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collective IMPACT
NOURISHING OUR In addition to the interns who grow on the urban farm, young children are introduced to gardening on campus. Next spring children from two neighborhood elementary schools, Franklin and Walnut Hill, will learn gardening and nutrition in programs City Sprouts is planning with them, including developing a school garden with Franklin staff and students. With northeast Omaha considered a food desert because residents have limited access to fresh, local, nutritious food within walking distance, the garden and farm take center stage in good weather. Williams says City Sprouts is one of many players trying to improve food options there and in other underserved metro neighborhoods. “It’s not one answer, it takes a village, it takes so many people working together. There’s lots of groups making a difference. I think we’re making inroads. But there’s always going to be a need.”
neighbors
NO MORE EMPTY POTS It started with 2010 conversations, then a summit, around people’s passion for fresh, nutritious, local flood – growing it and getting it to where it’s most needed. Discussions about building food systems that tie together local producers and underserved consumers, that educate users, that support entrepreneurial opportunities and that do much more led to the creation of No More Empty Pots. The catalyst organization is all about identifying needs in the local food ecosystem and partnering with others to address those needs. The hoped for collective impact aims to reduce food insecurity and to grow a sustainable, healthy food culture.
“The problem is not that we don’t have enough food, but that we don’t have the logistics, people, resources to ensure it gets where it needs to be at the right time to be used by the right people for the right thing. America throws away more than 40 percent of the food we grow. There is so much that can be done with logistics and growing food people want to eat and know how to use. “Restaurants can get more local food but they need a place where they can get it in the quantity they need it, so working with distributors to get more local food is an opportunity as well.” Where there’s waste, she sees opportunity.
Co-founder NANCY WILLIAMS says while food “There’s lots of room for aggregation and processing. deserts are lessening as there’s more access to fresh, There’s lots of farmers growing food but they don’t Community gardeners, ranging from entire families to local food, too many people remain disconnected always have somewhere to take the food after the single moms to senior retirees, grow on 45 raised beds from their food. markets because people aren’t educated and surrounded by fruit trees and perennials. In exchange encouraged about the benefits of buying local and “There are a lot of people working on this,” she says, for a nominal fee gardeners are assigned a bed and may not be accustomed to paying market price. “and it’s going to take a lot of people putting forth provided plants, seeds, water, education and The hub will give farmers a place to take excess effort, working together, securing resources and encouragement. Gardeners are responsible for produce and create value-added products. maintaining their own beds. engaging folks to make that happen. I believe that will happen and I see evidence that we are on our way to “There’s a lot of opportunities for incubating and Getting buy-in from neighbors is taking time, getting there.” developing food-based businesses. It’s why we’re especially in an area with many rental properties and looking at having an accelerator to help cultivate therefore much turnover. But there are growers who The nonprofit does its part by convening stakeholders, entrepreneurial ideas and to connect new return every year. Several young professionals and hosting workshops and presenting gardening and entrepreneurs with people who can help make their students living in the area who also happen to be cooking demonstrations. It partners with Truck Farm ideas come to life.” backyard farmers and foodies are regulars at the to send a garden on wheels to schools and other community-building events. youth-serving organizations to educate students about She envisions a bakery and bistro at the new site along how food grows. NMEP also supports things like with shared commercial kitchen spaces that food Williams, a master gardener who comes from an Community Market Basket, an initiative through entrepreneurs can rent by the hour. education and fundraising background, came on Tomato Tomato’s CSA (Community Supported board three years ago as the nonprofit’s first full-time, Agriculture) program that makes fresh, local food year-round director. In order for NMEP and others to make a lasting accessible to folks who might otherwise not get it. difference, she says, collaboration is key. Her goal is to “It is my ideal job. I absolutely love what I do here replicate best practices here and elsewhere. No matter Even with all this activity, she sees gaps that because it encompasses all my interests and who you are, she says, “there’s space at the table for need filling. experience and weaves them together. I get to work everybody to contribute to make this better.” with kids, teens, all the way up to, seniors. “There are still some self-sufficiency issues we need to I garden, I fund-raise, I teach.” help people address so that they know how to produce To assist NMEP’s growth, human resources are needed, including volunteers to garden, cook their own food and to use seasonal food for proper City Sprouts partners with many organizations in and teach. carrying out its mission and depends on volunteers to nutrition at a reasonable cost.” maintain the campus. She says eating healthy within a budget, on a limited “We also need professional support with marketing, fundraising, design and community outreach. income, is doable when people are informed. “There’s always weeding and watering and harvesting We’re recruiting board members to help guide the to do,” Williams says. She sees much potential in food business development. organization to realize the community-driven vision. She’s fundraising for renovations to new space NMEP We’re actively seeking to fill internships in marketing Its big fund raisers are the spring Omaha Gives, the recently acquired on North 30th Street. She envisions and project management. We plan to hire staff as August Gala and an end-of-year campaign. more projects become active.” a food hub there focusing on the aggregation, processing, distribution and recovery of food waste to For donation, volunteer and event information, visit omahasprouts.org. extract and add value within the food system. Keep up with NMEP at www.nomoreemptypots.org.
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mquarterly • NOV/DeC/JaN 2014/15