IDENTIFYING THE ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE COMMUNITY GARDEN MOVEMENT

GROWING URBAN GARDENS IN ELGIN

Elgin is leading the area in the movement toward locally grown food, building community gardens, and promoting awareness of healthy eating and growing your own food.

5 gardens in 2010Rooted and Grew to…….15 gardens in 2011Which Blossomed into……

21 gardens in 2012

2011 – Received $10,000 Grant City Parks and Recreation

Department partnered with ECGN to obtain the grant

established new gardens and provided training for all 15 gardens received support

2012 – Received another $10,000 Grant Provided more training to site

managers and volunteers to make the gardens sustainable in the future

Start-up support for new gardens

Elgin Climate Change

Organization Elgin Community

Network Elgin Firefighters Local

439 Elgin Public Museum Elgin Farmers’ Market Kane County Public

Health Department Klein’s Farm and

Garden Market Gail Borden Library City of Elgin

Educates our Youth Classes throughout the

summer

Feeds the Hungry In 2010 – 240 lbs. of food were

distributed In 2011 – 668 lbs. of food

distributed

Volunteers Sweat EquityVolunteer hours - $11,645

value as of October 2011

Can we help turn this…

…into this?

New York City Green Thumb Program Portland Community Garden Program Seattle P-Patch Community Garden Program Chicago Community GardensBaltimore’s Green SpaceMadison Wisconsin Project Grow -Ann Arbor

MODELS IN OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES:

Why say “no”?

Gardens might not be maintained Insurance Liabilities Water Accessibility Discourages development “Squatters rights” issues later on

Why say “yes”?

Decreases the need for city maintenance Helps clear empty lots of debris and litter Gardens facilitate neighborhood engagement Helps reinforce the city’s sustainability

initiatives Fosters healthy eating habits and exercise Provides support to local community groups

at no cost to the city Provides apartment dweller a place to grow

their own food

Find a neighborhood in need

Identify suitable city owned lots

Gather stakeholders together

Determine who will be the lead 501c3 organization

New City Gardens Lease Program

Vacant city-owned lots not planned for development in the near future, putting idle land to good use

Modeled after other city’s programs Saves cost of mowing and maintaining License agreement available for $10 per year-

3 year lease extension Available to Not-for-Profit Groups, churches,

civic groups or neighborhood associations

New City Gardens Lease Program Requirements

Leasing organization must be an Elgin area not-for-profit

Must sign an agreement outlining terms and conditions Organization must have insurance policy of at least $1

million naming the city as co-insured Leasing organization may not build any permanent

structures on the property Must maintain the site in accordance with city codes

and ordinances Licensee is responsible for the cost to run a water

supply line and water service to the property Agreement can be renewed for successive three year

terms

City’s Goal:

Identify a neighborhood that would benefit Find sponsor organization that will oversee the

maintenance and be willing to be the leasing body Engage local leaders, residents and children in

planning Clearly define responsibilities and roles Create a tool to strengthen neighborhood and

family relationships Assure the process is simple and straightforward

for applicants

Community Garden at City -Owned Lot at 355 Ann Street Gardens to be used as

educational tool and incorporated into B&G Club program

Neighborhood is actively involved – in addition to Boys and Girls Club, the ROPE officer, Settlement Neighborhood Association, and neighborhood volunteers participate

Boys and Girls Club Goals include: teaching youth how to grow and eat healthy build a sense of pride in the community by creating a

garden maintained by community residents utilize the garden as a community building tool instill in participating youth a sense of

accomplishment and teamwork through successful creation of the community garden

incorporate garden into various Club programs including programming focused on healthy eating, environmental sustainability, entrepreneurship, leadership, amongst others

 

Measurable results: (a) youth knowledge of

health eating habits, (b) connection between

growing a garden and good environmentally healthy practices

For 2013….Expanding to create a “Forgiveness”Garden”

Identify more city-owned lots for garden development

2013- hope to create a new one on Rt 31 Match locations with appropriate partner

organizations Use these gardens to help strengthen

neighborhoods and provide food for local food pantries