Springfield Community Garden Family Fit Center Vera Garrett, And Katie Paige Founder Veradene.garrett@gmail.com 217 801-2050 Springfield, Illinois 62703
Ve r a Gar r e tt is a re side nt o f Spring fie ld, I L fo r mo re tha n 27 ye a rs. She is c urre ntly e mplo ye d with the USDA/ F SA. Ve ra is a profe ssiona l who re c og nize s the importa nc e of c ommunity support & e mpowe ring it’s re side nts by e duc a ting ne ig hborhoods on loc a l he a lth a nd we llbe ing . Ve ra c ontinue s to work pa rt time a s a nurse pro mo ting & te a c hing nutritio na l va lue s o f fruit a nd ve g e ta b le g a rde ning a s this se rve s a s stro ng indic a to rs tha t links sc ie ntific re se a rc h to c o mmunity ne e ds. A c urre nt g ra dua te stude nt in the Ma na g e me nt a nd Org a niza tiona l Be ha vior Prog ra m. As Ve ra move s forwa rd in c omple ting he r M.S., she strive s to e sta blish a n org a niza tion tha t e xhibits positive c olla bora tions produc ing c ommunity g a rde ns tha t a re suc c e ssful & ne c e ssa ry .
What is a community garden? Any piece of land gardened by a group of people to grow fresh produce for their family and others who may benefit (i.e. Central IL Food Banks, St. John Bread Lines and etc.) What is a Food Desert? A food desert is an impoverish area (also can be found in rural areas) due to a lack of fresh fruits and vegetables, where affordable healthy food is difficult to obtain, particularly for those without access to an automobile.
Ove rvie w o n ho w the SCGF F C b e g a n.
THE HISTORY The Springfield Community Garden Family Fit Center was started in 2009 with one lot adjacent to my home with an educational component. In 2010 an additional lot was identified and added. In 2011 , a third lot was added; and SCGFFC was incorporated as a non-profit entity. In 2012 the fourth lot was added showing the need for community gardens. In 2013 partnership was expanded to a low income housing community that housed 223 families. The remaining and consistent Key impacting factor includes the assurance in having an Educational component in place .
SCGFFC’s Vision Neighborhoods become empowered through each family learning how to lead a healthy lifestyle. The Center’s threefold purpose: Offer neighborhood families the opportunity for better access to nutritious food through neighbors learning how to grow their own food & support local farmers market. Donate fresh produce to the Central IL Food Bank & St John Bread Line for hunger relief Offer educational & formal enlightening experiences on supporting topics, i.e. financial literacy, anger management, medical/health, dietitian/chef, etc. CORE VALUES (Garden Behavior & Conduct) Respect: Enjoy each other’s ideas & creativity Integrity: Honesty at all times Sharing: Give fruits/veggies to the soup line and food banks and etc. Teamwork: Work together to ensure delivery of effective and efficient community garden programs
T HE PURPOSE Promote healthy eating habits among the minority community in our city encouraging multi-generational gardeners (grandparents, parents and children). Promote health and nutritional educational classes Promote participation of low income families and disabled community involvement Ra ise a wa re ne ss b e twe e n die t a nd he a lth issue s Share in addressing solutions for hunger relief
How doe s the Springfield Community Garden Family Fit Center Benefit the Community?
Youth Education SCGFFC served as an outdoor classroom where youth learn valuable skills, i.e. Involving practical math, communication, responsibility and cooperation; learn about the importance of community, stewardship and environmental responsibility. Crime Prevention SCGFFC increase a sense of community ownership/stewardship. Fostering the development of a community identity and spirit. Gardens offer a focal point for community organizing, and can lead to community-based efforts to deal with other social concerns. Gardens give youth a safe place to interact with peers and can involve them in beneficial activities.
SCGF F C Continue s T o Make A Positive Impac t T o T he Community T o da te we ha ve ha d se ve n (7) diffe re nt e thnic g ro ups pa rtic ipa te E ng a g e fa milie s o n the impo rta nc e o f e a ting he a lthy thro ug h te a c hing the c urric ulums: “F re sh F ro m T he Ga rde n” And “Bo dy Wo rks/ Bo dy Ba sic s”. F a mily ha rve st a nd c o nsume the ir o wn fre sh pro duc e (c o lla rd, musta rd & turnip g re e ns, o nio ns, c a b b a g e , le ttuc e , spina c h, to ma to e s, a nd e tc . T hre e individua ls pa rtic ipa te d a nd c o mple te d the fre sh fro m the fa rm c urric ulum Re c o g nize d the b e ne fits o f physic a l a c tivity.
SCGF F C Sna pshot Ac tivity Ove rvie w 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 T o ta l Numb e r o f Pa rtic ipa nts 1,261 300 143 50 27 (c o lle c te d fr o m sign in she e ts) Numb e r o f F a mily Me mb e rs 501 75 36 13 7 (c o lle c te d fr o m sign in she e ts) Unduplic a te d Sta ke ho lde rs 14 7 7 4 2 (T otal 34 c ommunity stake holde r s) Numb e r o f Ong o ing Pa rtic ipa nts 93 60 30 14 8 (unduplic ate d Par tic ipants) Numb e r o f Ong o ing F a milie s 101 46 15 8 3 (unduplic ate d F amily Me mbe r s) Numb e r o f Ne ig hb o rho o d 56 16 20 5 2 Wo rksho ps/ E ve nts He ld Numb e r o f Cla sse s Co nduc te d 45 20 15 8 4 (Cur r ic ulum Base d)
HEALTH & FITNESS EXAMPLES 8 Minute Work Out has a focus to the entire body and works as many muscle groups as possible at one time. This is accomplished with a variety of exercises inclusive of squat -thrust-jumps, etc. Hula Hoop is used as a noncompetitive rigorous activity in a wide variety of physical activities where the hoop is twirled around the waist, limbs &/or neck in a brisk consistent movement. Anger Management introduced a series of scenarios for the youth to critique. Inclusive of school settings, home, friendship. What changes if any would they make?
SSCGFFC SPECIAL TOPICS MEDICAL, HEALTH & DIET trainings presented by physicians from the Clinical & Public Health Mobile Team of Chicago (CAHMCP). Areas discussed: obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes I & II, stroke, heart diseases, gout diseases, emotional eating and depression. Explaining how various diseases that are seen every day begin and the options on the quality of life as they progress. FOOD PREPARATION, CHOICES & EVENTS trainings presented by local Chef who provided hands on healthy meals and menu preparations; cleaning fruits & vegetables; how to select fruits & vegetables from the grocery; families preparing their individual garden grown vegetables and sharing at the demonstration of Healthy Eating Day. Onsite Available Fresh Fruits included: apples, oranges, grapes, pineapples, watermelon, strawberries, cherries and etc.; Onsite Available Fresh Vegetables included: lettuce, broccoli, carrots, celery, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, bell peppers in different colors and etc. The youth also produced fruit art to identify the nutritional value of fruit. FINANCIAL FITNESS trainings presented from several sources: nationally recognized American Consumer Credit Counseling Agency curricula; National Bankers Association, Local Banks: PNC and US Bank, and other consumer and money management sources. Topic discussed includes examining practices of saving behaviors, food & household budgeting, and healthy attitude on viewing money as a tool; family saving and spending patterns; Understanding your credit report; My Child Is Going To College and etc.
Be ne fits of SCGF F C produces nutritious foods & improves access to nutritious food by peoples learning how to grow their own food decreases family food budgets contributes to healthy eating habits enhances the value of Farmers Markets create educational opportunities creates income opportunities & economic development provides opportunities for intergenerational & cross- cultural connection A “Go Green” Environment
L oc al Gove r nme nt Involve me nt? University of Illinois Extension Office provided leadership mentoring in the community garden; resource materials; completed the necessary requirements in becoming a Master Gardner. IDPH the Office of Women’s Health taught the ten week curriculum on Body Works/Body Basics & sponsored 3 people to attend the Fresh From the Farm Workshop IDPH the Center for Minority Health Services afforded support through the “Intergenerational Approach to Wellness Initiative” IL Environmental Protection Agency soil tested City of Springfield Park District donated picnic tables and benches for our educational component Alderman Doris Turner was instrumental in supporting organizing and recruiting volunteers in the community
How c a n the L oc a l Gove rnme nt Inc re a se Support? Co ntinue to pro vide d e xpe rtise in the Ma ste r Ga rde n Pro g ra m A ye a r ro und fa c ility fo r o nsite de mo nstra tio ns, fa mily e xe rc ise a nd suppo rt syste ms Allo w zo ning fo r c o mmunity g a rde ns Pro vide a n e a sily a c c e ssib le inve nto ry o f a ll va c a nt pub lic a nd priva te lo ts a nd o pe n spa c e Va rio us so urc e s o f do na tio ns (lumb e r, e q uipme nt, a nd mo ne ta ry)
Recommend
More recommend
