Green Bridges Community Garden
4114 SW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78227
LEADERSHIP
Betty Bundy (210) 262-2350; Robin Muller (210) 427-0608
Betty Bundy (210) 262-2350; Robin Muller (210) 427-0608
Betty Bundy, 4917 Ravenswood Dr., San Antonio TX 78227 (210) 262-2350; Robin Muller, 7220
Westbriar, San Antonio TX 78227(210) 427-0608
PARTICIPATION
There is no “membership per se”. The Garden is operated by volunteers, under the oversight of the
Coordinators, steering committee and Chapel Hill UMC Trustees / Administrative Board. The purpose of
Green Bridges Community Garden is to provide a site for youth on probation (at-risk youth) for minor
offences requiring fulfillment of community service. The garden harvest is then donated to the San
Antonio Food Bank. The youth are working in the garden with this awareness therefore giving their
work a positive purpose and a way for them to “give back” to their community. This process is known
as Restorative Justice.
Source
# of People
Approx. # of Hours
Frequency
Chapel Hill UMC
20
6
weekly
Valley Hi
2
2
Weekly
Neighborhood Assoc.
Spring Vale
3
1
Weekly
Neighborhood Assoc.
P.A.C.E.
2
1
weekly
(People In Community Efforts)
Bexar Co. Juveniles on Probation
῀120
῀35 ea. Per conditions of probation sporadic
DONATIONS:
Rotary Club
Masons
Air Force Village I
Home Depot
United Methodist Men
United Methodist Women
United Methodist Church National Ministries/Church and Society
Pooky’s Nursery/Retail Shop
*For detailed information including individual donations please refer to attached financial records.
ACTIVITIES & OUTREACH
Garden Dedication and tour – June 2012: participations, ῀40 people.
Bexar County Juvenile Probation work crews come to our Garden one to two times ea. Month, providing
opportunity for mentoring and education: participation ῀30 people
Garden workdays every Saturday; hot lunch prepared by volunteers (funded by donations), prayer and
family style meal enjoyed by all volunteers: ῀ 10 – 30 people
Weekly garden updates during Worship “announcement” time; garden “needs” may also be announced
as well: ῀75 – 100 people
Visits from St. Mary’s University volunteers organized through Green Spaces Alliance: ῀10 people
Volunteers participate in Green Spaces Alliance surveys: ῀15 people
Garden tours during annual Church Bazar (November 2012); Church Annual “rummage sale” and “on the
spot” tours/presentations to interested visitors from the community: ῀100-200 people
Cultivation of community partnerships with surrounding merchants, ongoing: ῀6 organizations
Garden fundraiser/outreach at annual “rummage sale”, November 2012: ῀100 people; raised ῀$130.00
Garden fundraiser/outreach i.e. making and selling of mistletoe w/ ribbon; mistletoe harvested from
Garden Mesquite trees and made by “at-risk” youth. This activity exemplifies the “restorative justice”
aspect of Green Bridges Community Garden. Sold to Chapel Hill UMC congregation and Air Force Village
(youth enjoyed activity and took mistletoe home with them). Raised $50.00
Bring in new members
Coordinators submit Garden news articles to be included in Church newsletter, outreach/presentations
at local Neighborhood Associations; outreach/garden tours during all church functions; weekly
updates/witnessing during “announcement time” at worship service; letters to local merchants.
PRODUCE & HARVEST
We have delivered food to SA Food Bank weekly (῀4-10 lbs.) Food in small amounts sometime
supplements youth lunches i.e. lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers for salad.
Maintain 2 4x4x4 compost; all compostable materials are donated by very busy Church kitchen plus
garden volunteers bring their kitchen cuttings, coffee grounds, egg shells etc.
Produce grown are: carrots, cucumbers, kale, tomatoes (grape, cherry, regular) lettuce, radishes,
cabbage, heirloom cucumbers; broccoli, spinach, pumpkins, zucchini, yellow squash, bell peppers,
jalapenos, basil (green & purple), parsley, okra, mistletoe, roses and 24 assorted fruit and citrus trees,
banana trees, fig tree, avocado trees (seedlings), papaya tree (seedlings), onions, red potatoes.
SERVICE TO COMMUNITY:
GREEN BRIDGES COMMUNITY GARDEN IS A COMMUNITY SERVICE WORK SITE FOR BOTH ADULTS AND
JUVENILES IN BEXAR COUNTY. ADULTS CONDUCTING COMMUNITY SERVICE DO SO MONDAY-FRIDAY.
JUVENILES CONDUCTING COMMUNITY SERVICE DO SO ON SATURDAYS ALWAYS UNDER THE
SUPERVISION ON ADULT MENTORS OR BEXAR COUNTY JUVINLE PROBATION OFFICERS. ῀120 YOUTH
HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO COMPLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS AT GREEN BRIDGES COMMUNITY
GARDEN.
SEVERAL YOUTH WHO HAVE COMPLETED COMMUNITY SERVICE CONTINUE TO RETURN WEEKLY ON A
VOLUNTEER BASIS. THEY ALSO HAVE BEGUN ATTENDING CHURCH AND YOUTH GROUP ACTIVITIES.
TWO YOUTH CAME FORWARD DURING CHURCH SERVICE AND GAVE TESTIMONY OF HOW IT HAS
HELPED HIM STAY OUT OF TROUBLE.
ON “RAINY DAYS” WE “TAKE IT INSIDE” AND CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS: I.E. NUTRITIONAL
AND HEALTH BENEFITS FROM GARDENING, LUNCH AND TALKS WITH THE PASTOR OF CHAPEL HILL UMC;
SESSIONS ON HOW EDUCATIONAL AND FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES OPEN UP DUE TO GARDENING AND
HARVESTING OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES; ENCOURAGE AND EDUCATE HOW “THEY TOO” CAN START A
SMALL SQUARE FOOT GARDEN AT HOME.
PARENTS BRING THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN TO SPEND TIME IN THE GARDEN. THE CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS
EXCITED TO LEARN WHAT EVERYTHING IS. SOMETIMES THEY ARE ENVITED TO TRY A TOMATOE OR BITE
AND/OR SMELL A BASIL LEAF. THEIR REACTIONS VARRIE BUT IT ALWAYS ENDS WITH A LAUGH AND A
SMILE!
A MONTHER OF A 6 YEAR OLD BOY, WHO SUFFERS WITH A SENSORY DISORDER, SHARED THAT AFTER
HER SON SPENT A FEW HOURS WORKING AND PLAYING AT GREEN BRIDGES COMMUNITY GARDEN HAD
A “REALLY GOOD EVENING AND THE BEST SLEEP HE HAD IN A LONG TIME!”
FEEDBACK: FULFILL SAN ANTONIO
PROVIDE SPACE, LEARNING OPPORTUNITY, FOR THE PUBLIC TO GROW THEIR OWN VEGETABLES,
ORGANIZATIONS TO GROW FOOD FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE IN THE COMMUNITY; “AT RISK YOUTH” A
POSITIVE PLACE TO COMPLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AND BE MENTORED, OPPORTUNITY FOR
NEIGHBORS THE COMMON GROUND TO BE CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER.
BEST THING
THE CONTACT WITH THE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE YOUTH IN OUR CHURCH, LEARNING TO
WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM, MENTORING AND PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL AND SKILL RELATED
ACTIVITIES TO THE YOUTH.
SEEING THE EYES OF A TEENAGER LIGHT UP WHEN THEY LEARN WHAT OKRA LOOKS LIKE BEFORE IT’S
CUT, BATTERED AND FRIED; WATCHING THE FUN THEY HAVE AND THE PRIDE THEY FEEL WHEN
HARVESTING A BUCKET FULL OF VEGETABLES.
WORKSHOPS:
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SUGGEST WORKSHOP ON BEE KEEPING
COMPOSTING
WORM FARM WORKSHOP AND OPENING FARMERS MARKETS
GREEN BRIDGES COMMUNITY GARDEN INVITES “GREEN SPACES ALLIANCE” TO HOLD
COMMUNNITY EDUCATION TRAINING AT OUR SITE. WE HAVE AN OUTDOOR STAGE WITH AREA
ADJOINING OUR GARDEN THAT CAN SEAT 100 PEOPLE
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST MORE WORKSHOPS BE OFFERED DURING THE WEEK AS OUR
VOLUNTEERS ARE MORE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS TIME FRAME.
INCREASE FUNDRAISING
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APPLY FOR FOUNDATION/GOVMT./COMMERCIAL GRANTS
SEEK BARGAINS/DONATIONS/DONATED SERVICES
SELL FLOWERS/PLANTS/SEEDLINGS AT COMMUNITY RUMMAGE SALES

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POST “DONATION CANS” IN PUBLIC /COMMERCIAL BUSINESS LOCATIONS REQUESTING LOOSE
CHANGE DONATIONS TO BENEFIT/OFF SET GARDEN EXPENSES
SEEK DISCOUNTS AS NON-PROFIT
TIMETABLE
STEERING COMMITTEE MEETS MONTHLY TO MAKE SUCH DECISSIONS WHICH ARE APPROVED BY THE
CHURCH TRUSTEES AND ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD.
JANUARY: COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION OF RAISED BEDS AND WHEEL CHAIR ASSESSBLE WALK WAYS;
BEGIN WOUNDED WARRIOR GARDENING PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH S.A. WOUNDED WARRIORS
FEBRUARY: ERECT PORTAL ENTRANCE ON CEDARHURST
SPRING: BEGIN CONSTRUCTION ON 2 STORY OBSERVATION DECK WITH RAMP
ATTEND 5 GREEN SPACE ALLIANCE TRAININGS – TO BE DETERMINED
FALL: START ENTRANCE BUILDING / VISITOR INFORMATION
WATER GARDEN 3-4 TIMES WEEKLY; SOMETIMES MORE DURING HEAT OF SUMMER.
EVERY SATURDAY IS A WORKDAY EXCEPT THE FOLLOWING: CHRISTMAS, NEW YEARS AND 4TH OF JULY.
CONTINUED EXPANSION OF ORCHARDS SPRING/FALL AS TREES AVAIL.
GARDEN DESCRIPTION FOR PUBLICITY
GREEN BRIDGES COMMUNITY GARDEN IS A PLACE OF “COMMON GROUND” WHERE PEOPLE GATHER
TOGETHER TO GROW NOT ONLY VEGETABLES, HERBS, FRUITS, TREES AND FLOWERS BUT FIND THAT
THEY THEMSELVES ARE GROWING: MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY, SPIRITUALLY AND PHYSICALLY .
IT IS A “GREEN / OPEN SPACE” WHERE WE CONNECT TO EACH OTHER, THE PLANTS, THE BUTTERFLIES,
THE EARTH AND SKY. NURTURING TAKES PLACE, SEEDS ARE PLANTED; VEGETABLES, FRUITS AND
PEOPLE ARE FED, WATERED AND TENDED TO.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COME GROW WITH US. WE ARE LOCATED AT 4114 SW LOOP 410, SAN ANTONIO,
TX 78227.
SUCCESSES, CHALLENGES AND COMENTS
SEVERAL YOUTH WHO HAVE COMPLETED COMMUNITY SERVICE CONTINUE TO RETURN WEEKLY ON A
VOLUNTEER BASIS. THEY ALSO HAVE BEGUN ATTENDING CHURCH AND YOUTH GROUP ACTIVITIES.
TWO YOUTH CAME FORWARD DURING CHURCH SERVICE AND GAVE TESTIMONY OF HOW IT HAS
HELPED HIM STAY OUT OF TROUBLE.
A MONTHER OF A 6 YEAR OLD BOY, WHO SUFFERS WITH A SENSORY DISORDER, SHARED THAT AFTER
HER SON SPENT A FEW HOURS WORKING AND PLAYING AT GREEN BRIDGES COMMUNITY GARDEN HAD
A “REALLY GOOD EVENING AND THE BEST SLEEP HE HAD IN A LONG TIME!”
SUCCESSFULLY MAINTAINED 24 CITRUS AND FRUIT TREES THROUGH THE SUMMER DROUGHT.
NEED WATER SOURCE LOCATED IN GARDEN AREA. CURRENTLY ACCESSING 1 WATER OUTLET ῀300 FEET
AWAY.
GREEN HOUSE VANDALIZED ῀5 TIMES; INCREASED COMMUNICATION WITH POLICE TO CONDUCT
FREQUINT PASSES OF GARDEN.
NEED LIGHT SOURCE IN GARDEN AREA FOR PATHWAYS AND SECURITY PURPOSES.
DONATION OF 4-10 LBS. OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES WEEKLY TO THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK.
ATTENDED EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS REQUIRED BY GREEN SPACES ALLIANCE.
ADEQUATELY PROTECTED PLANTS FROM THREAT OF FREEZING/FROST.
SUCCESSFULLY PREPARED AND PLANTED 2 – 100’ ROWS OF TEXAS SPLENDAS ONIONS. LOOK TO
HARVEST IN MARCH 2013.
PUBLICITY
MAY PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER. THE FOCUS WILL BE ON
POSITIVE IMPACT OF URBAN GREEN SPACES ON COMMUNITY/VARIOUS POPULATIONS.