Gateway Greening Inc.

Community Garden Program

New GardenApplication Orientation

September 28th, 2011September 29th, 2011

October 8th, 2011

About Gateway Greening

HistoryFounded in 1984 as an all volunteer organization and

has grown into a fully-staffed community non-profit offering a diverse range of programs

About Gateway Greening Mission:

Our mission is to contribute to neighborhood vitality and stability through community food projects, education and wellness programs, and civic greening.

We accomplish this mission by forming alliances with non-profit organizations, faith based institutions, institutions of higher learning and neighborhood groups to provide resources for citizen-managed open spaces that encourage healthier, safer and more enriched lives.

About Gateway Greening Shift To Health & Wellness and Food Security

Access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life.

Food security includes at a minimum:Ready availability of nutritionally adequate and safe

foodsAn assured ability to acquire acceptable foods in

socially acceptable ways.

Youth Garden Program involves at-risk youth in sustainable food production and garden-based education to meet the diverse needs of schools in partnership with neighboring communities.

Gardens can be at schools, daycare centers, institutions, or community gardens with a youth focus.

Gateway Greening’s ProgramsCommunity Garden Program

Community Garden Program supports groups committed to creating successful food-producing gardens or urban greening projects over the long term and provides the resources and knowledge that enable them to develop food producing gardens and landscaped areas on public land.

City Seeds Urban FarmCity Seeds is a partnership program with the St. Patrick Center that provides job training, therapeutic horticulture, and education on nutrition and food preparation to individuals dealing with or at risk of chronic homelessness, substance abuse, mental illness, and recidivism.

Youth Garden Program

Urban RootsThe mission of Urban Roots is to recruit volunteers from the gardening, educational, business, horticulture and non-profit communities and provide resources for enhancement of the St. Louis urban landscape, improving the quality of life for those who reside, work and play in downtown St. Louis.

Where does our funding come from?

Other, $1,771.00 , 0%

Government Grants,

$33,379.00 , 4%

Urban Roots, $41,584.00 , 5%

Special Events, $110,525.00 , 14%

Individual Support,

$131,623.00 , 16%

In-Kind Contributions,

$143,434.00 , 18%

Foundation and Corporate Support,

$345,586.00 , 43%

Revenue $807,902

Adminstration, $50,231.00 , 6% Fundraising,

$67,576.00 , 8%

Program Services, $711,604.00 , 86%

Expense $829,411

Community Garden Program Each year we select several community gardening and greening

projects to be developed or expanded. These may include community vegetable gardens, tree and shrub beds, native plantings, perennial beds, street entrances, or any other creative designs developed by your neighborhood group, association, church, or block unit.

Groups are urged to apply only for projects they are certain they can maintain. Our selection process requires that neighborhood groups be committed to creating a successful urban greening project over the long term.

Selected projects will be based on need and will be supported with materials (hardscape & landscape.)

Community Garden ProgramService Area

The program service area includes St. Louis City, and the areas west to I-170, North to the Missouri River and East to the Mississippi River.

Projects in underserved areas are given priority.

Community Garden ProgramGroups must: Develop a realistic long term plan by outlining garden features to be

installed over several years Create a visible project with impact on the neighborhood and to passers-by Provide support and labor needed to maintain the project Ensure that the project is self-sufficient by the end of the season Volunteer 30 hours a year as a group with other community garden projects Provide evaluation worksheet, progress photos and updated gardener lists

to Gateway Greening

Community Garden ProgramIn return, Gateway Greening will offer resources to

greening groups, including:

Assistance with project planning, coordination and installation; Plant materials, soil amendments and mulch; Opportunity for yearly expansion projects; Technical assistance such as garden visits, educational

workshops and mailers; and On-going technical support provided by master gardeners at

the bell garden

Community Garden Applications

Due November 11th, 2011 by 4:30pm

Selection Committee reviews applications, meets

with your group at the garden site, and makes

recommendation.

In February, new projects are announced.

Installations occur in the Spring of 2012.

2011 Active Gardens Fall and North Market Community GardenFlad & Grand, Russell and Grand GardenFord School GardenFountain Park Community GardenFox Park FarmFox Park ParkFranz Park Community GardenFresh Starts Community GardenFriends of Hamilton VillageFriends of Soldiers MemorialFrog GardenGarden AmanGarden of CourageGarden of EatenGarden of Eatin'Garden of LifeGarden PatchGardenVilleGrace Hill Riverfront Community Project GardenGravois Park GardensHall Street GardenHamilton Heights - Habitat For HumanityHartford Place - A Fragrant Walking ParkHaven of Grace GardenHebert Community GardenHeritage House Garden ClubHodgen Elementary School GardenHodiamont Community GardenHolly Hills Community GardenHolly Hills Parkway GardenHope Square Community GardenIndiana Tender GardenJefferson Avenue MediansKabot Farm House Community GardenKaren House GardenLady of Wells Community GardenLafayette Park - Washington MonumentLafayette Square - Truman ParkwayLafayette Square Community GardenLafayette Square Park - the GrottoLewis Place Historical Preservation

COMMUNITY GARDENS13th Street Community Garden22nd Ward4200 Block of Flad4200 Castleman Association4400 Pershing Block Association GardenBaden Triumph GardenBell Community GardenBenton Park West Neighborhood AssociationBevo-Long Community GardenBlessings and GloryBlock Unit #1024Block Unit 1035 GardenBlock Unit 429Block Unit 472Bolden Community GardenBotanical Community GardenBotanical HeightsBoyle and Laclede Community GardenBurning KumquatCarondelet Community GardenCarver House GardenCenter for Hope Community and School GardenCherokee RealCitizens for the Advancement of Normandy (C.A.N.)City Greens Community GardenClark ElementaryClemens Community GardenClifton-McLaran GardenCOLA Victory GardenColibri GardenCommunity Peace GardenCrown Center for Senior LivingDave Hagerty Community GardenDeSales GardenDogtown Community GardenDorothy ParkEarthDanceEast Warne Inner City Christian Church GardenEmerson YMCA Friends and Family GardenEnglish CaveEtzel Community Garden

Community Gardens 131 Youth Gardens 61 Growing Healthy Kids 14 Total Gardens 201

155 Vegetable, 46 Ornamental

2011 Community Garden Awards11 New Community Gardens11 Expanding Community Gardens

Maffitt Cabbage Patch GardenMallard Drive Community GardenMann Community GardenMaple Community GardenMark Twain Community AllianceMartin Meadow Community GardenMaryland-Boyle Community GardenMaryville Garden ApartmentsMayberry Community GardenMcKinley HeightsMcKinley Peace GardenMcPherson Community GardenMetropolitan Apts. Village GardenMonsanto Family YMCA Community GardenMount Pleasant GardenNeighborhood Garden of Hope Neighborhood Pride GardenNew Roots Urban Farms & CSAO'Fallon Block Unit 1274 Community GardenOld Ferguson WestOld North St. Louis Community GardenOur Neighborhood GardenPalm Street Tree and Flower GardenPartners Against Crime Garden (PAC)Patricia Fredrick Community GardenReligious Society of FriendsSalem-in-Ballwin UMCSeeds of Change Community GardenShaw Neighborhood Dog ParkSloan Memorial GardenSoulard Community GardenSoulard Restoration GardenSouthside Wellness Center GardenSpanish Lake Community GardenSt. Agnes GardensSt. Mark's at Riverview Gardens High SchoolSt. Pius V ParishSyracuse Community GardenTilles Park Neighborhood AssociationTower Grove East Community GardenTwillman House Community GardenVito's Community Garden

W.O.M.B.Wayside GardenWebster-Rock Hill MinistriesWedgewood Bath and Tennis ClubWest Corner CommunityWilliam L. Clay Senior Living CenterWoman Spirit Inc.Wyman School Garden

YOUTH GARDENSAmes VPA Butterfly GardenBarack Obama Elementary GardenBayless Intermediate SchoolBuder ElementaryCathedral Basilica of St. LouisCentral Middle SchoolCity Garden Montessori Charter SchoolClay CEC Elementary SchoolColumbia CEC Elementary SchoolCote BrillianteDewey School Learning GardenDon Earl Early ChildhoodDragon's GroveEliot Chapel Nursery SchoolForest Park Montessori SchoolFreedom School GardenGateway Elementary & Middle SchoolHawthorn Student GardenHerbert Hoover Boys and Girls ClubHoly Trinity School GardenImagine College PrepInternational Welcome School GardenJuvenile Detention Center (JDC) GardenKennard CJA Elementary SchoolLift for Life AcademyLyon@Blow Liger's LairMallinckrodt Academy GardenMaplewood Richmond Heights ECCMarcus Garvey (Stevens Middle School)Marvin ElementaryMeramec Heights Garden

Missouri School For The Blind GardenMullanphy ILC Elementary SchoolNeuwoehner High SchoolNursery Foundation GardenOak Hill eMints AcademyOur Savior Lutheran Church & SchoolPatrick Henry Downtown Academy School Community GardenRoger's Middle School GardenSacred Heart Church SchoolShaw VPA School GardenShenandoah Elementary SchoolShining Rivers SchoolSimpson Elementary School GardenSoulard School Community GardenSouth City Community School GardenSouth City Family YMCASouthview SchoolSt. Ann Catholic School GardenSt. Louis Catholic AcademySt. Mary Magdalen SchoolSteger 6th Grade CenterStix ECCI Elementary SchoolSumner High SchoolWyvetter Younge Middle School

GROWING HEALTHY KIDSAges & Stages ChildcareAuntie's House Home DaycareBrown Bear AcademyDaruby Early Learning CenterGenesis Childcare LLCGrassroots Preschool/DaycareGuardian Angel SettlementJaVera Child Care CenterLittle Feet Home Child CareMagnolia Head Start/Grace Hill SettlementPremier DaycareSimms ChildcareStella Maris Child CenterUniversity City Children's Center

Bell Community & Demonstration Garden Open every Saturday from 9am-1pm, March to November 3871 Bell Avenue, at Vandeventer two blocks north of Delmar Seasonal vegetable seedlings for only $1 a four pack

Free to GGI supported youth gardens projects. Available to member backyard gardeners.

25¢ Vegetable Seed Packets, Free Flower Seeds! Select ornamental plants for community gardens

Seasonal availability

Borrow tools for large work days, tillers and lawn equipment advance notice required to borrow tools, with refundable deposit

Gardening ideas and advice from Gateway Greening staff and Master Gardener volunteers!

Complete volunteer requirement hours & meet other gardeners Frequent Workshops, Educators, Rain Barrels, Season Extension Seasonal events like Harvest Fair and Great Perennial Divide

A little History of Bell Garden

Bell Garden was purchased by GGI in the 1990s with a vision to develop the lot into a “crown jewel”; Gateway’s demonstration garden and a focal point in the community.

Master Gardeners at Work

And Assorted Volunteers

Bell Community Gardeners

Bobbie Harrington, JoAnn Muhammad and Mack Hill at Bell.

City Seeds clients sow veggie seedlings

Hub Gardens “Service providing” gardens to

neighboring community and youth gardens.

Offer similar services to Bell Garden Tool lending, Workshops, Seedlings,

Demonstrations Strategically placed at different

locations in the St. Louis area Currently we have 3 Hubs

Bell Demonstration and Community Garden 13th Street Community Garden Wayside Community Garden

2 more in development for 2011 and 2012, with the goal of having 7 Hub gardens.

13th Street Community Garden2714 13th Street

Old North St. Louis

Serves community and youth gardens in North City neighborhoods.

Seedling Distribution Tool Loans Urban chickens Workshops and Events

415 Bermuda Rd.Normandy, MO 63121

Serves North County and parts of North City

Seedling propagation Tool Loans Workshops and Events

How to Start a Community Garden Any community greening or gardening project

consists of three basic elements:

A group A garden site A plan

A Group of Neighbors

Group guidelines and considerations:

Start with at least ten adults.Who are the people in your group? Need a mix of ages and sexes What is the nature of the group? How much gardening experience does the

group have?

Group guidelines and considerations:

What is the group’s motivation? How many hours of work can group members

give for the project? Does the group have tools? Does the group have a central location for tool

storage?

Site SelectionDoes the site get at least six hours of direct

sunlight per day during the spring, summer and fall?

Does the site have access to water? How big is the site? Is the site relatively flat? How close is the garden to the people who

plan to use it?

Site Selection Is the site visible? Can a truck gain access to the lot? How was the site used in the past? Do you suspect

that the soil may be contaminated? What is the present use of the land? What is the lot’s

history? Does it currently attract loitering, dumping or drug dealing? Do neighborhood youth use the land for recreation?

Can you determine who owns the lot?

Site Selection

Compost & Mulch

Where does the water come from? Fire Hydrant

Adapter available. Contact Alderperson to get deposit waiver from Water Department.

Neighbor/Adjacent property Offer produce or to pay portion of water bill

Rain barrel or rainwater collection system Possible assistance from other organizations

Irrigation Low tech to high tech possibilities

Community Gardens

Vegetable Ornamental Pocket ParkMedians/Street EntrancesTree PlantingsAnd Your Creative Ideas

Citizens for the Advancement of Normandy

Intersection of Florissant and Natural Bridge Roads

Fall and North Market - Before

Fall and North Market - After

Mayberry Community Garden Before

Mayberry Community Garden After

The Nuts and Bolts Garden Beds

Raised Beds, Berms, Planters Requests include soil!

Hardscape Elements Sheds, Compost Bins, Rain Water Collection, Benches, Picnic Tables,

Arbors, Pavilions Anything That Isn’t Alive!

Tools Be specific! Do you want a pitch fork or a digging fork? A hoe or a

three-prong cultivator? We don’t know if you don’t tell us!

On Installation Day…

The Importance of Volunteers

Community Garden Evaluation Evaluation Worksheet – Complete a 1 pg. report of the year’s activities and

accomplishments. We love to hear news of community gardens! Please notify us of events, triumphs,

tribulations or anything exciting going on in your neighborhood. List of Gardeners – Annually submit an updated list of gardeners and contact

information Photos –2-3 photos of garden to be used on the webpage, newsletter and in other

media. Volunteer Hours Sheet – A total of 30 hours per group to be completed with GGI or

another community garden. See application for more information. Vegetable Produce Weights for grant tracking purposes. Grant recipients will be

provided with a produce scale. Garden Visits - GGI periodically visits projects. Visits usually take about an hour and

can be held with any or the entire garden group. These visits can be used to ask questions, learn more about resources available to gardens, and report on successes and future plans.

FundraisingWhat data we collect & Why we need itNumber of Gardeners: We report the total # of community gardeners for in grant

reports and future grant proposal. Great indicator of who we serve. Age of Gardeners: City and State funding requires we target senior populations. lbs of Produce Grown: Missouri Foundation for Health report, future proposals, six

site research study on health effects of community gardens Number of Vegetable & Ornamental Beds, Size of Garden Space: Gauges overall

impact of community gardens in St. LouisParcel ID#, Census Tract, Neighborhood, Ward: used to find resources, including

organizations, alderpersons, and in the development of maps

The Bottom LineThe data you provide helps us to raise funds which in turn allows us to continue to support your projects. Accountability to donors is key!

Other Community Garden Topics

Insurance Security Fundraising Preserving the Garden

Insurance Considerations LRA (St. Louis city) holds itself

harmless from any action, damages, liability and expenses which arise out of or are in any manner related to the Lessee’s use of the property.

Community garden applicants are not required to provide proof of insurance.

Gardens may independently pursue insurance coverage through an affiliate group, such as a Neighborhood Association.

Security Issues Recent St. Louis Post Dispatch article Natural fences of shrub roses, blackberries and

barberries Fences can be aesthetic or for security Some gardens prefer to keep the space open to the

community Plant more produce Signage helps Neighbors are your watchdogs

Additional Funding Ideas Community-based funds through community

development block funds, local companies and foundations, neighborhood associations and garden clubs

Independent fundraising through member dues and special events (e.g. plant sale)

Competitive grants (e.g. Fiskars Project Orange Thumb for tools and infrastructure; National Gardening Association for money)

Preservation of the Garden Land owner agreement or copy of LRA lease must be

submitted in writing with community garden grant Established gardens threatened by development are invited to

join the GGI Land Trust, a subsidiary nonprofit To do so, they must:

Meet selection criteria set out by the Trust Purchase the land at the market price Appoint two permanent garden leaders Sign an agreement promising to remain a community garden, or else

land with revert to the city Pay a portion of $250 liability insurance, currently split between three

gardens, with the goal of adding more

Lafayette Square and Soulard

Gateway Greening Events and Opportunities

Garden Leader Training Growing Gardeners Workshops

Tour de Plants Great Perennial Divide Harvest Fair

Garden Leader Training Leadership 1-Day Workshop

Led by GGI staff Participants receive Leadership

primer as well as tips and best-practices taken from area gardens

Leadership 8-Week Series Held early 2011 conjunction with

Growing Gardeners Designed for those interested in

becoming active Hub participants Led by GGI staff and leadership

professionals

Leadership Primer Booklet of community garden

leadership best practices

Tour De Plants

Harvest Fair

Food and fun every fall

The Great Perennial Divide

Additional GGI resources available to assist with the application process Garden library Numerous examples of community garden guidelines,

policies and bylaws Copies of horticulture handouts ACGA workshop curriculum Assistance in contacting aldermen and other city

officials Network of Master Gardener volunteers Network of community gardeners