People People Passion Passion Plans Plans Permission Permission Promises Promises Place Place Pennies Pennies Partnerships Partnerships

A non-profit organization in Birmingham, AL that promotes sustainable agriculture and healthy eating

Our History JVUF began in 2001 by getting access to an abandoned lot on the Southside of Birmingham. There are over 20,000 acres of vacant land inside the city limits.

what we do at Jones Valley Urban Farm Production organic farming on Production organic farming on 28 acres in 3 sites Retail, wholesale, and farmers’ market sales, and on-site stands Retail, wholesale, and farmers’ market sales, and on-site stands 50 subscription-member CSA 50 subscription-member CSA Policy and outreach activities Policy and outreach activities 37 member community allotment garden 37 member community allotment garden 12 educational programs for children and adults 12 educational programs for children and adults Growing and selling healthy food Teaching about food, nutrition and farming Promoting better food policy and access

An educational program that provides community gardeners Resources Resources Skills Skills Tools Tools Training Training to develop and sustain their own community gardens

Reach ‘em

Getting the word out: community organizing How to engage the community Outreach Outreach Excitement Excitement Incentives Incentives 2. Establishing the group Relationships Relationships Roles Roles Rules Rules

Strengths and Supports Meetings, announcements, fliers, and relationships - Meetings, announcements, fliers, and relationships - Food system contacts - Media contacts - Neighborhood associations - RC&D Councils - County Extension - Churches and Schools - The Community Collaboration Manual

…keep reaching… 3.Developing group vision Why Why Who Who How How What outcomes What outcomes 4.Build community support and buy-in Identify and access community resources Identify and access community resources 5. Build relationships Make friends Make friends Ask them for help Ask them for help

Teach ‘em

Engaging gardeners in Educational Methods 1. Gardeners choose what they want to learn 2. Homework 3. Time and support 4. Peer support and peer learning – Build relationships – Learn from each other – Strength in numbers

Experiential Education 5. Education isn’t complete until you’ve assessed/evaluated the learning – The value of reflection – Reality checks – Cost/benefit assessment in more than just $$$... – Learn from successes and failures

Connecting gardeners to other learning opportunities Service learning opportunities Extension, Master Gardeners, and higher education School, church, scout, and other community groups Community specialists – chefs, landscape designers, seniors, horticulturists, fitness, etc.

Tips for Successful Gardening Crop Plan for Successions Start with the soil Building compost Propagation Basics Irrigation Pests Weeds Harvesting Methods

1. Developing capacity and leadership 2. Providing positive activities and ongoing educational opportunities 3. Extending partnerships – Food policy councils – Farmers markets – Farm to school programs – New enterprise development

Follow-up & Follow-through 4.Check-in and support Visit, call, text, , or write Visit, call, text, , or write Continue to invite new partners to the table Continue to invite new partners to the table Seek or initiate new opportunities Seek or initiate new opportunities

16 gardens started or supported by Growing Together since gardens started or supported by Growing Together since 2008 All gardens are still active, some operate seasonally All gardens are still active, some operate seasonally

Edwin Marty Jones Valley Urban Farm www.jvuf.org