b. Optional metrics include:
Number of adults volunteering to support gardens Number of youth volunteering to support gardens Perceived increase in wellbeing of those participating in or benefitting from community gardens (through pre- and post-surveys)
EXECUTING LETS GROW
Choosing target neighborhoods
The mayors office identifies the neighborhoods where community gardens can have the most impact (e.g., areas where grocery stores and fresh produce markets are not available). Look for densely populated areas of the city, such as apartment housing zones, because these residents may be in greater need of a communal gardening space than residents with backyards. Map grocery store locations across the city and note any zones where stores are not within walking distance, paying special attention to those zones where poverty is high. These neighborhoods are most likely to benefit from Lets Grow. When prioritizing target locations, consider whether there is access to public transportation, which can make it easier for volunteers to commute to and from the site, and site topography, as hills can pose a challenge for gardening.
IMPACT AREA: HEALTH
Coordinating city agencies and services
The mayors office coordinates the available services of city agencies such as the department of public works, parks and recreation department, urban development or planning department, waste management, water and sewer department, and USDA extension office to establish a community garden initiative. These agencies can offer insight into existing garden-related programs and resources in the city, and can provide services critical to establishing the garden initiative, such as: Identifying public land or vacant lots available for community gardening; Facilitating the permitting process to secure the land for such use; Advising on local growing conditions, including soil testing; Ensuring access to water; Helping to secure and transport materials such as hose bibs, compost bins, raised garden plots, seeds and seedlings, soil and mulch, a tool shed, garden tools and supplies, and fencing; and Providing critical trash removal services. The mayors office can serve as a liaison between community garden stakeholders and city agencies.
Identifying local partners
Community garden initiatives require ongoing administration and maintenance. For example, most successful community gardens have rules that cover the use of resources, conditions for membership, plot assignment and management, alcohol and other community use policies, pesticide use, tool sharing, maintenance, and distribution of harvests. Should a mayors office not have the capacity to manage all of these things, it may want to partner with community organizations that can support the administration and maintenance of the gardens. For example, in Los Angeles, the mayors office partnered with the L.A. Neighborhood Land Trust and the L.A. Community Garden Council to support its gardening initiative. In Little Rock, the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service provides expertise in locating garden spots, understanding planting and irrigation requirements, and supporting composting and the need for beneficial insects to suppress undesirable bugs that harm the plants.
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Securing land
Any community garden initiative requires land suitable for gardening. There are four key requirements for a suitable garden site: sufficient space for garden plots, abundant sunlight, healthy soil, and access to water. Too much water may pose a challenge, so be mindful of sites that flood easily. Community gardens can be hosted on a variety of land types, including vacant property, alleyways, parks, and school grounds. Many cities work closely with their municipal land banks to identify appropriate parcels of land that can be repurposed for gardening. Some jurisdictions may also need to address issues such as leasing and insurance to secure the property.7 1 In instances where gardens require liability insurance which may carry high fees that could preclude community-based organizations from starting community gardens local partners may be able to help.2345
Engaging volunteers
In Lets Grow gardens, the core group of volunteers should be from the local community. At least one community-based volunteer should serve as the Garden Lead to help recruit, coordinate, and manage other volunteers for the garden. Volunteers are responsible for tasks as easy as lending a watchful eye over gardening activities and as intense as daily garden administration and maintenance. They and other volunteers can support the community garden initiative in a variety of ways: Site design and development Site cleanup Planting the garden Garden maintenance (e.g., weeding) Harvesting garden produce Garden administration Marketing and outreach Training on how to plant and maintain gardens Youth can be excellent volunteers: younger children can assist in basic tasks like weeding, while older youth will benefit from exposure to tasks with more responsibility like tending to the garden. Ideally, the local partner will engage parents as well their children to support the community garden. Community members with gardening experience can be valuable trainers, and local experts in landscaping and gardening might be willing to donate their time as well.
7 See Hale, Jack Insurance for community gardens (http://bit.ly/jmHZ1Y) or Securing Space (http://bit.ly/lOixZW)
I M P A C T A R E A : HE eA aL lT tH h
Measuring impact
The mayors office ensures that the garden initiative continues to meet its mission of improving access to healthy food by requiring local partners to track specific impact metrics. The required metrics to collect for each garden are as follows: Number of new garden plots created Number of garden plots maintained Pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables harvested and distributed, or servings of food, if possible to calculate Number of families benefiting from the harvest Increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables amongst those benefitting from the harvest as measured by pre- and post-surveys Optional metrics include: Number of adults volunteering to support gardens Number of youth volunteering to support gardens Perceived increase in wellbeing of those participating in or benefitting from community gardens (through pre- and post-surveys)
Fundraising for Lets Grow
Lets Grow is a compelling funding opportunity for local foundations and corporate partners interested in increasing access to healthy foods in low-income neighborhoods where grocery stores and fresh produce markets are scarce. Many of the materials needed for fresh fruit and vegetable gardens can be secured through cash donations or in-kind donations of equipment, materials, or services from local sponsors. A proposal to a local or national sponsor will typically include: An overview of Lets Grow Information on how this initiative will increase access to healthy fresh produce and positively impact the local community (e.g., number of individuals who now enjoy increased access to fresh produce, increase in community wellbeing) The amount of funding requested and a description of how those funds will be used (e.g., paying for seeds, gardening supplies, or tools) The metrics that will be collected to assess progress Information on Cities of Service (this is especially helpful for national funders) Description of a recognition plan for the donor (e.g., putting their logo on printed materials or a website)
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(Fundraising for Lets Grow continued) Recognizing and thanking volunteers
Be sure to provide sponsors with feedback on the results, including photos and metrics information about the positive impact of Lets Grow. Recognizing volunteers for their contributions to building and maintaining a community garden helps motivate them to stay involved going forward. Consider sending thank you letters or providing updates on the impact of the initiative (e.g., photos, number of citizens who now have access to healthy produce, amount of fruits and vegetables produced in Lets Grow gardens) to those who volunteered. Thank you letters should also request that volunteers stay involved in maintaining gardens in future growing seasons. Volunteer recognition events at a community garden also offer mayors an opportunity to publicize the initiatives impact, speak to the importance of eating a nutritious diet, and make a call to action for citizens to get involved by starting gardens in their own neighborhoods as part of Lets Grow.
OPTIONAL ELEMENTS
Establish backyard gardens
Communities where backyards are common can benefit from assistance in establishing backyard gardens. Backyard gardens support a familys exposure to healthy foods and make vegetables even more accessible to families. A backyard garden initiative needs volunteers who can mentor families in establishing and maintaining their garden helping them to build the garden and checking regularly on its upkeep as well as how to incorporate produce from the garden into the familys diet. The mayors office could establish a grants program in which successful applicants would receive a specified amount of funding to establish and run a community garden. This potentially could be administered through a local grants competition to generate excitement and energy.
Provide grant support
IMPACT AREA: HEALTH
Host healthy eating events
Given that Lets Grow encourages healthy eating throughout the community, the mayors office can deepen these efforts by hosting events that promote increased fruit and vegetable consumption and other healthy eating habits through experiential learning at garden sites. Such activities could include healthy cooking and food preparation classes, gardening workshops, and group discussions about incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables into ones diet. An added benefit is that hosting events at the garden reinforces the notion that it is a shared community space, open to everyone.
LETS GROW IN ACTION
Little Rock, AR In spring 2011 Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola launched Love Your School, a volunteer service initiative that aims to reduce childhood obesity as part of his high-impact service plan, Little Rock Serves. Through Love Your School, adults typically college and university students offer elementary school students and their families a variety of volunteer-fueled services aimed at improving nutrition education, providing garden-enhanced nutrition programming, increasing access to healthy food through community or neighborhood gardens, and engaging students in vigorous physical activity through a volunteer-guided walking program. After the first year of implementation, of the 242 students in the program, 100% increased their fat free mass and 51% decreased their body fat. Additionally, students in the program significantly outperformed their peers on state math and literacy exams with 79% of participating students scoring Proficient or higher in literacy (compared to 60% who were not in the program) and 72% scoring Proficient or higher in math (compared to 62% who were not in the program). Capitalizing on the success of this partnership between the City of Little Rock and the local school district, Love Your School expanded from two to eight elementary schools in 2013.
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(Lets Grow in action continued)
Pittsburgh, PA In June 2013 Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl launched Green Up Pittsburgh: Edible Gardens, based on the Cities of Service Lets Grow Blueprint. The initiative is a collaboration between the Mayors Office of Service & Civic Engagement (servePGH), the Mayors Office of Neighborhood Initiatives, the Department of Public Works, and The Penn State Center. In the initiatives first year, community volunteers created 10 edible gardens in targeted food deserts across Pittsburgh to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables. First year goals for the initiative were to harvest approximately 2,000 pounds of fresh produce to benefit 200 families, and increase the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables among approximately 150 of those families. A lesson learned from the first year of implementation was that in order to foster community ownership of the gardens, the city needed to encourage members of the public to feel comfortable in the space. They did this by hosting volunteer driven cooking classes inside the garden where neighborhood residents could learn new recipes to help them incorporate more fresh produce into their diets. This approach served the dual goals of increasing fruit and vegetable consumption and increasing the sense of community ownership of the garden.
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IMPACT AREA: HEALTH
RESOURCES
Gardening
American Community Gardening Association is a primary resource for community garden advice. Visit: http://www.communitygarden.org/ Cooperative Extension System Offices lists members of its national network. Visit: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/ For an example of garden costs in San Francisco in 2008, see San Francisco Recreation & Parks, Start a Community Garden. Visit: http://bit.ly/jAR39W
Food Security
PolicyMap displays the results of a supermarket study of low access areas that maps locations in the United States with limited access to supermarkets. Visit: http://www.policymap.com/maps Community Food Security Coalition links to a national network of food policy councils and food security coalitions. Visit: http://www.foodsecurity.org/
Federal Funding
Community Development Block Grant program funds local community development activities such as infrastructure development. Visit: http://1.usa.gov/dMws3 Community Food Projects Competitive Grants program is designed to increase food security in low-income communities. Visit: http://1.usa.gov/mze1Dm Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Childhood Obesity Prevention program supports research, education, and extension projects and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) grants that address childhood obesity. Visit: http://bit.ly/g8fgb3
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SPECIAL THANKS
Wed like to thank the following cities for their support: Little Rock Serves for their experience and knowledge. City of Los Angeles, CA for their generous support and experience. servePGH for their valuable lessons learned.
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IMPACT AREA: HEALTH
citiesofservice.org
Cities of Service is a bipartisan coalition of over 160 mayors committed to addressing critical city needs through impact volunteering. American cities face serious challenges and many mayors want to take advantage of every resource available to them including the time and energy of public-spirited residents to address those challenges. But in cities across America today, citizen service is often an underutilized or inefficiently utilized strategy by municipal governments. By leveraging citizen service strategies, Cities of Service helps mayors address local needs and make government more effective.
