Adding Community Value to Gardens

Beth HannaHava Blair

Nick Heckman

Welcome

• Introductions

• Group Goals

Tallgrass Prairie

Organic CSA Farm

Community Gardens

Kids’ Garden

Sugar Maple Woodland

Troy Gardens

Trainings

Evaluation

Resources

“It’s interesting, salsa has everything in it that I didn’t like, but I like it. I mean, it has onion,

tomatoes, peppers…but it tastes good!”

7

8

9

Yes, I would like to continue to garden. I would grow chives, my favorite, carrots, peas, raspberries, strawberries, sunflowers; I think I might get chickens too. Not blueberries, I only like those with ice cream.

-Marisol Llanos-Gomez, age 9

Riverview Gardens is a financially

self-sustaining social enterprise, primarily

focused on job-training for people in need,

utilizing urban farming in a park setting.

Providing purposeful, dignity-building activity

Making healthy food accessible

Working with schools to help at-risk youth develop productive work ethics

Change our community’s perceptions of people in need

Providing transitional employment as people prepare for permanent employment

Secondary Focal Points

Our community is faced with growing challenges:

The number of people receiving food share benefits has more than doubled in the last 5 years (LIFE)

The number of nonprofits has doubled since 2006 while available funding has remained stable (LIFE)

Unemployment was the most common primary reason for homelessness in 2008-2010 (LIFE)

The number of homeless individuals has risen by 48% since 2005 (LIFE)

Why Riverview Gardens?

Access to fresh local food is limited for low income people (RUDD Report)

Riverview Gardens addresses all of these needs

Developing Our Space

COMMUNITY CENTER

Stone Cellar at Riverview Gardens

Community Events

Cooking Classes

Bread Share

Educational Workshops

URBAN FARM

Production areas… Hoop Houses Outdoor Gardens Food Forest

(fruit/nut trees) Aquaponics

Supplying produce for… Community

Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Restaurants Institutions Farm Markets

NATURAL PARK SPACE

Native Prairie Picnic Areas Trails

o Running/Walkingo Mountain Bikingo X-Country Skiingo Snowshoeing

Open to the community for daytime use.

An Aerial View

ServiceWorksServiceWorks provides men and women in need or experiencing homelessness with transferable work skills. The program is designed to foster growth as a coworker, leader and community member through dedication to improvement in the following areas:

• Quality of Work

• Efficient Use of Time

• Relationships with Peers

• Relationships with Leaders

ServiceWorks Progress(Year to Date)

# o

f Pa

rtic

ipants

30 Hours Completed

60 Hours Completed

90 Hours Completed

Job Placement0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160141

116

25

7

ProgressUpdate(18 Months)

• Farmers bring an abundance of produce to farmers’

markets every summer

• Unsold produce can go to waste

• Connect local farmers with local food pantries by

facilitating donations of fresh produce at the end of

the farmer’s market

• Volunteers collect, box, and deliver produce to food

pantry

Shared Harvest

• Individuals in need volunteer their time in

return for a community supported

agriculture (CSA) share.

• Requires the farmer to train and manage

schedules

• With good training, WorkShare members

contribute significantly to farm operations

WorkShare

Cooking Classes• Demonstrate how to use fresh, whole

produce to create delicious meals

• Outline process of meal planning and budgeting

• Opportunities to collaborate: UW Extension, local culinary & nutrition program students, local chefs

Neighborhood Market Initiative • Market stand on trailer can travel to any

neighborhood

• Identify neighborhoods will low access to fresh produce

• Park in any legal parking space

• No license required for selling fresh fruits and vegetables

• Identify leaders in each neighborhood to promote program

• Collaborate with local groups to make weekly markets a neighborhood event

Hunger Task Force Has a Farm

Hunger Task Force Has a Farm

• Milwaukee County Park System property

• Operated by Hunger Task Force under a 30–year lease with Milwaukee County

Hunger Task Force Farm & Fish Hatchery

Our Farm Feeds the Hungry Free of Charge!

Farm fresh produce is delivered free of charge to 81 pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters in Milwaukee County.

Our Farm Feeds the Hungry

25+ varieties of vegetables Provides reliable source of fresh

produce, including culturally appropriate food items

1 million lbs 2013

Farm Facts

4 Orchards

Farm Facts

Farm Facts

Farm Includes a Greenhouse

Fish Hatchery

The farm also includes a fish hatchery that is used to raise trout, sunfish, perch and bass . . .

for transplant into Milwaukee County Park ponds for recreational fishing.

Fish Hatchery Facts

• It provides a reliable source of high quality produce to feed hungry people in Milwaukee County.

Why does Hunger Task Force Operate the Farm?

…opportunities for youth and adult education.

Other Benefits of the Farm Include. . .

Nutrition Education

…opportunities for youth and adult education.

Other Benefits of the Farm Include. . .

The fish hatchery supports a recreational urban fishing experience.

Hunger Task Force Farm & Fish Hatchery

Conserves one of the last significant open areas in Milwaukee County, including a rare example of an Oak Savanna.

Hunger Task Force Farm & Fish Hatchery

www.hungertaskforce.org414-777-0483

Maureen@hungertaskforce.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Discussion Groups