Post on 03-Jul-2018
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Living Green Community
Grant
Application deadline: April 28, 2017
OVERVIEW
LIVING GREEN is the commitment to operate through the lens of good stewardship for our people, our planet and for prosperity both today and into the future. In2012,theCityofGreendevelopedtheLivingGreeninitiative,aprogramdesignedtoencouragegood
stewardshipofourplanet,ourpeopleandourfinances.In2015,theCity’scontractwithourtrashand
recyclingvendor,TheKimbleCompanies,providesarebatetotheCitybasedonrecyclingvolume.
ThesefundsarethebasisoftheLivingGreenCommunityGrant.Pastrecipientsinclude:
GrantYear Amount Recipient
2016 $1,000 TheCommUnityGarden
2017 $1,800 TBD
In2017,theCityofGreenismakingavailable$1800.00oftheserebatefundsintheformofCommunity
Grantstobeawardedtonon-profitorganizations,operatingwithintheCitywhoseprojectsormissions
areconsistentwiththeLivingGreenprioritiesandthatincreaseourCity'slivability.
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ProjectsshouldpromoteoneormoreofthefollowingLivingGreenvalues:
• EnergySavings
• WaterQuality&Conservation
• WasteReduction
• LocalFood
• Community/VolunteerEngagement
• Healthycommunity
Applicationsmaybesentbyemailtolivinggreen@cityofgreen.orgorbyregularU.S.Mailorhand
deliveredtotheCityofGreenCentralAdministrationBuilding,1755TownParkBoulevard,Green,Ohio
44232-0278,andmustbereceivedby3:00pmonFriday,April28,2017.Grantawardswillbe
determinedbytheLivingGreenTaskForce.Formoreinformation,visit
www.cityofgreen.org/livinggreen/communitygrantorcontactValerieWolfordat
livinggreen@cityofgreen.orgor(330)896-6602.
ELIGIBILITYGUIDELINES
EligibleactivitiesarethosethatpromotegoodstewardshipoftheCity'svaluableresourcesand
encourageamorelivableCitysuchas:
• neighborhoodrecyclingdays
• communitygardenprojects
• promotionofartsandculture
• historicpreservation
Eligibleprojectsmust:
• achieveadirectbenefittotheCityofGreen
• demonstratealignmentwithLivingGreenvalues
Ineligibleactivitiesinclude:
• fundraisingactivities
• politicalcampaigns
• administrationcosts
Eligibleapplicantsinclude:
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• Non-profitsoperatingwithintheCityofGreenlimitsandwhoseworkandmissionlargely
benefittheresidentsoftheCityofGreen
APPLICANTINFORMATION
ApplicantAgency:HarmonySpringsChristianChurch
AgencyAddress:POBox428,Uniontown,OH44685
AgencyPhoneNumber:330-899-9785
AgencyTaxID#:34-0714351
NameofProjectCoordinator/Contact:JenniferBerlyoung
ProjectCoordinatorPhoneNumber:330-807-8072
ProjectCoordinatorE-mailAddress:jennifer@harmonysprings.org
Organization'sHistory(250wordsorless):
HarmonySpringshasalongstandinghistoryinSummitCountywithextensivepartnershipsformorethanacenturywithlocalnon-profitsandorganizationssupportingthecommunity.In2011,HarmonySpringspurchased9.2acreslocatedat3891ArlingtonRoadneartheBoettlerintersectionforfuturedevelopment.InMarch2017,thechurchfinalizedthesaleofthepreviousbuildingindowntownAkron(HighStreetChristianChurch)andislookingforwardtocompletingplanstobuildontheArlingtonsite.ThechurchcurrentlymeetsatAGMCHealthandWellnessonMassillonRoad,andhasbeenmeetinginGreenforfiveyears(seeattachedAkron.comarticle).
Organization'sGoals&Objectives(250wordsorless):
ThemissionofHarmonySpringsistobeawelcomingandprogressivecommunityoffaith,seekingharmonyinaworldofdissonance–seekingspiritualmomentsoftransformationthroughworship,reflection,andservicetothecommunity.WearerootedintheDisciplesofChrist,whichisaChristianmovementforunity,inclusion,andwholeness.Groundedinthesetraditions,weseektointentionallywelcome,supportandaffirmindividualsseekingspiritualgrowth,whilerecognizingwhotheyare–theirbeliefs,age,gender,struggles,race,sexuality,andabilities.HarmonySpringsstrivestoconnectwiththosewhoconsiderthemselvesspiritualbutnotreligiousbyengagingincommunityevents,projects,andinitiativeswheneverpossibleinanefforttopromotelove,unityandcommunity.
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Organization'sPrograms&Services:
HarmonySpringsisachurchwiththeexpectedSundayservices(averageattendance100)andspecialservicesthroughouttheyear,howeverthatisonlyasmallfractionofwhatisintegraltoournature.HarmonySpringshasbeenanactivememberofthecityofGreenduringthefouryearsthatthechurchhasbeenmeetinghere.
HarmonySpringshasengagedinthecityofGreenthrough
• ParticipationintheGreenSchoolsBlessingsinaBackpackprogramthroughdonationsoffooditems,monetarygifts,andvolunteerhourstofillbackpacks
• FreedomFesttablewheremoneyearnedsellingpopbenefittedtheBackpackprogram
• MemorialDayparticipationwithfloatandhand-outstoparadeattendees
• BoettlerParkTrickorTreatTrail–handedoutcandy
• EarthDayParkCleanupDay
HarmonySpringsseeksoutLivingGreeninitiativeswithinthecongregationthroughtheestablishmentofaGreenMinistryTeamLeadtopursuegreenhabitstomakethechurchmoreenvironmentallyfriendly.Somechurchhabitsinclude
• Usingwashableceramiccoffeemugsduringserviceratherthansingle-useStyrofoamorpaper
• Utilizingawhiteboardupdatedweeklyandanoverheadprojectorinthemeetingspaceratherthanprintingweeklybulletins
• E-maildistributionofweeklyandmonthlynewslettersratherthanpapercopies
Churchprogramsandmeetingsareopentoallmembersofthecommunityregardlessofchurchmembership.ChurchgroupsincludeWomen’sCircle(meetingmonthly);Youthgroup(incollaborationwithotherlocalchurches,meetingweekly);andOWLS(OlderWiserLearningSeniors),whichmeetsregularlyatwelcominglocationssuchastheTorokCenter,ACMEcommunityroom,andtheGiantEaglemeetingspaceupstairs.
Organization'sStructure(Board,Trustees,etc.):
HarmonySpringsiscongregationalinitsstructure.ItoperateswithaBoardofTrusteeswhomakefinancial,property,andbuildingdecisionsandaBoardofEldersthatmakeprogramandorganizationaldecisions(seeattachment).
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PROJECTINFORMATION
ProjectTitle:HarmonySpringsFarm&Garden
ProjectLocation:3891ArlingtonRd.Uniontown,OH44685(thisaddressisreachedbyheadingupthedrivewaythatleadstotheredbarnandturningrightthroughthefieldattheendofthedrivebehindthebarn–seeattachment)
DescriptionofProposedProject(250wordsorless):
GiventheuniquesetupofHarmonySpringsFarmandGardeninwhatwasrecentlyanemptylot,andnowonlyagarden,HarmonySpringshashadadifficulttimewithwateringthegardeninamannerthatmaximizessustainability.Wehavelookedatmanyoptions:Therearenogutterstofillarainbarrel,andwedonothavealakeorpondtoaccessasaresourcetowaterthegarden.Diggingawellisoutofourpricerange,andnotrecommendeduntilthepermanentspaceforthechurchbuildingissetnordowehaveaccesstocitywater.For2016,thegardenwaswateredfromsoakerhosesconnectedtowatertanksthathadtobeshippedinandrefilledasneeded,andageneratortopumpthewatertothehoses.
In2017,HarmonySpringsplanstoinstituteamoreefficientwateringmethod.Theprojectcallsforpurchasingthefollowingitemstoincreasethegreenfootprintofourgardenandsecureitssustainability:
• Two84”rainsaucersfromhttp://rainsaucers.com/products.htmtoholdrainwater($210each)
• One500-gallonrainwater-harvestingtankwouldbeneeded($500)• Soakerhosestoaccommodatetheincreasedgardensize($100)
Asasignofcommitmenttothegardenproject,HarmonySpringshiredaGardenCoordinatorfortheseason.JenniferBerlyoungcomeswithprojectleadershipexperienceaswellasextensiveresearchinCommunitySupportedAgriculture(CSA)modelsandgardening.
DescriptionofNeed:
HarmonySpringsFarmandGarden’smaingoalistoconnectGreencommunitymemberswithsustainableandgreenlocalgardeningtechniquesinanefforttosupportthosestrugglingwithsuburbanfoodinsecurity.WeappreciatethemodeloftheCommunityFoodandWellnessInitiativeattheMethodistTheologicalSchoolinOhio(https://www.mtso.edu/ecotheology/community-food-and-wellness-initiative/)andplantohavesuchanimpactonourowncommunityastheFarmandGardenprogrambecomesstronger.
In2016,HarmonySpringsbrokegroundonacommunitygardenprojectlocatedatthe3891ArlingtonRd.propertyinanefforttoconnectGreenresidentswithlocalproduce,gardening,andreducesuburbanfoodinsecurity.Thegardenhasbeenintheplanningstagesince2012,andwas
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implementedinSpring2016.Thechurchhaddecidedtomoveforwardwiththegardenprojectinordertobegoodstewardsoftheland.Thegardenwillbecomeapermanentpartofthepropertyinapproximatelyitscurrentlocationevenafterachurchbuildingisconstructed.In2016,nearly150vegetableplantswerepurchasedandplantedofawidevariety:tomato,peppers,watermelon,honeydew,strawberry,cucumbers,zucchini,squash,cabbage,greenbeans,kale,greens,leaflettuce,carrots,andpeas.
HarmonySpringsFarmandGardenpromotestheseLivingGreenvalues:
Energysavings–Localfoodreduceswearandtearontheroadshippinglongdistances;iseasieronthewalletforallinvolved;andrecently-pickedvegetablesarehealthierthanthosepickedearlyandallowedtoripenonthetruckortrainonthewaytoourcity.
Wastereduction–Alotoftimeandgarbagegoesintopurchasingvegetablesatthegrocerystoreevenifweareonlytalkingaboutpackagingmaterialsorplasticbagsusedtoselectfooditemsforcheckout.HarmonySpringsisplanningtodevelopacompostingmethodforusedplantsaswellasencouragingchurchmemberstocompostinordertobringmorenutrient-richtopsoiltothegardenasafertilizer.
Localfood–fruitsandvegetablesgrownattheHarmonySpringsFarmandGardenwillbeavailableasaCSAmodelin2018[seenextparagraph]aswellasdonatedtolocalfoodpantriessuchasGreenGoodNeighbors.HarmonySpringsFarmandGardenpledgestosetaside25%ofitsharvestatalltimesfordonationtolocalfoodpantries.
HarmonySpringsbelievesthestrongestimpacttothecommunitywouldbeinaCommunity-SupportedAgriculture(CSA)model.ThismodelwouldconnectHarmonySpringsFarmandGardenswithpersonslocallywhowouldliketheirowngardenspacebutlackresourcesintheirownlivingareaaswellasofferfreshfruitsandvegetablestolow-incomefamilies.InaCSApeoplepurchaseintosharesoftheanticipatedharvestataflatweeklyrate.Theythenarerequiredtoassistwithcareandharvestingofthegarden(ordesignatesomeoneelsetodoso).Theworktocareforthegardenisshared,andthenthebountyisalso.Thisproduceshighquality,pesticidefreeproduceforthecommunityindividuals.Bytakingpartintheactualcareofthegarden,CSAmembershaveahigherstakeinensuringhighstandardsforthegarden.HarmonySpringshashiredaGardenCoordinatortoensuresmoothoperationsofthegardeningeneralaswellascoordinateCSAactivities.
Foodinsecurityis“nothavingaccesstoenoughsafefoodforallmembersofahouseholdforanactive,healthylife”(Coleman-Jensen2015).TheUnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture(USDA)istaskedwithrecordingtherateandcharacteristicsoffoodinsecurityintheUnitedStates.ThemostrecentpublicationfromSeptember2015reportsthenationalaverageatcurrently14%.TheUSDAreportsthatOhiohasafoodinsecurityrateabovethenationalaverageof16.9%(USDA2016).
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Foodinsecurityisnotrelegatedtodevelopingnations,tostateswithlowfoodresourcesorevenareasthatarehistoricallyconsideredlow-income.Thefastestgrowingareasoffoodinsecurepopulationsareinthenation’ssuburbs(KneeboneandBerube2013).Theproblemoffoodaccessisbroadandsystemicrequiringremediationfromvariouslevels.Whenanindividualisabletoparticipateinfoodaccesstheyarelessnegativelyaffectedandtheyfeelbetteraboutusingsomeofthefoodthattheyareinvolvedinproducing(Forcone2016;Leatherman2005;Lietz2011)HarmonySpringsFarmandGardenwillassistinalleviatinglocalfoodinsecurity.Itisuniqueandvaluableinthepositiveinvolvementandvaluablecommunitycohesionthatitwillprovidetothoseinneed.Low-incomefamilieswouldbeidentifiedbythelocalschoolsorbyfoodpantriesthatareprivytopersonalinformationaboutfamilies.HarmonySpringsencouragesreferrals.
ArecentInsiteReport(seeattachment)revealedthatwithinathree-mileradiusoftheHarmonySpringsproperty,25.13%ofthehouseholdshaveanincomelevelunder$39,999.Ifweincreasethatlevelto$49,999,thepercentagejumpsto39.01%.AsignificantnumberofthesefamiliesarewithinthetargetdemographicthatwillbeassistedwithproducefromtheHarmonySpringsFarmandGarden.
References
Coleman-Jensen,A.,Rabbitt,M.,Gregory,C.,andSingh,A.(2015).HouseholdFoodSecurityintheUnitedStatesin2014,ERR-194,U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,EconomicResearchService,September2015.
Forcone,T.(2016).PalatableHelp:ExperiencesoFoodInsecurityinaSuburbanEnvironment(HonorsThesis).TheUniversityofAkron,IdeasExchange,April2016.
Kneebone,E.,andBerube,A.(2013).ConfrontingSuburbanPovertyinAmerica.WashingtonDC:TheBrookingsInstitute.
Leatherman,T(2005).ASpaceofVulnerabilityinPovertyandHealth:Political-ecologicalandBioculturalAnalysis.Ethos33(1),46-70.
Lietz,C.(2011).EmpathicAcitonandFamilyResilience:ANarrativeExaminationoftheBenefitsofHelpingOthers.JournalofSocialServiceResearch,37(3):254-265.
U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture(2016).OhioStateFactsSheet.RetrievedonAugust27,2016fromhttp://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/state-fact-sheets/state-data.aspx?StateFIPS=39&StateName=Ohio
ProjectGoals&Objectives(howdoesthisProjectalignwithLivingGreenvalues?)
TheHarmonySpringsFarmandGardenwaterprojectalignswiththecityofGreen’sgoalsandobjectivesinthefollowingways:
CommunityGardening
Sustainably
AddressFoodInsecurity
OrganicGardening
CommunityCooperationthruCSAmodelofGardening
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HowdoesthisProjectpromoteandencouragecommunity/volunteerinvolvement?
HarmonySpringsFarmandGardenwillinvitecommunitymemberstotakeownershipingardeningbypurchasingsharesofCSAanddonatingvolunteerhourstothegarden.Apercentageoftheproducehasbeendonatedandwillalwayscontinuetogotothosestrugglingwithfoodinsecurity.AscommunityinvolvementincreaseswiththestartupofaCSA,HarmonySpringspledgestocontinuedonatingatleast25%ofitsweeklyharvesttofoodpantries.WewilladvertisetheCSAinlocalnewspapersandinotherappropriateforums(atchurch,noticestootherchurches,socialmedia,flyershandedoutwhereverHarmonySpringsisactive).
ProjectTimeline:Beganin2016,use2017toresolvewaterissueandprepareforCSA;continueonasaCSAmodelin2018
GrantAssistanceRequested,InDollars,noCents:$1120
TotalProjectCost:$3120for2017
Plants $2000
RainSaucers $420
500galTank $500
SoakerHoses $100
Fencingforlargergarden $100
Source(s)ofmatchingfunds,ifapplicable:HarmonySpringsRossFundforCommunityProjects
______________________________________________________ April28,2017
ProjectCoordinatorSignature Date
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ATTACHMENTS:
1. ResolutionofSupport
2. ListofBoardMembershipincludingofficers
3. AerialmapofHarmonySpringspropertyonArlingtonRoad
4. SouthSideLeaderarticledetailingHarmonySpringsmovetoGreen
5. InsiteDemographicReportHouseholdIncomeTrends(fullreportavailableuponrequest)
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Rev. Joel. S. Engman P.O. Box 428 - Uniontown OH 44685-0428 www.harmonysprings.org ph: 330-899-9785
Christian Church of Green
RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT At the meeting of the Leadership of Harmony Springs Christian Church on April 22, 2017, the following resolution was proposed and approved by the Board of Elders: Resolved: WHEREAS the mission of Harmony Springs Christian Church is Loving God, Loving You; WHEREAS Harmony Springs Community Garden supports the mission of Harmony Springs Christian Church; That the Harmony Springs Christian Church Board of Elders is in full support of a grant proposal to the Living Green Community Grant for Harmony Springs Community Garden.
Ted Iler Chair of the Elders/Moderator of the Congregation
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LISTOFBOARDMEMBERSHIPINCLUDINGOFFICERS
HarmonySpringsiscongregationalinitsstructure.ItoperateswithaBoardofTrusteeswhomakefinancial,propertyandbuildingdecisionsandaBoardofEldersthatmakeprogramandorganizationaldecisions.
Elders:
TedIler,ChairCarolZumstein,Vice-ChairLizIlerTomBenjamin
Trustees:
ClarkReed,ChairDarleenSlater,Vice-ChairSherylBlanchardJohnForconeRobertPiks