Critical Components for Getting Started

ACCESSIBILITY | Commit to creating a welcoming place that is as accessible as possible to the community. In order to be accessible, the space should offer residents a wide range of free or low-cost programs, services, events, and activities. Ideally community members should be able to engage through varying time commitments, different times of day, and diverse goals that are most meaningful to them. The farm should be designed to be open, inviting, and offer multiple points of entry for residents, creating a welcoming atmosphere and place-based learning environment that is reachable to all in the neighborhood. Consider the safety, security, and accessibility of the land, given resident needs. STAKEHOLDER RELATIONSHIPS | Do not underestimate the importance of building and sustaining authentic, human relationships. These connections help sustain community interest and participation in urban agriculture. Consider developing a stakeholder engagement strategy that includes opportunities for each group to provide ideas and feedback, be recognized and thanked, and celebrate their efforts and contributions. Organizations should develop relationships with individuals in each stakeholder group to develop and/or gauge their interest and capacity to participate and lead urban agriculture efforts:  COMMUNITY | Neighbors of all ages should provide feedback on the direction and design of the program and related activities and be key participants in the day-to-day operations and maintenance of the farm or garden.  VOLUNTEERS | Managing and coordinating urban farms is challenging because it involves juggling garden bed adoption, food production coordination, and planting schedule strategy. Engaging community volunteers is a good way to add capacity, skill, and enthusiasm to urban agriculture efforts.  COMMUNITY PARTNERS | There is a tremendous need to continuously build and cultivate relationships with local churches, schools, other community-based organizations, and businesses to provide opportunities around education in urban farms, and to lead volunteer projects that build capacity and improve farm infrastructure. It is also important to work with partners that bring relevant urban agriculture knowledge and particular expertise such as the ability to lead healthy cooking demonstrations, meal preparation demonstrations, health workshops, and programs.  ACADEMIC/PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS | Connect with local universities’ research departments and the local departments of agriculture. They are often looking for community partners in urban environments to host community engagement activities and demonstrations, due to the fact much of their work is rural and inaccessible to the majority of the community. They often provide financial support, resources, signage, plants, and help with the growing season in return.

APPRECIATING NEIGHBORS’ GOALS and STRENGTHS

READY-TO-IMPLEMENT HEALTH CURRICULUM

BakerRipley’s signature “Appreciative Community Building” approach means it proactively and continually engages neighbors across all programs to understand their skills and strengths, their aspirations and goals, and how to be active, supportive partners in achieving the collective vision. Through a long tenure in each community, BakerRipley has earned the trust and respect of neighbors; neighbors know that the organization is authentic and genuine. This approach has enabled them to learn from neighbors and inspire them to want to make better lifestyle choices.

To support community-based health and wellness efforts, the Alliance provides all members with free access to Healthy For Life®, an online portal from the American Heart Association, developed in partnership with Aramark. This full suite of health and wellness resources, including a complete curriculum, facilitator guides, videos, and more, is ready to share with community members. This curriculum helps community members learn how to use and prepare the produce being grown. The resources are easy to use and adapt to various communities.

FUNDING/NEW REVENUE STREAMS to COVER OPERATING EXPENSES | Maintaining an urban farm can be costly, so having steady and diverse income sources is important. Consider reaching out to the following for funding support:  Local board of soil and water

 Departments of agriculture

 Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education Program

 ATTRA, a program developed and managed by the

National Center for Appropriate Technology  Local co-ops for small grants or round-up campaigns  Private organizations with health and wellness missions such as local hospitals, businesses, grocery stores, etc.

 Community partners that could provide discounted materials/resources  Local universities, especially if they have an agricultural or research focus HANDS-ON LEARNING and EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES | Opportunities at the urban farm should be experiential, giving participants hands-on involvement in planting, tending, and harvesting of herbs, vegetables, and fruit. Through this active role, participants not only gain fundamental gardening skills, but also make connections to nutrition, mental health, and so much more. Consider helping community residents learn how to start, support or better maximize gardens at home. AN EVALUATION PLAN | An evaluation strategy should incorporate a variety of inputs, outputs, and outcomes and balance both quantitative and qualitative approaches, so that behavior change among participants is tracked. A sound evaluation plan provides an outlet for feedback and creates a powerful data set to share with community stakeholders/funders on the positive impact of urban agriculture efforts. Refer to the evaluation section for more details. BakerRipley hosts cooking demonstrations and classes on canning, meal prep, and more. Offering a variety of programs that complement the urban farm, promote healthy eating and better lifestyle choices, and sustain community interest. There is no single program or activity that will attract the interest of all target groups, so think broadly and creatively.

TASTING the FRUITS of THEIR LABOR

HOW TO Maximize Your Garden

Once an organization has an urban agriculture strategy in place and logistics are underway, it can leverage a variety of creative approaches to increase the overall impact. Here are a few suggestions based on the unique ways BakerRipley and Pillsbury United Communities are using their farms and gardens to drive healthier communities.

DEVELOP a FARM CLUB

Community members often like to connect with each other while developing new skills. Farm club membership options could include:  Individual memberships for residents from the community to annually adopt a plot for personal use and receive regular technical assistance and coaching on how to successfully grow and maintain their garden

 Group memberships for groups/community partners to maintain shared bed(s). Consider bringing together farm club members for periodical educational and social opportunities. This is a great chance for staff to assess needs, issues, strengths and new ideas for the farm. CREATE HIGH-IMPACT or SKILLS-BASED VOLUNTEER and/or INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Consider integrating interns, fellows, and long-term volunteers into the talent strategy through programs such as Teach for America, AmeriCorps, SeniorCorps, older adult lifelong learning programs, and internship programs. People of all ages can contribute to build capacity, scale farm operations, engage stakeholders, raise funds, and plan and host events.

DEVELOP an INTERGENERATIONAL ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY

Thoughtfully engaging community members of all ages will help create a welcoming, community-oriented environment.  Engage youth groups, local schools and community center programs by offering field trips and “outdoor classroom” opportunities.  Engage adults by targeting community centers, senior centers, lifelong learning programs, and libraries to offer hands on educational and social opportunities at the garden or farm.  Create ways for younger and older generations to work, engage, learn, and have fun together.  Consider incentivizing participation with free produce boxes. This is a great way to develop relationships and reward people for staying involved. DEVELOP a REVENUE GENERATION STRATEGY

Pillsbury has developed a variety of revenue-generating strategies that provide continuous funding and increase community engagement. A few revenue generating ideas include:

 HOST DINNERS and EVENTS THAT USE PRODUCE

GROWN BY THE URBAN FARM | Invite community members to an all-you-can-eat pizza party or healthy cookout at one of the farms. Most of the produce can come from the farm and all the proceeds can support the urban agriculture efforts.  SELL PRODUCE DIRECTLY to the COMMUNITY,

PRIVATE BUSINESSES, and OTHERS (“COMMUNITY

SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE”) | Community-supported agriculture (CSA model) is a system that connects the

producer and consumers within the food system more closely by allowing the consumer to subscribe to the harvest of a certain farm or group of farms. During the winter months when crop planning is done, it’s a great time to have community members sign up to buy a weekly or bi-weekly amount of vegetables from the organization. This helps with planning purposes; it enables the organization to grow the right amount of specific produce, based on community members’ preferences.  SHARED FOOD EXCHANGE CREATION | Work with other local growers to specialize in specific produce to ensure markets aren’t flooded with certain kinds of produce. When working together in this way, weekly shares to community members will be more diverse.

This ultimately leads to an increase in customers and profit among the collective of growers.  HOST or PARTICIPATE in LOCAL FARMERS’ MARKETS |

This is a great way to share more about the organization, mission, farming practices, and produce.  PRODUCE STANDALONE PRODUCTS FROM

SPECIFIC PRODUCE | For example, consider how to turn tomatoes into canned tomato sauce; vegetables into salsa; or lavender into soaps, essential oils, lotions, or cosmetics. Make sure to research local legislation around small business licensing.  ROADSIDE STANDS | These could operate under the honor system in rural areas or a weekly schedule in high-traffic areas or outside the garden; it just must be consistent for customers.

 POP-UP STANDS | Take advantage of opportunities to sell produce at open streets, block parties, national night out, etc.