Nutrition and Gardening Programs: A Way to Collaborate with Your Extension Colleagues and Your Community

UW-Cooperative Extension Community Garden and Nutrition Programs Nourishing Our Community

Audience Feedback
Are you currently, or have you, worked in a community gardening program?
Have you engaged other Extension colleagues in your garden programs?
Have you engaged other community partners?

Feedback Continued
Have you used produce from the community gardens to provide food to low-income individuals and families?
Has funding for the garden been an issue?
Have you had any negative response to the garden program?

Rock County

Jail Garden Partners

WIC and Senior Farmer’s Markets
Produce grown in garden at Rock County Jail
Taken to Beloit and Janesville WIC clinics
and four low income senior housing sites
Utilization of WIC and Senior Farm Market vouchers
Excess produce is given to local food pantries with food handling, preservation and recipe handouts and
educational classes
Volunteers help distribute

Children’s Programs
Local botanical garden offers space
Plant Parts We Eat, How Birds Make a Living and The Great Pumpkin Program, Story and Stroll, 10 week summer program
Offered to low income schools with >50% on free or reduced lunch, WIC families, Boy’s and Girl’s Club
Horticulture Educator
WNEP Nutrition Educator
Education Volunteers

Community Education
Community Garden Conference
Held in February by UWEX Horticulture Agent, Mike Maddox
All Community Partners invited to attend
Program and collaboration education
Local Community Garden Network
Community Education Classes

Reports
Accomplishment reports are available online
http://fyi.uwex.edu/rockhort/tag/accomplishment-reports/

Waukesha County Gardens

Waukesha County
Pounds of produce harvested
annually =2,000(average)
Partners: Schools, Sheriff’s
Department, landlords, 4-H,
Nutrition Education, Horticulture,
Community Educators, Hispanic
Resource Center, Huber Staff,
Hospital, neighborhood residents,
Master Gardener Volunteers,
Channel 6

Oconto Community Garden

Seed Distribution Program Food Pantry OES Students, Families, Teachers District Wellness Plan WI Asso Of School Boards Conf. School Food Service School Board WNEP Learners WIC Prgm Extn Colleagues & Summer Interns Area Assistance on starting Cmmty Grdns Comm On Aging County Day Cares Cmmty Wellness Ptrnshp Parent Resource Center Public Health Dept Local Media Oconto Garden Club City of Oconto

Douglas County Garden Project

Extension Colleagues:
Family Living Educator – Food Preservation
Agriculture Educator
Promote Master Gardeners to provide
gardening skills and support.
Community Partners:
CAP Agency (NW Wisconsin Community Service Agency)
Lake Superior SHARE (Food buying Club)
United Way (Business and Service Clubs)
Second Harvest
Brighter Futures (Prevention program for high risk youth)

Process
Summer 2008 – Hunger Summit in 2008 – Interest in gardening to increase fresh produce for food insecure individuals.
Spring 2009 – Community Garden started at Solid Rock Men’s Shelter. (50’ x 125’)
Food used for community dinners (lunch and dinner meals six days per week).
Food used for food pantries.

2010 – Activities around gardens
Plant a Row – Donations for food shelf.
Opportunities to donate seeds, plants and canning and freezing supplies.
Food preservation classes
Garden skills classes – Master Gardeners.

2010 Results
Hunger Coalition formed as a result of garden project.
Garden expansion
Harbor House Shelter
Methodist Church – Superior
Family Forum Early Head Start – Superior
Cooper School – Superior
Lake Nebagamon Church garden
Continuation of WIC garden
Poplar church gardens (1 – 38’x 16’ & 1 – 40’ x 16’)
Plans to continue and modify for 2011

Thank You
Grace Gee, Douglas County
Julie Gibes, Rock County
John Pinkart, Oconto County
Melinda Stuart, Waukesha County

Nutrition and Gardening Programs: A Way to Collaborate with Your Extension Colleagues and Your Community

by sondramilkie on Nov 12, 2010

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Nutrition and Gardening Programs: A Way to Collaborate with Your Extension Colleagues and Your Community Presentation Transcript