IN THIS ISSUE:

Garden ListingsPAGE 2-3

Guidelines & RegistrationPAGE 4-6

Spring Events & ResourcesPAGE 7

Resource Center Spring InfoPAGE 8

Garden Project Team:

Ben CrockerGardens & Greenhouse Coordinator

Dilli ChapagaiImmigrant & Refugee Liaison

Donny ComerProgram & Education Coordinator

Julie LehmanGarden Project Manager

Kim HarknessGLFB Director of Operations

Michelle LantzGLFB CEO

Nicole WrightGP Administrative Assistant

Sean PearceAmeriCorps Garden Support Specialist

Hello, Food Growers of mid-Michigan! Happy Spring!

We are proud to share that Greater Lansing Food Bank provided more than 7.7 million meals to those facing hunger in our community in 2019, with over 626,900 meals coming from Garden Project community gardeners.

Your hard work and dedication to growing your own food, sharing your harvest and helping us build the community’s self-sufficiency is the reason why we are able to continue serving those in need.

As we enter a new decade, we want to thank you for your ongoing feedback to us and the time you take to support your fellow gardeners out in the community. Our connections and relationships make us stronger — in the garden and beyond! Gardeners, we are honored to know you, work with you and learn from you!

Here are a few words from your fellow gardeners, shared with us over the last couple of months:

“I am a home gardener, and I have limited resources. Access to seeds, plants and low-cost inputs helps me have enough money to buy other things I need for a successful and financially worthwhile garden, like pesticides and canning/preserving supplies. My garden is a critical way I reduce my food cost and make ends meet year-round.”

“Even though it was dry after everything was coming up, Mother Nature was kind enough to give us enough rain at the end of the season so I still had enough vegetables for my family. I’m thankful for that.” “Learning to grow plants takes time, and I enjoyed it this year. I fell and broke two knuckles so having the plot helps with the healing process because I had more time to spend gardening.”

“I always enjoy meeting new people. Getting to know people of other nationalities is great. Very nice to speak with other gardeners and receive/share tips on gardening.”

“Gardening helped me push myself as an individual and community member.”

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GROWING HEALTHY FOOD, CULTIVATING CONNECTIONS

Garden NotesSPRING 2020

Our Mission: Partner to alleviate hunger, one meal at a time, to create a future where everyone has access to nourishing food.

WANT TO GROW YOUR OWN FOOD? First, decide which type of garden is right for you.

A Grow-Your-Own garden gives you the opportunity to eat, give away, preserve, donate, or sell what you grow; it’s your choice! You do the work, you reap the rewards. The gardens listed in bold denote Grow-Your-Own gardens with plots available to the general public.

A communal or donation focus garden will give you the chance to give back and build community. Gardens with an *asterisk* denote sites that have a communal or donation focus.

GARDEN LISTINGS

Use the registration form on pages 4-6 to sign up for any of the following 19 Lansing area community gardens.

Average individual plot size is 625 square feet.

LANSING – EASTsideFirst Christian Seed of Faith*Holmes Street GardenLearning Leaves Garden* Pegasus Garden* Rooster Square*

LANSING – WESTsideDelta Presbyterian*Garden of Eden at St. Stephens* Old Oakland

NORTH LANSING & DOWNTOWNCedar Street School*Cristo Rey* Old Town Community

OUTER INGHAM COUNTYDer Happy Hollow in Mason Mason Community Garden* Williamston United Methodist* Williamston Explorer

LANSING – SOUTH123 Garden*Averill Woods Community Cedarbrook Everybuddy Eats* Feed My SheepGarden of Grace Robinson Memorial* Salvation Army* St.Casimir Moore’s Park St. Mike’s*Tithe Baptist ChurchUnitarian UniversalistVillage Summit*Webster Farm

EAST LANSING – MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP God’s Glory at St. Luke’s * NorthwindRoom 411 at Kinawa St. Paul Lutheran* Wardcliff

EATON COUNTYGrand Ledge Community Garden Harvest at Al!ve* Union St. Community Garden

CLINTON COUNTYBath Community Garden*Gardens on Scott Rd. in St. Johns Northpointe in DeWitt*

FURTHER NORTH!Campus Grow at CMU Coleman Community Garden Harrison County Read & Feed

There are 110 community gardens in the Garden Project network!

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GARDEN?Next, decide on a community garden that fits your needs.

Once you’ve decided on which type of garden, you may still have many community gardens to choose from. Is location most important? Community culture? Water access? Raised beds? Every garden is different! Feel free to contact us for more information on any of the gardens or refer to our website for full descriptions.

Garden Project only registers the 19 gardens listed starting on the bottom of this page but MANY, including those listed in the shaded box, would welcome your participation!

NORTH LANSING Airport – 2027 W State Rd, 48906 Largest & oldest of GP gardens. Water Source: solar powered pump fills tanks for hand watering

Otto School – 500 E. Thomas St, 48906 Small friendly garden, fills up fast! Water Source: hose

LANSING’S EASTSIDE Armory – 626 Marshall St, 48912 Lots of options! Multiple plot sizes, organic section and no-till plots available. Additional $5 water fee required/plot.Water Source: hose

Foster – 2325 Marcus St, 48912 Located next to the Resource Center, very high organic matter. Water Source: tanks filled for hand watering

Paradise – 550 S. Foster Ave, 48912 Located next to Resource Center, very high organic matter. Water Source: tanks filled for hand watering

Slater Park – 2701 Hopkins Ave, 48912 All organic, no till-garden. Leadership opportunities available - contact GP! Priority given to Lansing Township residents. Water Source: all gardeners fill barrels/hose

Visit www.glfoodbank.org/gardens, or call us at (517) 853-7809, for more info on how to get involved at a garden near you.

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GARDEN LISTINGS (cont)

SOUTH LANSING

Clifford Park – 550 E. Mt. Hope Ave, 48910 Has an organic section & extended clean-up deadline for growing options until mid- November. Priority given to those living nearby.Water Source: all gardeners fill tanks for hand watering

North School – 333 E. Miller Rd, 48911 Popular garden with playground on premise. Leadership opportunities available – contact GP! Water Source: all gardeners fill barrels for hand watering

Orchard Court – 5745 Orchard Ct, 48911 Shade pavilion makes for popular neighborhood gathering space. Additional $10 water fee required/plot.Water Source: tanks filled for hand watering

Hill – 2815 Wise Rd, 48911 Fills up fast! Water Source: tanks filled for hand watering

Risdale – 2400 Reo Rd, 48911 Now fully fenced!Located in public park & has space available. Leadership opportunities available – contact GP! Water Source: hose (gardeners must provide their own 4-way water key)

DOWNTOWN & WESTSIDE

Pine & St. Joe – 522 W. St. Joe, 48933Newly reconfigured to offer larger, in-ground beds.Water Source: tanks filled for hand watering

Letts – 1220 W. Kalamazoo St, 48915 Fills up fast! Water Source: all gardeners fill barrels for hand watering

Grace Lutheran – 528 N. MLK Jr, 48915 Small raised beds with easy parking. Water Source: hose

ELF – 804 Clyde St, 48915 Small friendly garden, fills up fast! Water Source: all gardeners fill barrels for hand watering

EAST LANSING, MERIDIAN & MASON

Lilac – 1260 Lilac St, 48823 Lots of space available for multiple plots. Surrounded by nature but fully fenced! Soil is rich, low lying & holds moisture.Water Source: barrels filled for hand watering

Towar – 6370 Towar Ave, 48823 Now fully fenced! Compost already on site. Lots of space available for multiple plots. Water Source: hand pump

Okemos International – Cedar Creek Apartments, 4394 Okemos Road, Okemos 48864 Fully fenced. Garden fills up fast! Leadership opportunities available – contact GP! Water Source: all gardeners fill barrels for hand watering

Roots Garden – 1084 Hagadorn Rd., Mason, 48854 Beautiful farm setting with very large plots available (1/16, 1/8 & 1/4 acre plots). Indicate plot size preference & contact GP for more info. Water Source: tanks filled for hand watering

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Waiver & Release of Liability I understand the nature and expectations of GLFB’s gardening and volunteer activities. I acknowledge that

there may be certain risks of injury involved and I knowingly and freely assume all such risks and assume full responsibility for my participation. I

hereby release and discharge GLFB and its agents from any and all liability, claims, demands, or causes of action that I may hereafter have for inju-

ries or damages arising out of my participation in such gardening and volunteer activities. I agree to indemnify, save, and hold harmless GLFB, its

employees, agents, representatives, affiliates, and volunteers of any loss, claim, damage, injury, illness, costs, or harm of any kind or nature to me

arising out of any and all activities associated which may occur or be incident to my involvement or participation with GLFB.

Community Garden Plot Fee

Greater Lansing Food Bank is a 501(c)3,

non-profit organization.

Thank you for your generosity in

paying what you are able!

Our fees, along with generous donations, allow us to purchase

materials & supplies for the gardens.

SUGGESTED PLOT FEES:

Very low/low income: $10-20 per plot

Moderate income: $20-30 per plot

Market value: $30-50 per plot

I’ve attached a check to my registration (Make check payable to: “Garden Project”)

I paid by credit card over the phone

(517) 853-7809

If you do not pay your plot fees, you will not

be able to garden with us again until paying

past due fees.

If the fee places too much of a financial

burden on you, please contact Garden

Project for a plot fee waiver/work exchange.

1) Plant your garden within 2 weeks of plot assignment.

Unplanted, abandoned and/or weedy plots will be reassigned to other gardeners or cover cropped if left inactive.

2) Regularly maintain your garden from opening until October 18.

• Keep your plot, including bordering paths weeded & harvested.

• If you do not harvest your vegetables in a timely manner, we reserve the right to authorize harvesting & donating crops.

• Before you register, make sure you can spend 2-4 hours each week, over the entire season, maintaining your plot.

3) Keep your plot trash-free. Do not leave trash, dead plants or weed piles at the garden. At the end of the season, remove all string, stakes, fencing & trash.

4) Do not harvest from anyone’s plot without permission. Violation of this agreement will result in loss of your plot and terminate current & future Garden Project services & privileges. Report vandalism, theft, or unusual behavior to GP/site leader(s).

5) Respect other’s plots. Do not walk in them unless invited.

6) If gardening in an organic section, no synthetic chemicals (i.e. pesticides, MiracleGro, etc.) permitted & NOP Guidelines must be followed. We discourage the use of chemicals in all plots.

7) Dogs are not permitted unless assisting disabled.

8) Cigarettes, alcohol & drugs (including marijuana) are prohibited.

8) Follow any & all rules specific to your garden.

We encourage you to grow for and donate extra garden produce for a food

pantry near you! Visit the GP Grow-A-Row webpage for a list of locations.

To be eligible for a plot you must agree to the community garden guidelines below & pay your plot fee.

If you are a returning gardener, submit your registration by April 15th to reserve your same plot.

2020 Community Garden Guidelines Please read before signing the registration page.

Keep this page for your records.

YOU RISK LOSINGYOUR GARDENING PRIVILEGES FOR NEXT YEAR IF:

1) If you abandon your plot without notice. Abandoned plots will be reassigned if left inactive for 2 or more weeks and we can not reach you via phone or email during that time.

2) If your plot is not cleaned up by the October 18, 2020 deadline. If you do not clean up your plot at the end of the season, you will be prohibited from gardening with us the following season.

3) If you do not return borrowed tools to the Resource Center.

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Register online at www.glfoodbank.org/gardenproject or mail this form & plot fee to: Garden Project, PO Box 16224, Lansing, MI 48901

PRINT CLEARLY. Use one form per household.

CLEARLY MARK which garden you want a plot in: _____ Airport

_____ Armory

_____ Clifford Park

_____ ELF

_____ Foster

_____ Grace Lutheran

_____ Hill

_____ Letts

_____ Lilac

_____ North School

_____ Okemos Intern’l

_____ Orchard Court

_____ Otto

_____ Paradise

_____ Pine & St. Joe

_____ Risdale

_____ Roots Garden

_____ Slater Park

_____ Towar

COMMUNITY GARDENS Garden Project only registers the 19 gardens listed in the box here. There are many other community gardens with plots available and a different registration process. For info on other sites, go to www.glfoodbank.org/gardenproject or call us at (517) 853-7809.

ALL GARDENERS: Do you follow exclusively organic growing practices? Yes No How important is building community/getting to know your fellow gardeners this season? Important Somewhat important Not at all important

Rank your level of growing experience: Experienced Some experience No experience

EXPERIENCED GARDENERS ONLY: If available, do you want an extra plot? No Yes If so, which garden(s)? _________________________________________________________

RETURNING GARDENERS ONLY: Do you want the same plot as last year? Yes. My plot number/location was: ____________________________________________

No. I would prefer: _________________________________________________________

How many years have you been gardening at THIS garden? ___________________________

ANY ADDITIONAL NOTES: __________________________________________________________

HOME GARDEN SUPPORT Income Eligible Only

Check for access to GP’s Resource Center for seeds, plants, tools and advice for your home garden.

What is the size of your home garden in square feet? (Ex. 20’x20’) ____________________________

Household Identity: Check all that apply

American Indian or Alaska Native Asian Black or African American Hispanic, Latinx or Spanish Origin Middle Eastern or North African Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander White I prefer not to answer Other race, ethnicity, origin. Please specify: ___________________________________________________

Number of people living in your home: __________

Annual gross household income (of all people over 18):

____ $0- 24,980 ____ $24,981 - 33,820 ____ $33,821 - 42,660

____ $42,661 - 51,500 ____ $51,501 - 60,340 ____ $60,341 - 69,180

____ $69,181 - 78,020 ____ $78,021 - 86,860 ____ $86,860 - more

Within the last 6 months, have you used: Check all that apply

SNAP/EBT WIC/Project Fresh Food bank/pantry assistance Check if you would like more info on how to access these food resources.

THE INFORMATION BELOW WILL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL. IT WILL ONLY BE USED FOR STATISTICAL AND FUNDING PURPOSES.

SIGN BELOW AFTER READING ATTACHED GUIDELINES AND WAIVER & RELEASE OF LIABILITY I have read Garden Project’s Guidelines. I agree to be responsible for my garden plot from spring opening until October 18th, 2020.

YOUR SIGNATURE: _______________________________________________________________________________________

First Name: ______________________________________ Last Name(s):______________________________________

Address:___________________________________________________________________________________________

City:________________ State:_____ Zip code:__________ Organization: (optional)________________________________

County: Ingham Eaton Clinton Gratiot Shiawassee Clare Isabella Other_____________________________

Phone(s):________________________________ Email:_____________________________________________________

Communication I use (check all that apply): Email Phone call Texting What’s App Facebook Messenger

What primary language do you speak? _______________________ Other language(s)? _________________________________ If English is not a language you speak, could you provide us with the name and number of someone that speaks English that we could contact regarding your plot if need be? ___________________________________________________________________________

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GP STAFF ONLY: Cash PLOT Amt Pd: ______________ Date paid: ______________

Check H20 Amt Pd: ______________ Staff initials: ______________

This survey is confidential and optional. All results will be composited and made anonymous before reporting.

Completing this survey helps us improve our services and report back to our generous funders.

2020 Pre-Season Gardener Survey

What is your age range? 0-18 19-35 36-55 56-65 66+

In my household, I/we… have enough food to eat

have enough food to eat, but not always enough fresh fruits and vegetables

sometimes do not have enough food to eat

often/usually do not have enough food to eat

Do you have time/resources/talents/skills to offer the Garden Project community? Can you volunteer?

If so, please provide us with more information so we may contact you in the future. Thanks in advance! A few examples: Volunteer at the Resource Center, help at your community garden site, carpentry and repairs, teaching skills,

helping new gardeners, filling water tanks, leading a volunteer group, organizing a Facebook page for your garden, etc.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Did you use Garden Project’s services last year? No

Yes If ‘YES’, please answer questions below.

Did your diet improve because you gardened in the previous year? Yes No

Were your grocery bills reduced because you gardened in the previous year? Yes No

How important was the garden to you/your family’s diet last season?

More than 50% of our fresh produce comes from the garden

10%-50% of our fresh produce comes from the garden

Less than 10% of our fresh produce comes from the garden

Because I gardened last season… Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree

I was better able to provide food for my family and myself

I was able to eat more fruits and vegetables

I was able to eat more foods that are traditional for my culture/family background

I was able to give away or share foods with others

If you gave away garden produce, check all that apply:

I gave directly to those I know were in need

I gave to my neighbors/friends

I gave to a food pantry/community kitchen. Which pantry/kitchen?_______________________________________

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Calendar of Spring Workshops

The Garden Project Resource Center will be open on Wednesday, March 4th from 11:00 am — 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm — 7:00 pm to provide eggplant, pepper and other seed varieties that need to be started early. Then, it will take some upfront time and investment on your part to set up a germination station at home, but we think you may find it fun, rewarding and well worth the investment.

We will also have a bounty of vegetable transplants available to you at the Resource Center for FREE this season, but if you are interested in starting your own veggie plants, we think you might really like it!

Some reasons to grow-your-own vegetable transplants include: • Getting your hands dirty in the early part of the season, when other gardeners are impatiently waiting for spring, feels like a sneak peek into the growing season. • Transplant production gives you, the grower, much more control over crop varieties in your garden. • It can be challenging to find organically grown transplants and many garden centers will not carry the many unique varieties of plants that are available at the RC, in seed catalogs, or from seed saving initiatives. • Plants will lack the special bond that is developed between grower and plant after nurturing and caring for them from seeds!

Check out our “Other Resources” webpage for an in-depth guide on starting your own transplants.

Upcoming Events March 21 10:00 am — 12:00 pm Hunter Park GardenHouse - Vermicomposting Register at www.wormsrcute.eventbrite.com

FREE Garden 101 Workshops

April 1 6:00 pm — 7:00 pm Mason Library - The Basics of Backyard GardeningApril 8 6:00 pm — 7:00 pm Stockbridge Library - The Basics of Backyard GardeningApril 14 2:00 pm — 3:00 pm Aurelius Library - Beginning Gardening: Varieties that Love Michigan SummersApril 21 6:30 pm — 7:30 pm Okemos Library - The Basics of Vegetable Gardening April 30 6:30 pm — 7:30 pm Webberville Library - All About Tomatoes

Save the Dates

June 17 6:30 pm — 8:00 pm Unitarian Universalist Community Garden, South Lansing - GP Summer PotluckJuly 22 5:00 pm — 8:00 pm Annual Community Garden Tour

Let’s get gardening, lansing!

Thanks to the support of many excellent community partners, there are garden related workshops and events almost every week! Visit www.letsgardenlansing.org for an updated listing of local gardening happenings near you.

garden project resource center

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MARCHWednesday, March 4th | 11am-1pm & 5pm-7pm

APRILWednesdays: 15th, 22nd & 29th | 10am-1pmThursdays: 16th, 23rd & 30th | 5pm-7pm

MAY Tuesday, May 19th & 26th | 5pm-7pmAll Wednesdays | 10am-1pmAll Thursdays | 5pm-7pmSaturday, May 30th | 10am-1pm

JUNE 1st three Tuesdays in June | 5pm-7pm All Wednesdays | 10am-1pm All Thursdays | 5pm-7pm

Spring Resource Center Hours

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT #793LANSING, MIP.O. Box 16224 | Lansing, MI 48901

Phone: 517.853.7809 Fax: 517.853.7817 gardenproject@glfoodbank.org www.glfoodbank.org/gardenproject

GROWING HEALTHY FOOD, CULTIVATING CONNECTIONS

What’s at the Resource Center?

ALL community gardeners and low/low-moderate income home gardeners are eligible to receive free resources, including:

Tools: Shovels, hoes, digging forks, broadforks, rakes & more to borrow.

Seeds: A WIDE selection of warm & cool season varieties. (We have many but not all varieties.)

Transplants: New vegetable starts every week. Selection based on weather and availability.

Educational Resources: Books, fact sheets & more. Meet knowledgeable volunteers & other gardeners. May 19 & 20 Receive free assistance applying for food benefits from the GLFB SNAP Coordinator at the Resource Center. No appointment necessary.

The Resource Center is located at 2401 Marcus Street, Lansing, 48912 Located in Foster Park on Lansing’s eastside, one block south of Kalamazoo St.

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