Progress 08/01/10 to 07/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The activities, workshops, and services conducted from August 2010 - July 31, 2012 include: a) August-September 2010 - Project Co-director made site visits to 28 existing school gardens in Vermont, documented best practices, and published online photo stories of the site visits; b) Presentation of regional mini-grant training workshops on January 29 in Burlington, February 19 in Derby Center, and February 26 in Rutland; c) Receipt of 90 online mini-grant applications by the March 15 deadline; d) March 16-April 12 - Review of mini-grant applications by statewide review committee with selection of 40 applicants as mini-grant recipients; e) May 2011 - Matching of mini-grant recipients with UVM Extension Master Gardener Volunteers to provide onsite horticultural assistance; f) June 1 - Collection of online progress reports from 40 mini-grant recipients; g) June-July 2011 - Processing of mini-grant reimbursements for garden infrastructure costs including top soil, compost, fencing, raised bed timbers, water systems, basic hand tools, and permanent garden signs; h) April-2011-July 2012 - Ongoing technical assistance by email and phone to support mini-grant recipients. i) July-August 2011 - All 40 schools completed final reports detailing project successes and expenses. j) July-August 2011 - Site visits to all 40 schools. The final site visit took place at Champlain Elementary School, where the school community garden program was first announced by Senator Sanders on June 4, 2010. Senator Sanders and staff attended the final site visit at Champlain to celebrate the successful completion of the Mini-grant Program. k) September-October 2011 - UVM Center for Rural Studies completed program evaluation. The final program report includes documentation and analysis of in-depth interviews with garden coordinators, site visit observations, and evaluation of the grant process, grantee reports, details about the impact of the garden on participants (student learning, food access, changes in school food service programs, educational activities, community activities, summer activities, and Extension Master Gardener activities). The report also includes reflections from the participants and program staff, Strategies for Sustaining School Community Gardens, and discussion of future needs for garden coordinators. The results have been disseminated to all program participants and partner organizations and are also on the Friends of Burlington Gardens website. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals who have worked on the project to date and their roles: (1) Principal Investigator/Project Director Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup of the Vermont Community Foundation provided administrative and financial oversight for the project; (2) Co-Project Director Jim Flint of Friends of Burlington Gardens implemented project activities including: a) design and management of the school community garden mini-grant program; b) planning and facilitation of three mini-grant training workshops; c) facilitation of the five member mini-grant review committee; d) ongoing communication and technical assistance for 40 mini-grant recipients; e) collaboration with the project partners including the UVM Extension Master Gardener Program and the UVM Center for Rural Studies; f) collection of receipts and processing of mini-grant reimbursements for garden infrastructure items; g) design of online final report format and collection of progress report data; and h) preparations for site visits. Project Consultant Nina McDonnell provided assistance in design of the online mini-grant application and training workshops, and as a member of the mini-grant application review team. UVM Extension Master Gardener Director Nancy Hulett provided assistance in design of the online mini-grant application and training workshops, as a member of the mini-grant application review team, and in matching mini-grant recipients with UVM Extension Master Gardener Volunteers. As project evaluator, Michele Schmidt of the UVM Center for Rural Studies analyzed report data from mini-grant participants, collaborated on site visits, and produced the final report draft. Though not budgeted personnel for the grant, Friends of Burlington Gardens Executive Director Jessica Hyman and Vermont Community Foundation Finance Director Debbie Rooney provided administrative and technical support. Jessica Hyman also managed the evaluation, final reporting, and followup assessment of garden projects. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences for project efforts include the following groups: a) Vermont school children in grades K-12 who receive hands-on food production instruction through garden-based education and farm-to-school activities; b) UVM Extension Master Gardener Volunteers who work with school community garden coordinators and Vermont students; c) Vermont teachers, school staff, and nonprofit staff members who work collaboratively to integrate school garden activities into the school cafeteria and curriculum; d) parents and community members who help coordinate and maintain the school community gardens, especially during the summer months, and ensure that produce grown is harvested and consumed by children and youths. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: A no-cost extension of one year until July 31, 2012 was requested to provide the additional time needed for school community garden data collection, site visits, development of GIS mapping of garden sites, and final reporting. Those tasks were completed on schedule.
Impacts
The grant successfully met its goal to support the development of sustainable school community gardens where Vermont children, families, and community members have hands-on opportunities to grow, harvest, and eat fresh affordable produce. A total of 40 school community gardens were awarded $1000 mini-grants to support garden infrastructure development and were matched with an Extension Master Gardener. Outcomes a) 100 workshop participants receive training in completing a mini-grant application while increasing knowledge of school community garden best practices; b) 40 new and existing school community gardens implement garden infrastructure projects funded by mini-grant awards; c) School children across Vermont learn hands-on skills by actively participating in mini-grant funded garden projects; d) More than 40 Extension Master Gardener volunteers provide horticultural and site planning guidance to assist mini-grant recipients statewide. e) Evaluation data and next-step needs assessment informs the development of future grant programs and technical assistance. Impacts: SITE TRANSFORMATION: 40 school community garden sites were transformed by expanding gardens, constructing raised beds, building storage sheds, improving water systems, and enhancing soil quality. LIFE SKILLS: Students developed leadership, management, decision-making, and problem solving skills from experiential learning. FOOD SECURITY: Gardens gave back to the community by providing fresh vegetables to children and adults who may not otherwise have access to them. Summer camp program participants, summer school students, faculty, staff, and community members harvested fresh produce from the garden and special events involved community members. SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE: These projects coincided with positive changes in school food service offerings and further bolstered schools' shift in food service philosophy. CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: Teachers integrated the garden and gardening into their lesson plans, enhancing traditional classroom-based learning. Educational activities that took place in the garden were directly tied to physical education, science, mathematics, foods, art, language arts, and technical education. SUSTAINABILITY: Garden site coordinators have written additional grant proposals, and some are working to secure funding directly from their school's budget. Program sites also plan to raise funds through ticketed dinners or celebrations, sales of donated or branded items, and individual donations. School community garden sites continue to rely on significant donations of time, labor, and supplies from students, teachers, community members, and local businesses. The program evaluation and subsequent next-step needs assessment identified the need for assistance with classroom and school-wide garden-based curricula development and strategies to increase support from the school and larger community. Preseason conferences and workshops, hands-on technical assistance, online resources, and community organizing and fundraising training were identified as methods to assist garden coordinators.
Publications
- Schmidt, M.C., Hyman, J., Flint, J., McDonnell, N., and Hulett, N. (2012). Friends of Burlington Gardens School Community Garden 2011 Mini-grant Program Evaluation Report. http://www.burlingtongardens.org/FBG_Evaluation_Report_Web.pdf (published online).
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Progress 08/01/10 to 07/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Outputs: Activities, workshops, and services conducted from August 2010 - July 6, 2011 include: a) August-September 2010 - Project Co-director made site visits to 28 existing school gardens in Vermont, documented best practices, and published online photo stories of the site visits; b) October-November 2010 - Preparation and planning for launch of mini-grant program; c) December 2010 - Dissemination of 2011 school community garden mini-grant program to schools, nonprofits, and government entities statewide via Friends of Burlington Gardens Annual Report; d) January 2011 - Publication of interactive online application form and guidelines for school community garden mini-grants; e) Presentation of regional mini-grant training workshops on January 29 in Burlington, February 19 in Derby Center, and February 26 in Rutland; f) Receipt of 90 online mini-grant applications by the March 15 deadline; g) March 16-April 12 - Review of mini-grant applications by statewide review committee with selection of 40 applicants as mini-grant recipients; h) April 14 - Mailing of mini-grant award packets to 40 recipients; i) April 29 - Collection of Terms of Award agreements from 40 mini-grant recipients; j) May 2011 - Matching of mini-grant recipients with UVM Extension Master Gardener Volunteers to provide onsite horticultural assistance; k) June 1 - Collection of online progress reports from 40 mini-grant recipients; l) June 2011 - Design of online final report for mini-grant recipients; m) June-July 2011 - Processing of mini-grant reimbursements for garden infrastructure costs including top soil, compost, fencing, raised bed timbers, water systems, basic hand tools, and permanent garden signs; n) April-July 2011 - Ongoing technical assistance by email and phone to support mini-grant recipients. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals who have worked on the project to date and their roles: (1) Principal Investigator/Project Director Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup of the Vermont Community Foundation provides administrative and financial oversight for the project; (2) Co-Project Director Jim Flint of Friends of Burlington Gardens implements project activities including: a) design and management of the school community garden mini-grant program; b) planning and facilitation of three mini-grant training workshops; c) facilitation of the five member mini-grant review committee; d) ongoing communication and technical assistance for 40 mini-grant recipients; e) collaboration with the project partners including the UVM Extension Master Gardener Program and the UVM Center for Rural Studies; f) collection of receipts and processing of mini-grant reimbursements for garden infrastructure items; g) design of online final report format and collection of progress report data; and h) preparations for site visits. Project Consultant Nina McDonnell provided assistance in design of the online mini-grant application and training workshops, and as a member of the mini-grant application review team. UVM Extension Master Gardener Director Nancy Hulett provided assistance in design of the online mini-grant application and training workshops, as a member of the mini-grant application review team, and in matching mini-grant recipients with UVM Extension Master Gardener Volunteers. As project evaluator, Michele Schmidt of the UVM Center for Rural Studies analyzes report data from mini-grant participants and collaborates on site visits. Though not budgeted personnel for the grant, Friends of Burlington Gardens Executive Director Jessica Hyman and Vermont Community Foundation Finance Director Debbie Rooney provide administrative and technical support. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences for project efforts include the following groups: a) Vermont school children in grades K-12 who receive hands-on food production instruction through garden-based education and farm-to-school activities; b) UVM Extension Master Gardener Volunteers who work with school community garden coordinators and Vermont students; c) Vermont teachers, school staff, and nonprofit staff members who work collaboratively to integrate school garden activities into the school cafeteria and curriculum; d) parents and community members who help coordinate and maintain the school community gardens, especially during the summer months, and ensure that produce grown is harvested and consumed by children and youths. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The Food Production Education VT project is currently on schedule in meeting initial mini-grant program goals. A no-cost extension of one year until July 31, 2012 is requested to provide the additional time needed for school community garden data collection, site visits, development of GIS mapping of garden sites, and final reporting.
Impacts
Outcomes, August 2010 - July 2011: a) 100 workshop participants receive training in completing a mini-grant application while increasing knowledge of school community garden best practices; b) 40 new and existing school community gardens implement garden infrastructure projects funded by mini-grant awards; a listing of mini-grant recipients is available at http://www.burlingtongardens.org/School_Community_Garden_mini_grants_ 2011.html; c) School children across Vermont learn hands-on skills by actively participating in mini-grant funded garden projects; d) More than 40 Extension Master Gardener volunteers provide horticultural and site planning guidance to assist mini-grant recipients statewide; e) News articles about school community garden mini-grant recipients increase community understanding of the importance of teaching food production skills and consuming locally grown foods; here is a link to one of the news articles: http://www.miltonindy.com/11.5.19_mhsgarden.html
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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