Growing Great Gardens in Grant and Adams Counties Community Garden Projects of the WSU Master Gardeners of Grant and Adams Area Extension Erik Lampi, Program Coordinator Spring 2010

Community Gardens, Schools and Students Before a garden is started, know the needs of the community Who will host the garden and who will provide water? What functions will the garden perform? Who in the community will teach, lead, guide, and oversee? Who will participate in gardening?

Community gardens produce food for participating gardeners and for local food banks. Text or photo here (4” x 5.5” at 100dpi)

Local Master Gardeners, provide training and supervision at garden sites. Text or photo here (4” x 5.5” at 100dpi)

Teachers will have garden space for students to practice skills in observation, math, science, and language. Students will have volunteer opportunities. Gardeners will have garden space. Food Banks will benefit from donations of produce. Text or photo here (4” x 5.5” at 100dpi)

Grand Coulee Sponsored by the Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union and the Grand Coulee Dam School District Several garden sites will be used in this community, a main one at the Credit Union and school gardens at the elementary and middle schools.

Moses Lake North Sponsored by The Housing Authority of Grant County By locating this community garden at the new Doolittle Park, parents can garden while their children get exercise at the new playground. Text or photo here (4” x 5.5” at 100dpi)

Othello Sponsored by the Othello Church of the Nazarene This community garden makes use of a planned buffer zone between the church's new parking area and the surrounding property. Text or photo here (4” x 5.5” at 100dpi)

Royal City Sponsored by the Royal City School District This is undeveloped land owned by the school district. The city of Royal City is donating the installation of water to the property line. Text or photo here (4” x 5.5” at 100dpi)

Mattawa Sponsored by the Wahluke School District Text or photo here (4” x 5.5” at 100dpi) Wahluke School District got a start on their project last year. This year has shown great enthusiasm and the project is growing.

Benefits of Gardening Text or photo here (4” x 5.5” at 100dpi) Gardening is low impact exercise and can reduce or prevent: heart disease obesity diabetes high blood pressure Osteoporosis Ref 1

Benefits of Gardening Text or photo here (4” x 5.5” at 100dpi) Children who grow their own food are more likely to eat fresh fruits and vegetables or express a preference for these foods Garden programs often include lessons on nutrition, resulting in greater knowledge about healthy eating Ref 2

Benefits of Gardening Text or photo here (4” x 5.5” at 100dpi) Recipes and cooking methods are shared that might not have been otherwise known. Some vegetables are not grown commercially but are found in community gardens, so new and exciting flavor experiences are discovered. Ref 3

Benefits of Gardening Text or photo here (4” x 5.5” at 100dpi) A detailed study by George Ball, CEO of Burpee, determined that $50 of seed and fertilizer could produce $1,200 worth of store-bought vegetables. Ref 4

Benefits of Gardening Text or photo here (4” x 5.5” at 100dpi) Based on taste quality and cost to purchase, high value garden crops include broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, chard, cucumbers, eggplant, leaf lettuce, green onions, green peas, peppers, summer squash, and tomatoes. Ref 5

 ADA accessible plots  Raised Beds  Shaded seating  Compost system  Drip irrigation  Garden Shed  Tools With the Grant: Without the Grant:  ADA accessible plots  Compost system  Garden Shed  Tools Funding from the Lowe’s Foundation has been requested in the form of a grant of approximately $25,000.

WSU Grant/Adams Master Gardeners will be offering basic vegetable gardening classes in Othello, Grand Coulee, and Moses Lake. Master Gardeners will be available for gardening advice on site in Mattawa and Royal City. All locations will have a student volunteer training program offered in the spring.

Sandra Mason, University of Illinois Extension Unit Educator, Horticulture & Environment Champaign County Unit Canaris, 1995; Libman, 2007; McAleese & Rankin, 2007; Pothukuchi, 2004; Lineberger & Zajicek, 2000; Morris & Zidenberg-Cherr, 2002; Koch, Waliczek & Zajicek, 2006; Morris & Zidenberg-Cherr, 2002; Pothukuchi,

Need Assessment Develop Committee with broad community representation. Who needs to be involved? What do we want to know from the community? What process will we use to find these things out?

What is our Purpose? What model will we use for our community garden? What function will the garden provide? What volunteer opportunities/partnerships will we offer? Food Band Produce? Garden Space for Community Members—f families etc.

Location - Partnerships Liability---who will cover this? Utilities---water, power, etc…who will pay these? Do we have funds, donations or fees to cover these? Ground Prep—compost – top soil- equipment… What do we need? Who has these? Where will we get them? Garden Style—mounded, boxed/raised beds, flat What will work best for our location, function, purpose?

Sustainability Identify project supervisors and trainers Who has the “garden specific” knowledge? Who has the interest that we might train? What volunteer groups are interested in a project? Service groups, youth groups, faith based groups, school groups, etc. Local Support..look for opportunities for local businesses to donate/support to the project. Give visible recognition to donations

Resources - Partners What do we need? $$ - People – “stuff” What do we have? $$ - People – “stuff” Who or where, are our current resources? Businesses Faith Based community Grants School-Community, etc.