38 overall recommendations developed
Community Gardens: Ready,
Let’s Grow!
Eric S. Bendfeldt
Extension Specialist, Community Viability
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Food System from Farm to Table
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Virginia Farm-to-Table Plan
• 38 overall recommendations developed
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Leadership, Transformational Change and the Food System
Establishing a sense of urgency;
Forming a powerful guiding coalition;
Creating a vibrant vision and picture of the future;
Communicating the vision;
Empowering others to act on the vision;
Planning for and creating short-term wins;
Consolidating improvements to produce still more change;
Institutionalizing new approaches so they become part of the culture and organizational behavior.
Source: John Kotter, Harvard Business Review, 1995
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Food Policies and Programs
Food access, equity and security
Community resiliency and economic development
Emergency preparedness and environmental stewardship
Education and community nutrition
Local and regional identity through foods
Mobile markets
Advocacy and community involvement
Enhanced reuse and waste reduction
Zoning and clustering of like-minded businesses
Source: Hatfield, 2012
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Brooklyn Grange
Feed Your City: Architecture and Farming photo gallery http://www.architizer.com/en_us/blog/dyn/63879/feed-your-cityarchitecture-farming/#.ULeY3mewWwF
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UpGarden – Seattle, WA
Mercer Street Garage in downtown Seattle (Feed Your City:
Architecture + Farming)
High Line Park, New York, NY
Office Farm and Garden, Tokyo, Japan
Costs of Unhealthy Communities and Malnutrition
The direct and indirect health costs associated with obesity are estimated at
$117 billion per year nationwide
◦ worker absenteeism, health care premiums, co-payments and out-of-pocket expenses
In 2006, the total cost of diabetes for people in Virginia was estimated at $4.4 billion.
Benefits to the Community
Time outdoors and engage in physical activity
Access to fresh fruits and vegetables
Open space for community gatherings and family events.
Include neighbors of all ages and backgrounds.
Educational opportunities and vocational skills for youths.
Target lower-income residents.
Enable gardeners to sell their produce through a local farmer’s market.
Encourage the donation of surplus produce to food pantries.
Additional Benefits
Property Values and Tax Revenues
◦ In New York, neighborhoods surrounding a community garden saw a 9.4% increase in property values within the first five years of its opening
More stable neighborhoods
Community Pride and Partnerships
Support of other Community Services
◦ After-school programs
◦ Food shelters
Continuing to Grow
Tricycle Gardens, Richmond, VA
Growing Urban Agriculture
Lynchburg Grows -- Lynchburg, VA
Tricycle Gardens – Richmond, VA
Shalom Farms – Richmond, VA
Urban Agriculture Collective –
Charlottesville, VA
Our Community Farm – Harrisonburg, VA
New Community Project – Harrisonburg, VA
Project Grows – Verona, VA
And many more!!!
Ways Local Government Can Help
Allow zoning for community gardening
Include community gardening and urban agriculture in your general and comprehensive plan
Establish a community garden program
Conduct an inventory of available lands and lots and make the inventory easily accessible
Establish a local food policy and community nutrition council
Accessing Land and Open Space
Provide long-term leases (5-10 years or more
Provide access to land for the duration of the gardening season
Waive liability insurance requirements for community gardens on publicly-owned land.
Inventory and assess available public property for use as community gardens.
Reduce taxes or fees on land used for community gardening.
Establish development easements or zoning that prevent buildings from being developed on the property to protect the permanency of and lower the tax burden to the community garden.
Consider agricultural or community gardening zoning to reduce costs and support development. These spaces can create livability in higher-density housing areas.
Source: Gardening Matters: Supporting
Community Gardens
For more information, visit www.planning.org/research/foodaccess/
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Where to get technical assistance?
Virginia Cooperative Extension and Master
Gardener program
American Community Gardening
Association
USDA – Natural Resources Conservation
Service
USDA – People’s Garden Center
USDA – National Agriculture Library
USDA – Food and Nutrition Service
Local Parks and Recreation Department
Gardening Matters
References
American Planning Association
Community Garden Policy Reference Guide
Cultivating Community Gardens: The role of local government in creating healthy, livable neighborhoods
Local Government Commission
Virginia Farm to Table blog
Virginia Food System Council
Virginia Foundation For Healthy Youth
Contact:
Eric S. Bendfeldt
Extension Specialist, Community Viability
Phone: 540-432-6029 Ext. 106
Email: ebendfel@vt.edu
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