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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Gardens ComparisonE LIW Ension Winnebago County Cooperative Extension Agriculture (920) 232 -1971 University of Wisconsin- Extension Community Development (920) 232 -1972 625 E. County Road Y, Suite 600 Family Living (920) 232 -1973 Oshkosh, WI 54901 -8131 4 -H Youth Development (920) 232 -1974 920 232 -1970 920 424- 1277(fax) TDD Phone: 711 for Wisconsin Relay October 26, 2009 A comparison of community gardens in a few cities of northeast Wisconsin. Summary prepared by Nick Schneider, Winnebago County UWEX Agriculture Agent Oshkosh: 1. Sherman Road Community Garden: Operated by the Sherman Road Community Garden Partnership. Coordination provided by the Winnebago County UW- Extension Office. Contains 160 20X40 foot garden plots. Single plots rent for $25 each or $20 per plot up to a limit of four. Ninety -two families rent plots. Fifty -four of the families are Hmong gardeners. The Sherman Road Community Garden moved to a new location in 2009, located on DRN land south of Winnebago Mental Health. This is the fourth location since the mid- 1990s. All plots were occupied in 2009. There are approximately 15 people on the waiting list for 2010. All labor was provided in -kind or paid for through fees not to exceed the total rental collection. 2. There are 3 privately owned community gardens outside of Oshkosh ranging from 3 to 7 mile commutes. The garden north of Oshkosh on a farm on Hwy 76 is closer to Neenah. 3. UW- Oshkosh has a small community garden on 3r Avenue utilized by UW Oshkosh students. Brown County Green Bay: There are seven locations with a total of approximately 140 plots. 20X20 foot garden plots rent for $20, 50X50 foot plots rent for $40. Gardens are in various locations, some on city land, one on county land, one on land owned by a church, one on Oneida Reservation land, and some are on private land. 80% of renters are Hmong or Hispanic. Brown County has a part time community garden coordinator, for whom the county covers mileage and there have been grants to help with salary. Volunteers have helped in some years. Fond du Lac County: The community garden in Fond du Lac has been in the same location for 10 years. The Fond du Lac community garden is a long -term location not far south of the Hwy 23/41 exit. 166 plots were rented by 116 families. This projected has a part -time coordinator and uses volunteers. Fox Valley Community Garden Partnership: Ten total locations are included in Appleton, Menasha, and the UWO garden with a total of 218 plots. Seven of these are open for public rental. There are 326 garden participants of whom 50 are Asian, 1 Hispanic, and 1 African American. A 20X25 foot plot rents for $15. The project coordinator receives financial support from Goodwill Industries, fundraising and volunteers. University of Wisconsin, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Wisconsin counties cooperating. UW- Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programminq includinq Title IX and ADA Steps to developing a new community garden site: Location: Do the soils have the potential to support good vegetable garden growth? If the soils in the location have not been damaged is some way, this should not be problem because much of Oshkosh is on Kewanee and Manawa soils. Locations with standing water problems will not work though. Will there be other problems such as traffic, unwelcoming neighbors or wildlife? Ideally a new community -based garden model would place gardens in locations where gardeners could reach by walking or bicycle. 2. Accessibility: Are there safe places to park nearby with adequate driveways or roads to reach the garden? Access to a water source is important but not essential so long as renters are aware water is not provided and rental rates are adjusted accordingly. However, irrigation water is the number one request by gardeners. Best -case scenario, fresh city water would be available during dry periods. 3. History: What was at this location previously? Food safety needs to be considered. If there is a possibility of soil contaminates such as lead or arsenic, it would be best to rule out the location. The remediation costs would be too great for a low cost community garden. Soil tests can be processed for approximately $100 to test for heavy metals and nutrients. If structures or other construction were once done at the location, is there adequate topsoil remaining to grow vegetables? 4. Longevity: How long would the location be available? The Sherman Road Community Garden is now in its fourth location since the mid -1990. This prevents the Community Garden Partnership from investing in long -term infrastructure such as water access. Much money has been spent on items such as gravel and culverts for driveways, water towers, water pumps, and planting driving lanes. Some of these investments are lost with repeated moves. The Sherman Road location has four years remaining on a five -year agreement with the DNR. The goal is the have long -term or even a permanent location(s) identified by the close of the current agreement. With the increasing request for garden plots, additional space may be needed sooner. 5. Responsibility: While UW- Extension has been providing management at the Sherman Road location, we lack the staff to oversee numerous locations. The close proximity of the Sherman Road location to the James P. Coughlin Center allowed this managerial role to be successful. While we can still provide renter registration support, we would not be able to oversee matters such as garden condition supervision, mowing, supplying water, etc. The ideal situation is a core group of dedicated volunteers could take leadership responsibility of day -to -day garden activities. 6. Equipment: Currently the Sherman Road community garden has little equipment. Two water tanks are owned and another is being borrowed. There are two water pumps, a small amount of hose, stakes, and signs. All other equipment was either borrowed from Winnebago Correctional, Winnebago County Parks Department, and Winnebago County Land and Water Conservation Department or rented. The city of Oshkosh likely has much of the equipment needed for daily operations, such a small tractor, tiller, grass seeder, and pickup truck. Steps for on -going facilitation of a community garden site: 2010 GARDEN PROJECT TIME LINE: FEBRUARY: Wednesday 17 Garden Partners Meeting 9:00 10:30am at Coughlin Center: Review garden handbook, P.R. activities, discuss upcoming registration process, budget planning MARCH: 3` d WEEK Get article about garden opening in the newspaper Have information put on Hmong radio program Newsletter committee work on articles which will go out with registration materials Put up garden opening posters APRIL: Monday 5 th send out registration letters to 2009 gardeners and newsletter Monday 19 th all mail in registrations should be received by UW Extension, 2009 Gardeners will be given the option of keeping their last years plot. Monday 26 th walk in registration at the Extension, Gardeners will be given the option of choosing a plot, first come first serve. MAY: Wednesday 12 th Garden opening. Plots must be flagged and labeled. There is an expectation the soil is tilled. JUNE: Tuesday 15 Garden Partners Meeting 9:00 10:30am at Coughlin Center: Review how the garden project is going, review the budget SEPTEMBER: Friday 17 Garden Partners Meeting 9:00 10:30am at Coughlin Center: Review how the garden project is going, review the budget, discuss garden closing Notice sent to gardener's to remind them about garden closing Sunday 17 th closing day Monday 18 th garden gleaning Fall tilling OCTOBER: ON -GOING ACTIVITIES Supply irrigation water Mow alleys Arrange portable toilet Open and close driving lines when rainy If you have questions, please contact: Nick Schneider Winnebago County UW- Extension Agriculture Agent nick. schneider&ces. uwex. edu 920 232 -1970