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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-11-14 PACKET 07.C.City of Cotta Grove J Minnesota To: Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission From: Zac Dockter, Parks and Recreation Director CC: Date: November 9, 2011 Subject: Community Gardens Information /Background In September, staff presented various options regarding the idea of providing community gardening opportunities on city -owned property. As stated at the time, there are many different methods the city can take to attain the ability for residents to participate in a community garden program. At this point in the research process, it appears that most community gardens develop as a grass -roots effort. Staff is suggesting any program the city pursues have that as a key characteristic. It will be vital to any community garden that the users have a vested interest in establishing and maintaining the site for the best opportunity at long -term success. However, considering the renewed popularity of community gardens it would be wise of staff and the commission to begin developing a draft program or policy that outlines the needs desires of the community in this regard. Depending on the outcome of that work, a recommendation from the commission may be made to the council to formalize any program /policy and what level of marketing the city should provide for the opportunity created. Below are summary results of community gardens established in South St Paul, Inver Grove Heights and Northfield that may aid in discussion and direction for future conversations. Inver Grove Heights — The city of Inver Grove Heights began their pursuit of community gardens through a grass -roots effort by a local elementary school. Grant funding for the project was prepared for by the school. The city partnered by providing public land adjacent to the school property and managing of the plot leases. A stipulation of the garden is that the school plays an active role in using the garden for educational purposes and also donates a portion of the harvest. An excerpt from the city's web page is attached. South St Paul — The city of South St Paul established a community garden based on citizen request. The plot was placed on public land near McMorrow Fields /Airport where land was readily available. Plots are marketed and managed by city recreation staff. A marketing blurb from the Parks and Recreation program is attached. Hastings — The city of Hastings works in partnership with Dakota County to provide a community garden at the LeDuc Historic Estate. The program is marketed by the city of Hastings but is managed by the historical center staff and a community garden group. The gardens are managed in a way that promotes educational opportunities, enhances the historic interpretation of the site and uses the harvest as part of the centers programming opportunities (jam making, harvest sales, etc.). Northfield — The city of Northfield has taken a more passive approach to providing community gardens. They have created a policy that lays in place the opportunity for residents to establish community gardens but do not actively start or manage the program in any way. The policy is attached. Recommendation Review information, discuss and provide further direction. South St Paul Community Gardens Available For Rent In March, 2011 The Parks and Recreation Department will be renting 15'x 20' community garden plots at the west end of McMorrow Field, 200 South Street. Resident rental rates will be $20 plus tax (age 18 and over), and $15 plus tax (age 55 and over). Those who have successfully maintained a garden plot in 2010 have first priority for sign -up, March 1 -11. All other residents will have an opportunity to rent a plot, beginning March 15. Non - resident adults and seniors may rent a plot for $25 plus tax beginning April 1. For more information call, Parks and Recreation, 306 -3690 or stop by the Central Square Community Center (100 - 7th Ave. No.) to sign up. Inver Grove Heights, MN - Official Website - Community Garden Plots Pagel of 2 Personalize your online experience to stay up -to -date on news, events and other information you care about. View my dashboard Sign In Parks Park Shelter Rental Adopt -A -Park Heritage Village Park Rock Island Swing Bridge Community Garden Plots Rich Valley Athletic Complex Harmon Park Reserve Skate Park Disc Golf Course Outdoor Rinks a k iti IF�i 7 y. l�'� lift ft k�iY?r WO fx'PiJ 5oW You are here: Home > Departments > Parks and Recreation > Parks and Facilities > Community Gard Community Garden Plots. The Parks and Recreation Department currently operates 15 garden plots. The plot at Salem Hills Park in Inver Grove. Heights. The cost for a plot is $25. One plot is a% household address. As a part of renting the plot, the user will be required to donate produce grown to a local food shelf in the area. There is access to water at the site renters will be responsible for planting, watering and maintaining their own plot. All plots are currently taken for the 2011 season. If you wish to be put on a mailing please contact the Parks and Recreation Office at 651.450.2585 Garden Receives National " I Can Grow" Burpee Horr Salem Hills Elementary School and Inver Grove Heights Parks and Recreation was one of 5 organizations that received the Burpee Home Gardens "I Can Grow" Youth Garden Award. There were over 240 applicants and Inver Grove Heights is proud to be a recipient. Winners receive up to 500 vegetable and herb plans, $2,500 towards garden supplies, 5 gallons of Daniels® organic -based food plat, one hose -end sprayer, on -site layout and installation assistance from Burpee Home Gardens experts, and a FIipTM camera to document the garden's success. On Wednesday, May 18, 2011, Burpee Home Gardens experts, 65 Salem Hills 3rd Graders and Inver Grove Heights Parks and Recreation staff planted 300 plants at the Salem Hills Community Garden Plots. It was a beautiful day and the kids did great! We can't wait to see the growth of these plants over the summer. Check out this video from Fox 9 regarding this great project by clickin here http: / /vwvw.ci.inver- grove - heights.mn.us /index.aspx ?nid =435 11/9/2011 ie Gardens Awarc City of Northfield Community Garden Development Process Outline of Steps in Applying for a Community Garden on Land Owned by City of Northfield WHY COMMUNITY GARDENS? Community gardens in Northfield provide gardening opportunities for the recreational, social, educational and health benefit of the citizens and neighborhoods of Northfield. Community Gardens improve the environmental sustainability of neighborhoods by • Encouraging local food production, food sharing, and food security, • Promoting intergenerational social interaction, • Teaching organic & sustainable gardening methods, • Increasing the biodiversity of public lands. DEFINITION: A Community Garden is defined as: An assigned space within a park or on public land that is reserved for the use of an organized group of community members for the purpose of growing ornamental or edible plants. The community gardening group is solely responsible for all necessary maintenance of this space. Step 1: ORGANIZING THE GROUP Residents of Northfield who would like to develop a Community Garden in their neighborhood should organize themselves as OR affiliate themselves with an official garden club or group, hereafter referred to as Gardening Group. City policy requires inclusiveness: anyone interested in joining a group is to be fairly considered. The group will appoint a liaison or group leader who will serve as the group's representative to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) and to the public. Once established, the Gardening Group must develop a working relationship with the Parks and Recreation Board and city staff. Creating a community garden is a long -term responsibility, which will require community support and dedicated, on -going commitment by members of the community gardening group. The Gardening Group should review this entire document (and Appendices) before moving to step 2. Step 2: SELECTING A SITE Gardening Group approaches city staff with an idea for a location. Please keep in mind that not all parks are available for community gardening. The Gardening Group should contact city staff if they need help in identifying potential sites that would make a good garden space. City staff can provide a map showing city land and advice on possible locations. Select a site that takes into account the Site Selection Considerations (Appendix 1). City of Northfield Community Garden Development Process Step 3: PRELIMINARY APPLICATION The City of Northfield Community Garden Preliminary Application Form (Appendix 2) is submitted to city staff by the Gardening Group. The application includes location, approximate size of garden and contact information of group organizers. Submit Preliminary Application form to: Brian Erickson, PE Public Works Operations Engineer 801 Washington St. Northfield, MN 55057 Preliminary Application is reviewed and comments made by city staff to identify any major conflicts. Letter of Permission to Apply (or denial) is sent to gardening group within 30 days of receipt of Preliminary Application. Comments and suggestions from city staff may be passed on here. Permission to apply will only be denied if the City sees serious obstacles with the site, such as clear conflicts with planned uses in the near future or conflicts with utility infrastructure passing through the site. Step 4: PROPOSAL PACKAGE After receiving a Letter of Permission to Apply, the Gardening Group compiles a formal proposal package. The proposal package will be reviewed by city staff and the PRAB, and will be made public at the public meeting. The proposal package will include: 1. The Letter of Permission to Apply provided to the Gardening Group by city staff. 2. Written Proposal providing details on where the garden will be located and laid out, and how it will be financed and operated. This proposal should address the following items, and should also take into account the guidelines in the Letter of Commitment (Appendix 3). a. Include a site plan with specific location of the garden, the number and size of plots, location of composting, tool storage, fencing, or other structures /components associated with the garden. Provide a simple sketch depicting the garden plan. b. Aesthetic considerations c. Parking and site access considerations City of Northfield Community Garden Development Process d. Soil fertility (it is recommended that soil test results be included in the proposal if possible) and sunlight conditions e. Description of the Gardening Group, a list of its current members, number of gardeners and how plots will be assigned, and how gardeners will be selected f. Adequacy and location of water sources g. Financial plan for operating the garden (see Appendix 5 for ideas /resources) h. Statement of commitment to organic practices 3. Letters of support from neighbors, community organizations and others who support the garden, or petitions with signatures from neighbors (Appendix 4). These are optional, but can be useful if the letters show that the Gardening Group is well organized, and that the proposal anticipates the questions and concerns other citizens may have. 4. Any other information you think might be useful for the public meeting and for city staff to use in review of the application. Submit Proposal Package (1 — 4 above) to: Brian Erickson, PE Public Works Operations Engineer 801 Washington St. Northfield, MN 55057 Step 5: PUBLIC MEETING A public meeting will be scheduled during a PRAB meeting to hear public comment on the Proposal Package of the Gardening Group. Notice of the public meeting will be made public by city staff per existing City procedures, with special attention to notifying residents near the proposed garden site. Representatives of the Gardening Group must be present at the public meeting and be prepared to answer questions from the public about their proposal. Step 6: DECISION & LETTER OF COMMITMENT City staff will review proposal package and public comments and notify the Gardening Group whether or not their application has been approved. If there is cause to reject an application, reasons will be given along with recommended steps (if any) that can be taken to ensure future approval. If the proposal is denied and the Garden Group feels that this was done without merit, they can appeal the decision to the City Council. However, the City Council may choose whether or not to review the application. City of [Northfield Community Gard Development Process The Gardening Group liaison will submit a signed Letter of Commitment. The group will also provide signed Liability Waivers from each person (or guardians) who will be gardening on the site. The agreement between the gardening group and the city will be brought before the City Council for approval. Gardening Group may be required to renew its Letter of Commitment every three years. The Group may be asked for a progress report on the garden, current membership details, and a budget plan for the next 3 years. Step 7: Install garden! City of Northfield Community Garden Development Process APPENDIX l: SITE SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS 1. Look for any under - utilized sections of parks or playlots or city land parcels which will minimize interference with park aesthetics or existing /planned uses. 2. Is the space large enough to accommodate the desired number and size of garden plots? 3. Consider how water will be accessed by the gardeners. 4. Consider sun exposure and shade from buildings, trees, etc. At least six hours per day of sunlight is best. 5. Slope should ideally be non - existent or gentle. 6. Look for a site that allows easy access by the gardeners. 7. Is it a reasonable distance to restroom facilities? 8. After deciding on a site, confirm with city staff that the specific location is owned by the City of Northfield. You may choose to use the Site Comparison worksheet (Appendix la) to rate sites under consideration. Potential Community Garden Site Comparison Chart proximity to environ ga Site .. .. 0 =not suitable 10 =very suitable KEY: Proximity to gardeners means especially high density housing; water source available? Roof for catchment or spigot that could be metered ?; full sun is 6 hours or more daily; slope ideally should be non - existent or gentle & south- facing; environmental suitability means consider any previous industrial or ag- chemical use; safety means visibility to protect gardens and gardeners from harm; has soil been compacted by construction, etc ?; City of Northfield Community Garden Development Process APPENDIX 2: COMMUNITY GARDEN PRELIMINARY APPLICATION FORM Part 1. Garden Group Name: Is this a new garden group? YES or NO How many active members to date? Garden Group Liaison /primary organizer's name: Phone number: Mailing address: Email: Alternate contact's name: Phone number: Mailing address: City of Northfield Community Garden D eve l op m e nt Pr Email: Part 2. Proposed location for community garden (Example: northwest corner of XYZ Park): What is the proposed size of the garden: Attach 2 to 4 photos or a drawing of the proposed location. Part 3. Please mail this completed form with pictures to: Brian Erickson, PE Public Works Operations Engineer 801 Washington Street Northfield, MN 55057 Attn: Community Garden Application City of Northfield Co mm u nity Garden Develop Pr APPENDIX 3: LETTER OF COMMITMENT These are the responsibilities and guidelines the gardening group must adhere to. Please read this document carefully, making sure that all members of your group understand and agree to the terms listed below. Finally, sign this Letter of Commitment formalizing your agreement with the City of Northfield. SELECTION OF GARDENERS The Garden Group shall develop a fair and open process for gardener selection. Availability of garden plots should be widely advertised, and distribution of plots should be equitable (such as a first- come - first - served or lottery process). GARDENER PARTICIPATION All gardeners shall be expected to participate in maintenance of communal areas of the garden. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT The Garden Group is encouraged to engage with the neighborhood and/or wider community through events or projects such as open houses, garden tours, food shelf donations, etc. GARDEN/PLOT MAINTENANCE The Group is entirely responsible for the maintenance of the Community Garden. Keep in mind that the space allocated is on public land and must always be actively maintained. The Group should provide the city staff with a schedule of spring prepping and fall winterizing dates. Pathways and areas between Garden Beds must be mowed or mulched and maintained by the group. The city will not do any maintenance within the Community Garden itself. WATER Please conserve water!!! The water supply is ONLY to be used by gardeners caring for their assigned areas. Use for any non - garden related activities is prohibited. ORGANIC PRACTICES It is strongly recommended that all cultivating practices be organic; only organic fertilizers should be applied in edibles gardens. Only organic means of disease and pest control may be used. No chemical pest control measures may be used. City of Northfield Community Garden Development Process COMPOSTING Composting is encouraged, but only that which is organic and will decompose (e.g. plant material, fruit peels /cores). Avoid rodent - attracting foods such as rice, bread, meat, or grease. Inorganic or non -plant materials such as plastic, metal, kitty litter, feces, or any large or thorny branches are not suitable for compost. The compost must be contained in a bin, tumbler or open cage. GARDEN BORDERS The garden boundaries must remain as submitted on the original design plans. Any proposed expansion must be reviewed and approved by city staff. NEW MEMBERS The Group shall inform new members of the Community Garden rules and regulations; stressing the importance of ongoing maintenance. The group must follow a transparent membership process open to all. As a public agency, City of Northfield policy requires inclusiveness; anyone interested in joining the Group is to be fairly considered. LIABILITY The city is not responsible for the garden itself or for anything in or pertaining to the garden. Each member of the gardening group must sign a waiver of liability. FUNDRAISING The Group may organize fundraising events to finance needs of the Community Garden such as a compost bin, water hoses, plants, etc. CLEAN -UP ACTIVITIES The Group will be expected to organize a spring work day to prepare the garden, and fall clean up day to clean the site for winter. VEHICLES Park patrons are permitted to use motorized vehicles within a park ONLY on designated roadways, driveways and parking facilities. The parking or driving of motorized vehicles by any park patron on walkways, sidewalks, trails, restricted - access drives, lawn areas, under trees, or within landscaped areas is strictly forbidden. The garden group liaison should notify city staff if exceptions are necessary for installation or special garden maintenance. City of Northfield Community Garden Development Process PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES • Littering, dumping, alcohol consumption and other unlawful activities. • Amplified sound • Pets are not allowed in the garden. • Ball playing or other forms of active recreation. GARDEN TERMINATION • If the Gardening Group decides to no longer maintain their space, they must immediately notify the city staff. Group will be responsible for restoring the garden to parkland to the satisfaction of city staff. • If city staff determines that the garden is not satisfactory, the designated liaison will be given two separate warning notices. If the problem continues thereafter, the agreement will be revoked and the Gardening Group will be responsible for restoring the garden to parkland to the satisfaction of the city staff. I, am the official liaison of the garden group named Each current member of our gardening group has read the above listed terms and agrees to abide by them and now enters into a commitment to maintain our community garden in or location) Liaison Signature: Date: City of Northfield Community Garden Development Process APPENDIX 4: PETITION FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY GARDEN Garden Group Name: Organizer's Name: Park or location: Date: We, the undersigned, are residents living near the above proposed community garden. We accept and /or support the above named Community Garden Group's proposal to maintain a community garden at this location: Name (please print) Signature Address Date 1. 3. 4. City of Northfield Community Garden Development Process Name (please print) Signature Address Date 5. 91 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. City of Northfield Community Garden Development Process APPENDIX 5: RESOURCES & FUNDING IDEAS Here are a few ideas for locating funds and /or horticultural resources for your Community Garden: • Northfield Community Gardeners operates the Greenvale Park Community Garden; support & information on how to organize a community garden; 507- 649 -0707 or northfieldcommunitygarden @hotmail.com • Rural Enterprise Center operates The Huerta (or Faith Community Garden); support & information on how to organize a community garden: www.mainstreetproject.orglprograms/ruraI _ enterprise center.html • Northfield Garden Club has many members with gardening expertise to share; also provides small grants for local garden projects; www.northfieldgardenclub.orf;/ P. O. Box 745, Northfield, 55057 • Gardening Matters is a twin cities organization devoted to promoting community gardening and assisting community gardens; they are metro focused but are helpful to outstate gardens also; trainings, tips, etc. www.gardeningmatters.org/J PO Box 580496, Minneapolis, MN 55458 612- 492 -8964 - infogizardeningmatters.org • COMGAR is a listsery that connects community gardeners around the state; good place to ask & answer questions with other new & experienced community gardeners & organizers. www.pardeninamatters.orp- /Resources /COMGAR.htm • University of Minnesota Extension website supplies a wealth of gardening resources: www.extension.umn.edu / Master Gardener and Master Composter certification classes are also available. • American Community Garden Association works to create new resources for community gardens, coordinates an annual conference, and has online resources and informative lists of all topics involving community gardens: www.communitygarden.org City of Northfield Community Garden Develop Process • National Gardening Association promotes the environment, is a resource of plant information, has a free newsletter, and provides links for gardeners. Periodically, they provide information about grants and other funds available: www.garden.org • FoodShare Metro Toronto has good online and print resources on how to start and manage community garden. http: / /www.foodshare.net /aarden0l.htm • Local businesses may be interested in donating materials, monetarily, and /or with volunteer hours. Local officials may have funds available to support such a community improvement project.