establishing a community garden

Community Gardens

Growing Food and Building Communities

Eric Stormer

Extension Agent

ANR - Horticulture

www.slideshare.net/EricStormer

Virginia Cooperative Extension Units (107)

Extension Faculty (Agents, Specialists)

Staff - Paid and Volunteer (Master Gardeners, 4-H, etc. )

Virginia Cooperative Extension

Organizational Chart

VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION MISSION

Virginia Cooperative Extension enables people to improve their

lives through an educational process that uses scientific

knowledge focused on issues and needs.

What is a Community Garden?

A Bit of History…

Some History…

The Allotment Garden

Allotment Gardens

The Community Garden Movement -Social and Educational Reform

1890 - 1917

World War I

World War I

World War II

World War II

Response to urban abandonment, inflation, environmental concerns

Focus on networking and building community

1970s

The Value ofCommunity Gardens

Aesthetic Economic Social Quality of Life Reduction in Crime Lifelong learning Environmental

Municipal Value

Municipal Value

Recreational

Nutritional Value

Did you eat your vegetables?

Improved Diet!

Value of Community Gardens

Opportunity to participate in healthy physical activity

Fresh, better tasting food at substantially lower cost over store-bought

• Watering lawn or garden: 61• Mowing lawn (riding): 101• Trimming shrubs (power): 142• Raking: 162• Bagging leaves: 162• Planting seedlings: 162• Mowing (push with motor): 182• Planting trees: 182• Trimming shrubs (manual): 182• Weeding: 182• Clearing land: 202• Digging, spading, tilling: 202• Laying sod: 202• General gardening: 202• Chopping wood: 243• Gardening w/ heavy power tools:

243• Mowing lawn (push mower): 243

ExerciseNumber of calories burned in 30 minutes of gardening…

For a 180 lb. person -

Youth Education

Crime Reduction

Affordable Food

Community Gardens may be for Growing Flowers…

Vegetables,

Children,

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Growing Children Since 1914.

as Entrepreneurial Ventures,

and to Combat Hunger.

They may Provide Habitat…

and Reinforce School Lessons.

They may Manage Water…

or they may be Therapeutic.

Some are Edible Landscapes!

But first, we need people,…

and a patch of good soil!

How To StartPlan your work, work your plan.

Growing a Community Garden.

Develop Structure & Leadership

Develop a marketing plan.

Use Social Media!

Develop communicationstrategies.

Create a Safe Environment

Think ‘bout money!

Partner and Collaborate

Take time to develop a garden plan.

Have Fun!!!

The EndQuestions?

Email: eric.stormer@vt.edu