Developing community gardening spaces for low-income families
Abstract
In conjunction with Earth Day 2002, AmeriCorps team members in Lincoln, Nebraska, coordinated efforts involving youth in the development of community gardening space. Making the most of donated land, AmeriCorps members with the Lincoln Action Program collaborated with other service organizations to transform unused parcels of land into a series of seventy-six 8'x8' gardens in which low-income families will be able to grow produce. Greg Donovan, Program Director of AmeriCorps Child and Family Support Team in Lincoln, Nebraska, submitted this effective practice in April 2002.Issue
Promoting and enhancing self-sufficiency for low-income families in accessing nutritional food.Action
In conjunction with Earth Day 2002, AmeriCorps team members coordinated efforts involving youth in the development of community gardening space by utilizing abandoned open spaces to increase self-sufficiency among low-income families by giving them the opportunity to grow their own food.- Planning for the event began about two months prior to Earth Day 2002. A timeline was established that included the tasks that needed to be accomplished and who would be asked to perform them.
- Volunteers were notified approximately four to five weeks before the event. This allowed volunteer coordinators to prepare and let volunteer groups plan in advance. Postcards were sent to volunteer groups and community gardeners approximately two to three weeks in advance of the event.
- The City of Lincoln donated 4,500 square feet of land to the Community Garden Program. A local construction company donated water and storage used for this location. Two additional Lincoln landowners donated approximately 5,000 square feet of unused land and a local storage company donated the use of water. Another prominent landowner in Lincoln also donated eight garden plots and the use of water.
- Support for the Community Garden Program comes from businesses, individuals, and church groups. Tools, seeds, water, land, stakes, twine, and storage — all needed to make the garden program possible — are donated by these groups. These tools and other items that had already been donated to support the Community Garden Program were used for the Earth Day event.
- Mulch was donated by the City of Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department and delivered to the sites the day before the event.
- Plowing and tilling of the land was done prior to the day of the event.
- Stakes and twine were used to mark off individual plots and community gardener's names were indicated on the stakes marking each plot.
- Seventeen AmeriCorps members and youth gave time to the Earth Day Event. The AmeriCorps members were from teams in service with the Lincoln Action Program. Youth were from Youth Leadership Academy, high school seniors doing community service hours through Diversion Services, and a local youth dance group.
- Multicultural AmeriCorps members also served gardeners with translation assistance.
- This was a family friendly activity with the children of AmeriCorps members and gardeners from the community joining in.
- The two tracts were transformed into a series of seventy-six 8'x8' gardens in which low-income families will be able to grow healthy produce.
- Follow-up activities have involved youth and youth groups assisting families with the care of the garden sites. Watering, weeding, mowing, and general care of the gardens have continued to be done by youth throughout the Lincoln community. A high school senior mows and waters the garden on a regular basis. In addition, a University of Nebraska faith-based group continues weekly maintenance of the gardens.
- Lincoln Action Program AmeriCorps members are in constant contact with community gardeners to assist with ongoing follow-up activities and coordination.
Context
The Lincoln Action Program (LAP) is a private non-profit human services agency dedicated to identifying and implementing creative ways of enhancing the self-sufficiency and quality of life of families with low incomes in Lancaster and Saunders County in Nebraska. Most of the families served by LAP have annual incomes that are well below the federal poverty levels, making it difficult to pay utilities or have enough food for their families. The federal poverty level for 2002 is $15,020 for a family with one parent and two children. (Federal Register online) LAP programs range from delinquency prevention to youth offender intervention strategies. Program strategies are based on restorative justice principles, workforce development, and youth development models. Target youth are between ages 12-21.
Saunders County communities are a collection of family farms, small towns, and locally owned businesses. The western part of the county is more agriculture in nature while the eastern half is a mix of agriculture and bedroom communities where many residents travel to Omaha, Fremont or Lincoln to work.
LAP's GREEN program mission it to promote vegetable gardening and good nutrition to low-income families. The three components of LAP's GREEN program are garden seed distribution, community gardening, and the Garden and Give vegetable distribution. From January to July 2002, 271 families received free garden seeds and gardening information, 15 families participated in the community garden, and more than 300 families received vegetables through the donations of community gardeners, the Farmer's Market, and the Food Bank.
In 1999 LAP sent approximately 2000 surveys to participant families and 379 were returned. Out of the top 19 listed needs, the problem of not having enough food for families was the second most prominent need.
Outcome
Unused space was transformed into a series of seventy-six 8'x8' gardens in which low-income families can grow healthy produce. Youth from various service agencies served collaboratively to help facilitate the self-sufficiency of low-income families.Evidence
Survey (1999) results indicated that 71 percent of LAP clients considered themselves more self-sufficient since participating in LAP services and programs. Many report not just an increase in income but that their family functions better when they are able to access parenting workshops, tutoring for their children, help with English as a Second Language, and other community services.Posted On
July 24, 2002For More Information