What’s Growing in Austin: Innovative Community Gardens

Meredith GrayConservation Program Coordinator

City of Austin Parks & Recreation Dept.

Sari AlbornozGrow Local Program Director

Sustainable Food Center

• Created by Austin City Council in 2009 to have a single point of contact and streamline the process for creating community gardens on City land

• Assist with land search, license agreements, and permitting

Meredith Gray, Conservation Program Coordinatormeredith.gray@austintexas.gov 512-974-9450

City of Austin Sustainable Urban Agriculture &

Community Garden Program

Sustainable Food Center

Sustainable Food Center cultivates a healthy community by strengthening the local food system and improving access to nutritious, affordable food.● Grow Local● Farm Direct● The Happy Kitchen/La Cocina Alegre™

Sari Albornoz, Grow Local Program Directorsari@sustainablefoodcenter.org512-220-1087

Background & Context: Community Gardens

•Sustainable agriculture techniques: developed and practiced by indigenous communities– Appropriate for regional ecosystems, climate– Work with, not against, natural conditions

History: Sustainable Agriculture

•Landscape Gardens: – African American slaves and gardens:

e.g., Garden at Monticello•Freedom Gardens:– Louisiana Underground

Railroad• Agriculture-based freedom colonies– www.facebook.

com/TheTexasFreedomColoniesProject/

History: Community Agriculture for Health & Self-Sufficiency

Randy Harris for The New York Times

• During WWI and WWII, the United States government asked its citizens to plant gardens in order to support the war effort.

• In 1943, Americans planted over 20 million Victory Gardens• The harvest accounted for nearly 1/3 of all the vegetables

consumed in the country that year (for comparison, 1% of the food consumed in Austin is produced locally).

History: Organized Neighborhoods

What is a Community Garden?A community garden is "any piece of land gardened by a group of people" -American Community Gardening Association

South Austin Community Garden

Benefits of Community Gardens● Re-engage people with their food

● Provide spaces for people to learn to grow food, created BY the community, enhancing community stewardship and pride

● Provide access to affordable, fresh, local, culturally appropriate, nutritious food

● Foster friendships and cooperation across racial, socioeconomic, and age groups.

● Empower citizens to relate with local governments

All this around food, food production, and health--common to all.

Community Gardens Today

Gardens are on City, County, State, church, school, and private land.

54 Community Gardens in Austin

Case Studies: Community Garden Success Stories

Adelphi Acre Community Garden● City of Austin Public Works Dept. land● Never used for intended purpose as turn lane: underutilized, but

required mowing● Neighbors became inspired about potential to bring site to life as a

community space

Adelphi Acre CG: Challenges

Adelphi Acre CG: Success!• Garden completed in 2015 with 80 plots• Used Utility Coordination Committee to gain approval from 37 utility

companies • Funded using Neighborhood Partnering Program Grant, strong

community partnerships, including with nearby nurseries, landscapers, arborists.

Adelphi Acre CG: Success!

Cherry Creek Community Garden

• City of Austin partnered with FEMA to buy out 31 homes in 100-year floodplain

• Houses were razed, ground was prepared• Neighbors concerned about crime in newly vacant area, loss of

community inspired to create community garden

Cherry Creek CG: Challenges

Cherry Creek CG: Success!

● Community garden established 2015

● 24 plots, fruit orchard, and wildlife trail

Cherry Creek CG: Success!• Funded by Neighborhood Partnering Program• Partnership between City of Austin Watershed, Public Works, and

Parks & Rec. Dept.• Local chef Sonya Coté created community

table at garden, hosted dinner for neighbors

North Austin Community Garden• On City of Austin Recreation Center/YMCA land• Neighborhood includes high percentage of multifamily residences

with no yard space available for gardening

North Austin CG: Challenges

• Original garden site turned out to be in floodplain; had to relocate

• Unprecedented use of Art in Public Places funding for a community garden project, caused confusion with permitting (the garden IS the art!)

North Austin CG: Success!• Established 2014 with 48 plots• Funded through Art in Public Places Grant • Created by community members, artists (THOUGHTBARN),

partner agencies, and local businesses

North Austin CG: Success!• Won SXSW Eco Award!• Documentary, Garden, produced by Flow Nonfiction• Unique partnership between City of Austin, YMCA, and neighbors

Festival Beach Community Garden & Festival Beach Food Forest

● El Jardin Alegre lost its land and needed new site

● City of Austin Parks & Recreation Dept. land

● Underutilized property next to RBJ Residential Tower (affordable housing for seniors and people with disabilities)

● Mowed at city’s expense

Festival Beach CG & Festival Beach Food Forest: Challenges

● First community garden to be established on City parkland in many years: lack of existing permitting protocol

● Need for start-up funding● Dirty stormwater runoff from RBJ Towers parking lot caused

flooding and erosion● Need for improved ADA accessibility, especially for RBJ Towers

residents

Festival Beach CG: Success!

● Funded by Austin Parks Foundation

● Partnership with HOPE Food Pantry at RBJ Residential Center

● Partnership with Multicultural Refugee Coalition

Festival Beach CG: Success!● Improved ADA Accessibility

● Certified Wildlife Habitat

● Created bioswale and rain garden to manage and filter stormwater flows

Festival Beach Food Forest: Success!● Food Forest built on success of Community Garden● Permaculture design with 100 fruit and nut trees and

edible understories● Educational signage and classes planned

Finding Urban Space for GardensLand type possibilities:● Floodplain● Utility/Right-of-Way● Sloped land● Remediated brownfield land● Tech company campuses or

other office parks● Multi-family properties, e.g.

apartments, affordable housing complexes.

Thank You! Any Questions?

Meredith GrayConservation Program Coordinator

City of Austin Parks & Recreation Dept.meredith.gray@austintexas.gov

Sari AlbornozGrow Local Program Director

Sustainable Food Centersari@sustainablefoodcenter.org

Photo Credits: Sustainable Food Center staff, City staff, Adelphi Acre Community Garden, Cherry Creek Community Garden