Local Foods and Community Gardens
Helping Wake County citizens understand the value of consuming locally grown foods by bringing together resources and education on Community Gardens, Farmers' Markets, CSAs, and "Pick-Your-Own" farms.
The Community Gardens and Farmers' Markets work group updates the AHA website and takes the lead on educating the AHA membership and the community on advocacy opportunities as they relate to community gardens and farmers' markets.
What is a community garden?
Community gardens provide access to fresh produce and plants, in addition to enhancing a sense of community and connection to the environment. Community gardens come in many shapes and sizes.
Why Get Involved with Community Gardening?
Reasons abound for involvement in community gardening, including the chance to:
- Increase self-esteem, bolster confidence and encourage learning in children
- Create beauty
- Provide positive work experiences for at-risk youth
- Grow fresh produce
- Improve nutrition and fitness
- Share the joys and wonders of gardening
- Promote healthier communities
- Be neighborly
- Reduce stress
- Reduce crime
- Have fun
Multiple Benefits of Community Gardening from GardenWords (PDF)
Creating a Local Food System in Wake County
AHA is working with the community to begin development of a local food infrastructure that is mutually beneficial and efficient for farmers and businesses that procure foods. On Nov. 17, 2011, more than 100 farmers, chefs, caterers, food entrepreneurs, businesses, child care providers, health care professionals and others joined AHA for "Connecting the Dots" Creating a Local Food System in Wake County."
Heather Wooten, MCP, of the Planning for Healthy Places program at Public Health Law & Policy, is a nationally recognized speaker who has worked on this issue in Oakland, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; and Chicago as well as other communities. She joined AHA to share models and facilitate discussion about how to drive economic growth while improving the health of the community.
The following resources are related to the workshop; AHA invites all to continue this work with us.
Growing Business: Food-System Driven Economic Development by Heather Wooten
Farmland Protection and Local Foods Enhancement Plan, Wake County
Farm It Forward
Farmers Ben Shields and Patricia Parker of Ben’s Produce approached AHA with an idea to provide shares of locally grown, healthy produce to people in need in Wake County. From this discussion, Farm It Forward was created this summer.
This collaborative effort brings together local farms (Ben’s Produce and New Grass Gardens), as well as AHA partners Energize! (a WakeMed program for kids at risk of type 2 diabetes) and the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. (IFFS).
Through the program, several Energize families are receiving free community shared agriculture (CSA) shares of healthy, locally grown produce. In addition, they are participating in a free 6-week IFFS Cooking Matters class so that they can learn to make educated choices about growing, cooking and eating the best food possible.
Farm It Forward was born out of the generosity of the farmers, support from the community and support from AHA partners. AHA is currently piloting this program and expects it to continue to grow, furthering support of local farmers, providing access to healthy food and educating people about making good nutritional choices. Photos documenting Farm It Forward are available at AHA's Facebook page! If you would like to support Farm It Forward financially, please contact Michele McKinley at AHA.Local Food Champions
AHA thanks its Local Food Champions who support AHA's local foods initiatives!
Harvest Level: $1000
Wake County Human Services
Whole Foods Market (Cary and Raleigh Wade Ave. stores)
Friends of Local Food: $50
Raleigh Downtown Farmers MarketLocal Food Champion sponsorships are for a one-year period. If your organization or you would like to be a Local Food Champion, please contact Michele McKinley. Thank you!
Local Food in Wake County Schools
Public schools in Wake County participate in the Farm to School program to enable students to enjoy healthy, locally grown seasonal produce in school cafeterias. In the 2011-2012 school year, the program will feature 20 local fruits and vegetables from state farmers who have been GAP (good agricultural practices) certified.
Currently, there are options for local farmers to pursue GAP certification, and AHA is ramping up work to assist more farmers in becoming GAP certified in order to increase the opportunities for students to have access to healthy, seasonal foods. Stay tuned for updates...
Resources for Schools
- NC Farm to School Video
- NC Farm to School: downloadable resources, plus supplies of posters, table tents and more
- WCPSS Child Nutrition Services staff: an educational display and staff to come to your school for a field day or nutritional event
- NC Nutrition Services Branch: Bulletin board kits and other resources for schools
- Bearing Fruit report, created by the national Farm to School Network: This is a comprehensive guide to Farm to School program evaluation with highlights of the overall impacts of farm to school for stakeholders—teachers, food service, farmers, parents, policy makers, and community—providing excellent resources and tools to incorporate when assessing a program. It’s lengthy, but the 4-page Executive Summary is a great start!
- National Farm to School Network: works to connect resources, information and individuals doing the work and identify opportunities for collaboration. Contact: Laurie Stradley of UNC Asheville’s Center for Health and Wellness
Lunch In
Sponsored by AHA, Lunch In is designed to raise awareness and engage the community to advocate for fresh and healthy school lunches in Wake County. The first Lunch In event, an Iron Chef style-competition with local chefs, was held at Underwood Elementary School in Raleigh in spring 2010. “It was great to see so many kids and their families enjoying healthy, local food—especially rutabaga!” said Laura Aiken, AHA director. “For some, this was their first experience with rutabaga, a locally grown vegetable. Educating children and their families about healthy eating, the foods available to them locally in Wake County and how we can work together to get more local foods into schools is what Lunch In is all about.”AHA is working with a team of volunteers in the community to make fresh, local, and healthy food choices an integral part of Wake County students’ school day. AHA plans several other Lunch In events at Wake County schools this year with other local chefs.There are lots of photos from this fun and educational event at AHA's Facebook page!How to Start a Community Garden
Community gardening is both an art and a science. There are several factors to consider before starting a garden, such as location, funding, insurance, and more. Below are some of the best resources we could find to start a community garden. Do you know of more? Share them with us.
School Gardens: Take the Learning Outdoors!
AHA and others offer a wealth of information about starting and maintaing school gardens.
Breaking Ground on School Gardens (pdf)
Grants for School Gardens (pdf)
The ABCs of School Gardening: Megan Lewis and Amy Mackintosh
Presentation
School Gardens in Wake County (pdf): Safety, Funding, Tips and More
Web Site Resources
How to Grow a School Garden
Gardens for Learning: Creating and Sustaining Your School Garden
Outdoor Classrooms: School Garden Resources from Life Lab
Farm to School and School Gardening: Resources for Educators
Garden Based Learning that Promotes a Sustainable Future Life Lab Science Program (Washington DC Farm to School Program)
USDA: School Gardens Q&A
Fresh, Safe and Healthy Food: Best Practices for Using Produce from School Gardens
Student Gardens and Food ServiceDig In: Gardening Resource Library
Many thanks to the local urban farming and community gardening experts who have shared their expertise on gardening at Dig In for the past two years. Several speakers prepared the following presentations and hand-outs for the event, and we are posting them here for the community gardening resource library.
Dig In 2011
A Year in Review and A Look Ahead: Morrisville Mayor Jackie Holcomb
Presentation, Community Garden, MorrisvillePermaculture:: Luke McMullan
PresentationThe ABCs of School Gardening: Megan Lewis and Amy Mackintosh
Presentation
School Gardens
Grants for Community and School GardensGoing Green! Organic Gardening & Pest Management: Ben Shields
Presentation
ResourcesHow Does Your Garden Grow? Garden Planning & Design: Inter-Faith Food Shuttle
Presentation
Lasagna Gardening Poster
Resources for Garden Planning
Vegetable Planting Guide
It's All About Dirt: Soil and Composting: Stephen Ratasky, Erika Larsen and Matthew Brown
Presentation
Top 10 Most Valuable Soil ResourcesLegal Issues of Community Gardening: Ted Feitshans
Presentation
Garden Plot Rules
Garden Plot ContractFundraising & Financially Sustaining a Community Garden: Keith Bliss
Presentation
Grants for Community and School GardensDig In 2010
-
Funding and Grant Opportunities
Are you in search of funds to build or sustain a community garden? Listed are some of the opportunities that have come our way. If you know of opportunities we should list, please email Michele at mmckinley@wakemed.orgGarden Tool Drive
AHA accepts donations of gently used and new garden tools for area community gardens in need. If you have spare tools collecting dust and wish to donate them, or if your organization/business would like to host a tool drive, please contact AHA. Community gardeners in Wake County are so appreciative of donations!
Wake County Community Garden Land Exchange
This section of our website allows us to match community members wishing to belong to a garden with gardens in our area. It also allows groups who would like to start gardens to learn where land may be available. If you have land you would like to see gardened, this is a forum to let others know about it!-
Do you have land that you would love to see someone use for a community garden? Please click here to tell us about it!
-
If you are part of a group that would like to start a garden, but you need land, please click here to fill out the contact form.
-
Are you looking for volunteers or members in your community garden? Please click here and tell us about it!
-
Non-Traditional Gardens
When you think of a vegetable garden, do you automatically think of a large square of soil? Think again...Youth and Senior involvement in Community Gardens
10% Campaign
AHA supports the 10% Campaign to build a local food economy in North Carolina. Join the campaign by pledging to spend at least 10% of your existing food dollars (grocery, markets, restaurants) on locally grown foods. Growing foods in your backyard or community garden is not only healthy, but helps to build a local food economy!Visit the 10% Campaign site to learn more, to take the pledge and to see how your work place can be part of this effort as well.
