Mar 2006 The Community Gardener Newsletter

8/8/2019 Mar 2006 The Community Gardener Newsletter

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The American Community Gardening Associations

1 Save the DateAug. 11-13

2 ACGAPresidents Message

3 Toledo GROWsNutrition Education

4 In the Garden,Adams Tale

Rip Van Winkle

5 CanadasSeedy Saturday

6 Bulletin BoardACGA in the News

TeleconferenceWorkshops

7 Bulletin BoardGarden Mosaics

National GardenMonth

GrowingCommunitiesWorkshops

8 State Networks

9 New BoardMembers

Board Contact Info

10 Ten Tips onPreventing

Vandalism & Theft

11 Membership SurveyResults

12 Rooting for the FutureContinued

Support ACGA

The Community Gardener

Is a LA just another pretty face as seen in the movies or is it a rich land filled withcreative ideas and plans for a more sustainable world? Right now, a dedicated group ofcommunity gardeners and other good hearted people are putting together a greenerfuture that will be the focus of the 2006 Los Angeles ACGA Convention. Rooting ForThe Future isnt just a catchy slogan for the annual event which will be in sunny LosAngeles this August; were talking about the framework required to get communitygardens in place and keep them there, as well as getting young people into gardens as aneducational tool, said Teague Weybright, one of the co-chairs of the Los Angeles Host

Committee.

Teague assures everyone that the August weather in LosAngeles, especially so close to the Pacific Ocean, willprovide conventioneers with three days of sunshine, 75-80 with a mild breeze wafting scents of blooming citrusand other seasonal flowers in the air. But we wont besipping drinks by the pool! Theres a lot happening in LosAngeles that doesnt populate the entertainment news and this is one convention where you can roll up yoursleeves and dosome gardening!

All of the lodgingand most of the workshops and events takeplace in UCLAs Sunset Village, which is namedby virtue of being situated just south of thefamed Sunset Boulevard of film and song. Notonly will attendees rooms and meetings be heldin the Village, but there are also amenities suchas hotspots that are available in some of thecommon areas of the village for those needing an email check and an (continued on p. 12)

Rooting for the Future 27th Annual ConferenceBy David King, Los Angeles, CA

March 2006Volume V Issue 1

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

ACGAS NEW

MAILINGADDRESS:

c/o Franklin Park

Conservatory

1777 East Broad St.

Columbus, Ohio 43203(Effective May 1)

www.communitygarden.org

877-ASK-ACGA

NOMINATE AGardeners Supply

CompanyGARDEN

CRUSADERwww.gardeners.com

(community tab)

Due

June 1, 2006

FREE

RODALESORGANIC

GARDENING

WITH AN

ACGA

MEMBERSHIP

Building Community through Gardening and Greening Across the U.S. and Canada


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PAGE 2 THE COMMU NITY GARDE NER MARCH 2006

The Community Gardener is published by the American Community Gardening Association, building community through gardening and greening acrossthe United States and Canada.

TheAmerican Community Gardening Association (ACGA) recognizes that community gardening improves the quality of life for people byproviding a catalyst for neighborhood and community development, stimulating social interaction, encouraging self-reliance, beautifyingneighborhoods, producing nutritious food, reducing family food budgets, conserving resources and creating opportunities for recreation, exercise,therapy and education.c/o CENYC, 51 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007; 877-ASK-ACGA (877-275-2242);www.communitygarden.orgNewsletter: Betsy Johnson, Executive Director, James Kuhns, Communication Committee Chair, ACGA Communications Committee

A Message from ACGA President, Gerard LordahlMuch has been happening at the board level of ACGA over the last year. Inkeeping with the goals set out by our strategic plan, membership has increasedsignificantly, training workshops are being planned and conducted, conferencesare planned three years in advance and our bi-national networking throughpublications, teleconferences, the ACGA listserv and website continue to bevaluable resources, as defined by ACGA members in our recent survey. Theboard continues to strive for geographic diversity and now includes severalCanadian board members who continue to contribute greatly to the communitygardening dialogue. And lastly, many of you already know that we have beenworking steadily to achieve a smooth transition to our new home, from the BIGApple to the Buckeye State. Well, here is my update regarding our progress onACGAs move.

The ACGA Board of Directors, over Presidents Day weekend, held our boardmeeting at ACGAs future home, 90 acres within Columbus largest central cityneighborhoods. We were treated very graciously by our host, the staff of theFranklin Park Conservatory (FPC). FPC opened to the public in 1895 and is

located within one of Columbuss oldest and largest parks 2 miles from downtown Columbus. Inspired by the Chihuly

Collectionof beautiful artglass on display and The Amazing Chocolate Treeexhibition in the Conservatory, the ACGA boardoriented new board members, reviewed our strategic plan, presented committee reports and tasks, toured the facility,met with FPC Executive and Program staff and engaged the local community garden leaders in ACGA activities overthe following two days.

FPC has a rich history of supporting community gardening in the Columbus area. FPCs Growing to Green Program isjust 5 years old, but is Columbus largest organized effort to promote and provide resources for 70 sustainable,neighborhood greening projects. In addition to their Urban Garden Academy there is also a re-granting program, awards,extensive resource library and on-site community garden. Bill Dawson, Program Coordinator, planned and hosted, astatewide community garden conference, on November 19, 2005 at FPC which drew community garden leaders fromDayton, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo. Our very own Executive Director, Betsy Johnson addressed the audience withremarks about ACGAs strategic plan and collaboration with FPC. The conference brought Ohio community gardenerstogether for this one-day event of information sharing.

Bill Dawsons 12 years with FPC and the hundreads of community garden coordinators he interacts with made him theperfect tour guide for our Saturday site visits around town. The ACGA board toured several of these garden sites on afrigid Saturday in February. Before our tours, however, while conducting our ACGA business meeting in the hotel lobby,we enjoyed watching Bill on the local NBC news channel dispensing garden information to the public and giving ACGAa promotional plug. Thanks again Bill!

Traveling downtown we were met by youth from the Greater Columbus Foodshed Project at the local library, whounder the guidance of Cheryl Foster, have been examining their own personal eating habits as a result of growing freshvegetables themselves to sell at their own, local farmers market. Then it was off to several other community gardensincluding the Native American Indian Center where we heard other inspiring garden stories of equal importanceregarding community building and sustainability.

Our trip to Columbus, Ohio certainly solidified, in the minds of the entire ACGA board, just how mutually beneficial it

will be for ACGAs bi-national office to be located there. Columbus, Ohio, here we come!


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In 2005 the Toledo Botanical Garden/Toledo GROWscreated the Childrens Health Initiativeldrens Health Initiative.Childrens Health Initiative helped youth (and their families)

become more aware of health and horticulture. ChildrensHealth Initiativepromotes the understanding that there is aninseparable connection between the health of an individualand his/her environment. Optimal health requires adynamic interaction between people and plants.

Childrens Health Initiatives activities are based incommunity gardens and aim to help Toledos youth becomeactive agents in transforming their health and environment.Environmental degradation, asthma, lead poisoning, obesityand diabetes are all crisis levels in our community.Childrens Health Initiative worked on scales thatparticipants could make noticeable transformations

specifically we sought to empower participants to createhealthful ecologies in their bodies and homes. Participantslearned, through a series of enjoyable activities, that theycan have a positive impact on their environment (includingthe air they breath) and that their environment has acrucial impact on their well-being.

ChildrensHealthInitiativeemphasizedthat throughour diets weestablish ourbaseline forhealth andourconnection tothe earth.

We implemented a wide variety of activities to broaden theeating horizons of participants. It was pleasantly surprisinghow open-minded youth were about trying new foods (IF they helped prepare them and there are no competing junkfoods). We found that it was easier to get youth to enjoyand understand the benefits of unprocessed foods than

explaining the problems of hydrogenated oils (though wedid activities on how to read food labels).

We had a strong emphasis on ethnic foods especially live-culture fermented foods (Sandor Katz author of WildFermentationgave a fabulous workshop). Youth learnedabout the health and immune system enhancing benefits offermentation.

Childrens Health Initiativeorganized workshops onhouseplants with specialists who talked with youth about

horticulture and indoor air quality. Houseplants improve

indoor air quality in many ways including removing toxinsand creating oxygen from their immediate environment.This element of Childrens Health Initiative was informedby Dr. B.C. Wolvertons bookHow to Grow Fresh Air.

Puppet shows taught youth how to avoid lead poisoning.These performances emphasized the importance of a gooddiet and hygiene. Childrens Health Initiative coordinatedlead screenings. Green leafy vegetables can help to chelateheavy metals from the blood (while a high fat highlyprocessed diet can cause an individual to absorb more lead).In collaboration with Bowling Green State University weoffered workshops for parents on Creating a Healthful

Household.This program was made possible by a grant from the St.Marguerite DYouville Foundation (a local foundation thatfunds programs that empowers economically vulnerablemembers of our community).

For additional information about Toledo GROWS and theChildrens Health Initiative, go towww.toledogarden.org/grows.html.

Toledo GROWs Childrens Health InitiativeBy Michael Szuberla, Toledo GROWs, Toledo, OH


We come out of the earth and we have a right to the use ofthe materials; and there is no danger of crass materialism ifwe recognize the original materials as divine and if weunderstand our proper relation to the creation, for then willgross selfishness in the use of them be removed. This willnecessarily mean a better conception of property and of one'sobligation in the use of it. We shall conceive of the earth,which is the common habitation, as inviolable. One does notact rightly toward one's fellows if one does not know how toact rightly toward the earth."

Liberty Hyde Bailey from THE HOLY EARTHwritten in 1915

Contributed by ACGA Board member Ted Zerger


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You Never Know Who Will Walk Into Your Community Garden

By Adam Honigman, New York, NY


Here's a spring story for you -

About thirty years ago, pre-marriage, kid, when I hadlotsa hair, and no beard, I was digging in the LizChristy Garden, during the spring. There was soilthen, and it wasn't the dump it had been.

So, I'm digging with the pitchfork, and this big guy ina dressing gown starts to talk to me. Understand thatit's the Bowery and we had alot of unusually dressedguys walking around. He says,"Hey kid, you gonna grow somethin' dere?"

Sez me: " Yeah, I'm gonna grow tomatoes. If theygrow good, I'll give ya one."

Sez the guy in the bathrobe:, "My faddah usta growtomatoes inna old country."

Sez me," You gotta like tomatoes,". My guy shufflesoff and two cars, follow him. This suit comes out ofone car and asks me, " You know this guy?"I say, "Who do I know?"

The guy in the suit who shows me a badge," The guyin the dressing gown,"

"Oh, everybody around here wears dressing gowns,me too - but I left mine home today. One just cameup to me today, and instead of grabbing my buttasked me if I liked tomatoes."

The badge and suit says," So what did you say?"I sez," I told him I liked tomatoes, you like tomatoesofficer?"

The suit and badge told me to go "F" myself, in thosepolitically incorrect days. I said, while digging, " Iguess you can dress 'em up...."

Two weeks later, a big guy comes up to the cornerand sez," These are from..." and he rubs his chin. Hehad a case of two dozen tomato seedlings in a box.

I say, "Please thank him for the garden. Tell him tocome by later when they are grown" And I rub mychin. I didn't see him later in the season, but later thatfall, I saw him in his bathrobe and told him that thetomatoes were good. He was acting crazy, but hewinked at me, so I knew he heard.

I read in the papers yesterday that Anthony "Chin"

Gigante, whom I knew as someone who lovedtomatoes, and ran the Genovese family in his spare

time died in a Federal Pen. You never know who isgoing to walk into your community garden and wantto talk about tomatoes.

Adam gardens at the Clinton Community Garden

on West 48th Street in New York City. He is a

regular contributor to the ACGA listserv.

The True Story of Rip Van WinkleBy Reginald Arkell

When Mr. Van Winkle,Whose first name was Rip,

Decided to giveHis old woman the slip,

He whistled his dog,He put food in his pack-And, Mr. Van Winkle,He never came back.

Poor Mrs, Van WinkleWas heard to declare:It was only the drink

That was keeping him there.

And when he stopped outFor the whole of next night,We reckoned that Mrs,Van Winkle was right.

But over the hillFar away from the town,

You'll find an old gardener,Jolly and brown.

He sings at his work,As he kneels on a sack-And Mr. Van WinkleWill never go back.

ACGA Thanks Sustaining Members

Special thanks to:Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

P-Patch Trust (Seattle)The Weasel Fund


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PAGE 5 THE COMMUNITY GARDENER MARCH 2006

TORONTO: After months of winter, manyCanadians can only dream of gardens, dirty hands andgreen. One of the dreamiest days is Seedy Saturday!

Seedy Saturday is not one, but many days. For the past 13years on a Saturday in February or March, gardeners gatherto purchase or exchange seeds, talk about gardening andgrowing, see old friends and make new ones. Informationis also there for the taking many display tables fromdiverse groups and gardening workshops are common.Although there are similarities, all events are organized

individually and uniquely. One common thread is that manySeedy Saturdays act as a fundraiser for Seeds of DiversityCanada an organization devoted to spreading the word

about preserving Canadas genetic plant diversity.At any given event, there could be everything from displaysof gardening tools and fruit tree saplings, to wormcomposters, bees and on-site soil testing. The Canadiannon-governmental organization USC will feature theirSeeds of Survival: Sustaining Life,Securing Livelihoods project atvarious Canadian stops.

The seed exchange table reflects theessence of the day. Here seed saverscan trade and exchange their seeds.The variety of what local growershave on offer can be staggering. Itsimportant to have events such as thisto continuously reinforce the messagethat saving seeds is vital forprotecting our agricultural heritageand for ensuring food security for all. Seedy Saturday is agreat place to pick up that heirloom or rare variety youvebeen looking for!

Here in Toronto, Seedy Saturday was held on March 18 at a

community centre downtown. Dedicated volunteersstarted planning in December to ensure the day is just right.Many grassroots seed sellers, local nurseries, environmentalgroups and food security agencies will be busy at theirtables selling, trading and informing. The food is alwaysspecial. This year local community kitchens will figure inour plans to provide healthy, tasty, food from differentcultures.

At the end of the day, gardeners will have enjoyed a funday, have some seeds and no doubt will have great ideas forthe upcoming season! James Kuhns

WINNIPEG: Seedy Saturday at the Assiniboine ParkConservatory has become a much anticipated annual eventon the Winnipeg gardening calendar. On February 18, over600 people enjoyed the tropical venue while swapping seedsand sharing stories. Thanks to the growing popularity of theswap tables, and to local seed producers dealing in nativeplants, herbs, flowers and vegetables, no one went homewithout a package of dreams for the new season.

Our featured speakers this year covered such diverse topicsas honey bees, the development of a Manitoba foodcharter, and greening a schoolyard. The gardeningcommunity really came together with an astonishing arrayof informative and inspirational displays. Visitorsencountered earthworm compost; signed up for mastergardener or permaculture training programs; joined an

agricultural co-op for fresh vegetable delivery; learned howto grow lilies, herbs and more; heard about native prairieplants for the home landscape, and the role of botanicalgardens in biodiversity conservation; and talked and talkedand talked, to friends, neighbours and strangers, about thejoys of gardening.

Great connections and new ideas are the fruit of SeedySaturdays. Now we are truly ready for spring.

Kathryn MacKenzie

Seedy Saturdays in CanadaBy James Kuhns, Toronto & Kathryn MacKenzie, Winnipeg


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THE COMMUNITY GARDENER

BULLETIN BOARD


National Publications FeatureCommunity Gardens

by Marti Ross Bjornson

Reaching beyond preaching to the choir, ACGA andcommunity gardens made headlines in cover story featuresin two national specialty publications this spring. Bloomto Grow is the cover story for the March issue ofParks andRecreation Magazine, the official publication of the NationalRecreation and Parks Association; Lawn and Garden Retailer,a national publication for independent garden centers willfeature community gardens in its April issue.

ACGA Director Bill Maynard of Sacramento, a parks andrecreation professional, pitched the story idea, why

community gardens are great for parks and recreationprograms, to Parks and Recreation Magazine. The editors gavethe go-ahead. Bill, ACGA executive director BetsyJohnson, and member Marti Ross Bjornson made ithappen.

The article featured ACGA member programs and leaders,including:

Leslie Pohl-Kosbau, director of Portland [Oregons]Community Gardens

Rich MacDonald, manager of Seattle, WashintonsP-Patch Program, from the Department ofNeighborhoods

Solomon Boye, coordinator of the TorontoCommunity Gardens Program (in partnership withFoodShare and the Toronto Food Policy Council)

Jim Flint, Executive Director of the Friends ofBurlington Gardens, and Lisa Coven, Land StewardParks and Recreation Department of Burlington,Vermont

Bill Maynard, Sacramento, Californias Parks andRecreation Departments first community gardencoordinator

H. Michael Simmons, Adult Program Specialist

Bloomington (Indiana) Parks and RecreationsCommunity Garden Program

Teva Dawson, the horticulture inspector of Des Moines[Iowa] Park and Recreation Department, coordinater ofDesMoines Community Gardens program.

Lawn and Garden Retailercontacted ACGA to propose thestory about partnerships between independent retailers andcommunity gardens. ACGAs Marti Bjornson interviewedselected independent retailers to get their perspective on

these partnerships and to encourage their peers.In April,more than 20,000 independent lawn and garden center

readers will learn how some of their peers partner withcommunity gardening and greening programs around theU.S.A., and why they should, too.

Featured retailers included:

Jack Russell, manager of the Garden Shop at RussellsGarden Center in Wayland, Massachusetts, near Boston

Jim Feinson, president of ACGA sponsor GardenersSupply Company of Burlington, Vermont;

Peggy Acott, Community Outreach Coordinator for thefamily-owned Portland Nursery in Portland, Oregon;

Regas Chefas, founder and owner of Gethsemane

Garden Center in Chicago.Check out Bloom to Grow, the cover story of the Marchissue ofParks and Recreation Magazine, at your public libraryor local park and recreation department, or check thewebsite:http://www.nrpa.org/content/default.aspx?documentId=3765

Use the article to promote stronger and better partnershipsyourself. Join ACGAs teleconference on communitygardens in parks and recreation departments on April 20.

In April, check in at your local independent garden center

to see whether they have the current issue ofLawn andGarden Retailer. Or go online: www.LGRMag.com

Contact the featured parks and recreation departments andlocal retailers to thank them for their support, and contactthe two publications to thank them for the public supportof our critical work. A little thanks plants many seeds.

ACGAs 2006 TeleconferenceWorkshops

ACGA will be continuing its new educational program.The workshops are 4 PM eastern, 3 PM central, 2 PM

mountain, 1 PM pacific. The sessions run 90 minutes.The upcoming Teleconference Workshops are:April 20: Park departments & community gardensMay 18: Why the Farm Bill is of interest to community gardenersJune 14: Immigrants and community gardens

Pre-registration is required. Space is limited. Call-innumber, workshop materials, and participant list are thenprovided. Sign-up by email to:[email protected] call 877-275-2242.


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ACGA Adopts Garden Mosaics

At its February meeting, the ACGA Board of Directors votedto assume responsibility for promotion and distribution ofGarden Mosaics. This curriculum is a National ScienceFoundation funded informal science education programdeveloped by Cornell University that connects youth andelders to investigate the mosaic of plants, people, and culturesin gardens, to learn about science, and to act together toenhance their community. The program responds to the factthat educators and community-based organization staff oftenlack the training and resources needed to provide childrenwith informal science-based learning in urban agriculture andthe environment. As a result, urban youth rarely are aware ofwhere their food comes from, the scientific processes neededfor food production, and how the quality of the environmentimpacts local gardening.

On March 15, two dozen ACGA members participated in a

Teleconference Workshop led by new ACGA director andcurrent Garden Mosaicsprogram manager, Keith Tidball. JoAnn Whitehead of Boston Natural Areas Network andEmelie Swackhamer of Pennsylvania Extension in Allentowndescribed how they have used Garden Mosaicsas a learn andserve program. For more information go towww.gardenmosaics.cornell.eduor link fromwww.communitygarden.org.

Growing Communities Workshops

Thanks to the Community Food Projects Program of theUSDA Cooperative State Research, Education and

Extension Service,ACGA continues to work with localorganizations to host Growing Community Workshops. Thanksto Council on the Environment of NYC, GreenWorks,Columbus FoodShed, and Association for the ChesapeakeBay workshops have been recently held in New York City, St.Paul, Columbus, and Richmond. Thanks also to facilitatorsBetsy Johnson, Gerard Lordahl, Jennifer Aase-Remedios,Erica Packard, Amanda Maria Edmonds, Courtney Tchida,Noreen Warnock, Cheryl Foster, Eric Palowski, and DonBoekelheide.

This highly participatory workshop involves attendees bothattending and presenting workshops on communityorganizing, leadership development, fundraising,communication planning, coalition building, and more.

Upcoming workshop: July 7-8 at the Michael FieldsAgricultural Institute in East Troy, Wisconsin.

To host a workshop, call 877-275-2242.

ACGA Joins NGA with National GardenMonth & NYC Grows

ACGA is joining with the National Gardening Association(NGA) in National Garden Month, a nationwidecelebration and promotion to increase the popularity ofgardening and its many benefits.

This year, NGA is partnering with the New York CityDepartment of Parks & Recreation, ACGA ,and Les Dames dEscoffier International topresent NYC GROWS, a multi-daycelebration.

For two weeks, NYC GROWS events willfocus on different gardening themes such as

environmental stewardship, health and wellness, communitydevelopment, home gardening (with a focus on container androoftop gardening), and plant-based education. On Tuesday,ACGA will join Mayor Bloomberg and NGA in announcing

the Adopt a Community Garden program.OnSaturday, April 29, 2006, the NYC GROWS GardenFestival in Union Square Park will be located adjacent to thepopular Greenmarket in Union Square between 14 th and 17thStreets. ACGA will sport a booth in conjunction with theCouncil on the Environment of New York City, WholeFoods-New York, and Rodale. Other ACGA memberorganizations are also participating, including BrooklynBotanic Garden, Green Guerillas, GreenThumb,Horticultural Society of NYC, New Haven Land Trust, andNew York Restoration Project.

At the ACGA booth, visitors will pick up a Garden

Passport to encourage them to explore community gardenswithin an adjacent 10 block area. Garden travelers whovisit four of the gardens will be eligible for a gift bag at theUnion Square Whole Foods Market. Each garden will behosting a special activity, such as a rainwater harvestingworkshop, cooking demonstration, and craft activities.

Helpful Resources on the WebCheck out the Community Garden Game at

http://osutbg.osu.edu/cggame.htm. It was developed byOhio State University Extension to help new garden leaders

with the reality of garden management. Check out the School Garden Wizard at

http://www.schoolgardenwizard.org. This site wasdeveloped by the United States Botanic Garden and theChicago Botanic Garden. It de-mystifies the steps to creatinga school garden and connects to other resources.

Check out the Madison community gardeners volunteerhandbook athttp://www.cacscw.org/gardens/handbook/


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Over the past couple of years, new statewide networks ofcommunity gardeners have begun throughout the UnitedStates, including in Michigan, Connecticut, Ohio, and

Vermont, as well as a school garden network in California.[Please let ACGA know of others!] ACGA has just initiateda Task Force headed by ACGA vice president Bill Maynardto develop a plan for regionalizing ACGA.

While community garden networks exist elsewhere on a cityor regional basis, the statewide focus provides not only aregional learning community, but the opportunity toeducate state law-makers and bureaucrats who couldprovide resources for community gardens.

The Michigan Community and School Garden Coalition isbeing led by Ashley Atkinson, Greening of Detroit,Amanda Edmonds, Growing Hope in Ypsilanti, Roberta

Miller, the Garden Project in Lansing, and Lisa RoseStraner, Mixed Greens in Grand Rapids. In November2005, they convened a two-day conference, including a daylearning advocacy skills and visiting state legislators. InFebruary, they were asked to testify at a state legislativehearing about how community gardens can improve healthand reduce childhood obesity.

On November 19, 2005, Bill Dawson of the Franklin ParkConservatory organized the first Ohio-wide communitygarden event. A panel discussion at the conferencehighlighted community gardening programs in five major

Ohio cities:

Cincinnati,Cleveland,Columbus,Dayton, andToledo.

Youth programs were ahighlight throughout the day,

which also included poetryand a drum circle.

On February 4 at in Burlington,Vermont, Jim Feinson,president of Gardeners Supply Company welcomedparticipants to the companys store for the first statewide

community gardenconference. He inspiredall with the stories of the2005 Garden Crusaderawardees. Organized byJim Flint of theBurlington AreaCommunity Gardens, theconference was attendedby gardeners from allcorners of the state Brattleboro to BellowsFalls to Montpelier to

Burlington.

ACGA executive director, Betsy Johnson was privileged tospeak at both the Columbus and Burlington gatherings.

Cordalie Benaf of the New Haven Land Trust explains thatthe Connecticut Community Garden Association evolvedwhile planning the 2005 community garden conventionfrom an ad hoc group, which had planned two previouscommunity garden conventions. Although the epicenter of

home rule, and the Yankee/Red Sox divide, all of theprograms work with the Connecticut Department ofAgriculture, the Connecticut Department of EnvironmentalProtection, Connecticut Department of Consumer Affairs,and the University of Connecticut Sustainable AgricultureDepartment. Statehood is what the groups have incommon.

Through the association, the programs exchange ideas,problem solving techniques, and develop models. Togetherthey garner state funding opportunities and services.

Across the county, in California, in fall 2005, educational

institutions and corporate partners formed the CaliforniaSchool Garden Network. The mission is to create andsustain California school gardens to enhance: academicachievement, a healthy lifestyle, environmental stewardship,and community and social development. Meeting at leastmonthly throughout the state, the network aims to leverageresources, provide training, and truly achieve effectivegardens in every school. The network will be involved inACGAs Annual Conference in Los Angeles in August2006.


State Networks Take HoldBy Betsy Johnson, ACGA Executive Director, Boston, MA

Michael Szuberla, Toledo GROWs and Noreen Warnock,

Columbus FoodShed Project (front left) join other Ohioans.

Kwodwo Ababio of Columbus

tells about creating

community among through

gardening, including

transforming a vacant lot

and placing barrel planters

painted with African

Andrika symbols throughout

the neighborhood.

Keynote Joseph Keifer of FoodWorks lit both a candle

and the audience during his presentation.


9/12

INTRODUCING ACGAS NEW DIRECTORS


Cheryl FosterCheryl was working with Head Start when she becamehooked on community gardening by being involved in anew youth initiative of the Greater Columbus Foodshed

Project. Her youth who are providing fresh vegetables forfood pantries and learning about healthyeating have spoken at conferences inBattle Creek, San Francisco andWashington D.C. Although she nowdoes quality assurance and businesssupport for a software company, shecontinues to lead the model youthprogram as a volunteer.

Anne GachuhiAnne moved to the U.S. from Kenya viaHolland 8 years ago. She has lived in St.

Louis, Minneapolis, and now theChicago area. A horticulturalist bytraining, she has worked for variousstate extension services, currentlyUniversity of Illinois Extension Service. She looks toengage Extension volunteers more actively with community

gardens.

Shandal Renee GraysonShandal is a Master Urban Gardener andwants to educate the public aboutcommunity gardens and their needs. Agardener at the Madison Park-O'Bryant

Community a garden shared by the adjacent school andcommunity residentsshe sees the garden as aneducational resource. When she is not gardening she isworks as a teacher at an After School Program and is a full

time graduate student at Lesley University majoring inEducation. Shandal is also a fiber artist and photographer.

Charles Zalman LevkoeCharles is currently the urban agriculturecoordinator at The Stop CommunityFood Centre in Toronto and was part ofthe team that organized ACGAs 2004annual conference. In July 2006, he willbe moving to Kennetocook, Nova Scotiato work with SunRoot Farm, acooperative organic agriculture initiativeand community-

based non-profit organization. Whennot gardening, he enjoys knitting,cooking, and stilt walking.

Keith G. TidballKeith is the program manager forGarden Mosaics in the Department ofNatural Resources at Cornell University,and a farmer at Canoga Creek Farm in upstate New York.Greenspace stewardship is a core value, and communityparticipation and involvement are ways in which that valueis expressed. He divides his time among teaching, research,family, and farming.

ACGA BOARD OF DIRECTORSFeel free to contact Board members withquestions about ACGA or community gardening.For complete contact information, go to:

www.communitygarden.org/board.php

Kate Chura, Treasurer &Program Committee ChairNew York, New [email protected]

Amanda Maria Edmonds,Research Committee Chair

Ypsilanti, [email protected]

Martha Egnal, Youth Subcommittee ChairSilver City, New [email protected]

Rebecca Ferguson,Advocacy Committee ChairNew York, New [email protected]

Cheryl FosterColumbus, [email protected]

Anne GachuhiHoffman Estates, [email protected]

Shandal GraysonBoston, [email protected]

Gwenne Hayes-Stewart, SecretarySt. Louis, [email protected]

David King, Conference HostLos Angeles, [email protected]

Rory Klick,Development Committee Co-ChairLake Villa, [email protected]

James Kuhns,Communications Committee ChairToronto, [email protected]

Don LambertDallas, [email protected]

Charles Levkoe,Strategic Plan Ad Hoc Committee Chair

Toronto, [email protected]

Gerard Lordahl, PresidentNew York, New [email protected]

Zazel LovenNew York, New [email protected]

Bill Maynard, Vice PresidentSacramento, [email protected]

Jason O BrienVancouver, British [email protected]

Keith Tidball,

Garden Mosaics Subcommittee ChairIthaca, New [email protected]

Teague Weybright, Conference HostLos Angeles, [email protected]

Daniel Winterbottom,Development Committee Co-ChairSeattle, [email protected]

Ted ZergerSalina, Kansas

[email protected]


10/12

1. Befriend the gardens neighbors. General neighborhood support for the garden is the primary way toprevent garden vandalism and theft. Neighbors, teachers (if the garden is near a school) and park friends (if

it is in a park) who watch the comings and goings of the garden are the best protection. Some gardens haveencouraged someone to become the Garden Angel.

2. Involve kids. Neighborhood children hanging around are often the cause of garden vandalism. Invitethe kids to garden with adult gardeners or even let them have plots of their own.

3. Friends of the Garden membership. Some gardens extend membership to neighbors who are non-plot holders. These members are given a key to the garden, invited to come into the garden to visit andrelax and in return they pay a small fee or may help on work days.

4. Invite the community to the garden. From pig roasts to concerts to posted visting hours toneighborhood barbecues, many gardens have had success with having events for the greater community.Such activities help break down the perception that the garden is a private enclave just benefiting a few.

5. Signage. Whether the garden is fenced or not, has a locked gate or not, signage is key to explaining whoowns and uses the garden, and in a friendly manner the rules of the garden.

6. Edible landscape and U-Pick. Some gardens have had success with preventing theft by providing plotsof strawberries, cherry tomatoes, cutting flowers, lettuce, and herbs, as well as raspberry, blueberry andother edible landscaping that are signed for limited harvesting by all. Put out a surplus produce basket forneighbors and passers-by.

7. Make friends with police and firefighters. Attend community policing meetings. Invite police and

firefighters from nearby stations to garden events. Have gardeners help with landscaping at the police andfire stations. This should make them more responsive to future calls for help and build community.

8. Acknowledge the purpose and limitation of fences. While fences and locked gates may seemnecessary in certain locales they can most always be scaled or broken. Their role should more be to definethe gardens boundaries.

9. Grow to prevent theft. Tomatoes and pumpkins are particularly tempting. Encourage gardeners not toplant such vegetables at the edge of the garden. Potatoes, Brussels sprouts, beans, kale are seldom stolenand provide a protecting ring around the tomatoes.

10. Expect and accept some vandalism and theft. Understand that there is no amount of fencing,neighborhood involvement, and community relations that will prevent all theft. Since some of the theft willbe from within the garden, make sure that the gardens guidelines clearly state strong repercussions fromtheft and encourage prompt harvesting to discourage others from picking it first. However, communitygardens have continued to thrive just dont let it get you down!

Ten Tips for Preventing Vandalism and Theft(To Fence or Not to Fence)


Tips generated from the December 2005 ACGA Teleconference Workshop.


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PAGE 11 THE COMMU NITY GARDE NER MARCH 2006PAGE 11 THE COMMU NITY GARDE NER MARCH 2006

ACGA MEMBERSHIP SURVEYCompiled by Rory Klick, ACGA Immediate Past Membership Committee Chair

Thanks to all who returned the survey from the fall and winter issues of the Community Gardener. We wish toshare the results. The ACGA Board of Directors is using this information as we currently update our StrategicPlan. If you did not previously complete a survey, but are willing to do so now, the survey can be downloadedat www.communitygarden.org/membership.php.

GENERAL INFORMATION (60 replies)LocationNortheast Southeast Midwest Northwest Southwest California Canada Other

11 5 16 7 1 9 6 3

Individual (note that people chose multiple descriptors)ComGrdner Grdn Leader Prgm Direc Educator Professional Supporter Related

26 27 16 17 13 18 6

Type of CommunityRural Suburban Urban

8 16 35

Garden Age< 1 yr 1-5 yrs 6-10 yrs 11+ yrs "Idea"

2 11 19 20 2

Describe the Gardening EffortComGroup IndNonProf Part of Org Part of Other Public Garden Spprtd Govt Spprtd

20 17 11 8 none 9

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATIONCurrent Member? Yes 49 No 8

For how long? < 1 yr 2-3 yrs 4-6 yrs 7-10 yrs 11+ yrs20 13 7 6 4

Attend conference? Yes No Some if local21 27 12

Perceived member benefits?Networking Info/Ideas Educ/Train Pubs Regnl Link Conference Advocacy Website

31 25 8 2 2 5 5 1

Listserve CG Cause Experts Teleconf Resources3 9 2 3 4

Make ACGA more useful?Grants Regnl Train Member Dir Mentors Prtnrshps Research Adv/Leg Local

22 23 13 13 5 4 2 2

Org Devlp Fundraise Promotion Discounts Online pdfs Youth/Sch Insurance Registry2 3 5 2 5 2 1 2

NOTES:Location: The northeast extended to PA; the southeast included TN and SC; the northwest was really just WA andOR; the lone southwest reply was from TX; "west coast" was renamed simply CA; other included Germany andNigeria.

Community: Most people said urban, but then wrote in small population sizes; others said rural but had 2 million +population. Clearly a more subjective concept than we thought!


12/12

onsite coffee shop open until very late in the evening.

Sunset Village is on the northwest edge of the UCLA campus which puts the nearest shops, restaurants and transitsystem entry points about 3 miles away in Westwood. Not a problem, says Teague. The committee plans to have ashuttle between Sunset Village and downtown Westwood.

Los Angeles reputation as a spread out city is warranted, but the committee has decided

to use it to an advantage. On Saturday, workshops will take place on the bus en route tosites that enhance the learning experience. Some of these tourshops will include in-service projects where well use what we learn.

New and different films will be added to the Film Night and a side trip to DodgerStadium to see the Dodgers play their hard core rival San Francisco Giants. Will BarryBonds have broken Hank Aarons home run record by then?

On our tour list will be South Central Farm the 14 acre community garden that hasbeen posted with eviction notices just last week. Well meet the people involved and seethe farm as it continues to thrive, or well meet outside the warehouse being built in itsplace. Well find out what went right or what went wrong; what could have been donedifferently and what actions really worked.

In keeping with our focus Rooting For The Future, well learn how to growcommunity gardens in our cities and towns for ourselves and future generations. Andhow to contend with the challenges and vagaries of the political landscape that has putSouth Central Farms in jeopardy.

Los Angeles is a diverse world where cultures and traditions mix to make the fertileground in which new beginnings can germinate: Rooting For The Future! See you in LA August 10 - 13!

(Continued from page 1)


Join or Renew with ACGAOnline at www.communitygarden.org/join.php

Membership rates

Corporate $1,000

Sustaining $ 500

Organization $ 100

Professional $ 50

Basic $ 25

Sliding Scale $10$25

Sampling of the Benefits

Be part of the movement to improve communities throughout the US & Canada

Free years subscription to Rodales Organic Gardening

10 % discount at Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply

Monthly Teleconference Workshops

Quarterly Community Gardener newsletter & annual Greening Review

Conference discount

Diane Pollock, Venice H.S.

teachers January harvest at

the Learning Garden, a stop

on one of the conference

tours.

Send memberships & contributions to: ACGA, 51 Chambers St. Room 228, New York, NY 10007

(U.S. currency checks only, please)

Name ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Organization ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Address (indicate if home or work) ______________________________________________________________________

City, State, Postal Code, Country ________________________________________________________________________

Home phone _________________________ Work phone _______________________ Fax __________________________

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Credit card # ________________________________________ Exp. Date _________________ CVV # ________________

Documents

Mar 2006 The Community Gardener Newsletter