Health Promotion Council Gardening Toolkit

presents

HPC’s Gardening Toolkit With support from the General Mills Foundation’s Champions for Healthy Kids Grant This toolkit is sponsored in part by funding from the National Nursing Centers Consortium and the U.S. EPA.

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Table of Contents Introduction.................................................................................................... 1 Why Garden?................................................................................................ 2 5 Steps to Start and Tend a School Garden..................... 6 Step 1: Form a Team and Plan the Garden................ 6 Step 2: Talk with the School Principal........................... 6 Step 3: Finalize the Garden Plan........................................ 7 Step 4: Building the Garden................................................... 7 Step 5: Ready, Set, Grow........................................................... 8 5 Steps to Start and Tend a Community Garden......... 9 Step 1: Form a Team and Plan the Garden ............... 9 Step 2: Finding a Site................................................................... 9 Step 3: Asking Landowner Permission....................... 10 Step 4: Building the Garden................................................... 7 Step 5: Ready, Set, Grow........................................................... 8

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The Gardening Toolkit

Health Promotion Council

Welcomes you to

The Gardening Toolkit Health Promotion Council of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Inc., (HPC) a nonprofit corporation, was founded in 1981 to implement community-based hypertension education and control programs. As this work expanded to include cholesterol and tobacco control, the organization updated its name and expanded its public health work accordingly.

In 1999, HPC became an affiliate of Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), a leading public health institute in the region, to further expand its footprint in the field of public health, and chronic disease prevention and management.

Today, HPC has more than 30 years of experience in chronic disease prevention and management work.

HPC now reaches more than 40,000 low-income people annually across Pennsylvania through its programs targeting reduction of health disparities, particularly among low-income, African American, Hispanic/Latino and Asian populations.

HPC’s core values include focusing on community health outcomes and using a collaborative approach to tackle the vast health needs, issues and disparities that affect vulnerable populations. Health Promotion Council (HPC) has developed this Garden Toolkit to help start your community or school garden. It can help you with finding a space, ideas about paying for it, getting neighbors of all generations involved.

Why Use this Garden Toolkit?

Gardening is great for our communities and the environment. Gardens are lovely places where neighbors can gather and grow food. And gardening is good for your health, too, as gardeners get the benefits of exercise and growing delicious fruits and vegetables.

In this toolkit you will find information about:

Good fresh healthy food on a budget

Gardening activities help you stay fit and healthy

5 Basic Steps to Begin and Maintain Your School and Community Garden

Check out the cards located in a pocket on the inside back cover for the Garden Start Up Checklist (card A), Garden Helpers (card B), a guide for building raised beds (card C), and a list of seasonal fruits and vegetables with instructions on how and when to plant (card D). As you read, when you see an icon like any of the ones to the right, refer to the card for more information.

A

B

C

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D

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Why Garden?

Food!

People of all ages can grow delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables (also called produce) with little money. Growing your own fruits, vegetables and herbs means you have easy access to fresh and healthy foods and seasonings close to home. And, community gardeners can grow traditional foods that help their culture thrive. Plus, did you know that kids are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables when they help grow them?

Save Money!

How much money can you save by growing your own vegetables instead of buying the same food in the supermarket?

Imagine you have a small garden space and $10 worth of vegetable seeds for the year. You can save over $200 a year in the grocery bill when you grow spinach and collards in spring, and tomato, beans, and peppers in summer. And, as an added bonus, the seeds from some crops can be collected and replanted in the next season.

FOOD

SEED COST ($/PACKET)

GARDEN PRODUCE SUPERMARKET MONEY HARVEST COST AMOUNT COST SAVED ($) (POUNDS/YEAR) ($/POUND) ($/POUND)

Spinach seeds

1.79

5

$0.36

1.99

$8.16

Collard seeds

1.99

4

$0.50

1.59

$4.37

Tomato seeds*

2.39

60

$0.04

2.99

$177.01

Bean seeds

1.79

5

$0.36

2.99

$13.16

Peppers seeds (hot & sweet)

1.79

5

$0.36

1.99

$8.16

$9.75

79

$210.86

* use only 1/2 packet for 30 square feet

Education!

Gardening gives students hand-on experience in curriculum areas of science and English, an opportunity to demonstrate teamwork, and an opportunity to connect with nature. Lesson plans are available for parents and teachers who would like to use gardens as a teaching tool. HPC has lesson materials available to share with you. There are also many videos on successful school gardens available on the Internet by searching “successful school gardens.�

Librarians can help anyone with information searches using computers available for free use at your local library.

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Exercise and Physical Activity!

When people work in the garden they dig, compost, pull weeds, lift and move supplies, and more! All these activities build strong muscles and bones, strengthen the heart, and reduce stress. Being active in the garden can help you to stay fit and healthy.

To stay fit and healthy, there is certain amount of calories that you can consume every day. The energy from the food we eat (calories) needs to be in balance with how much energy is used in our daily activities. The amount of calories a person needs every day depends on your age and activity level (Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010). Most moderately active adult men need about 2,000 – 3,000 calories per day. Most moderately active adult women need about 1,600 – 2,400 calories per day.

You may ask yourself: “How much gardening exercise do I need to equal eating a cheeseburger? A pasta salad?” The table below shows how many calories your body burns in one hour. You may think differently about the choices you want to make when it comes to meal time when you see the amount of activity needed to “burn” what you eat.

activities

Digging, spading, tilling

Planting seedlings

or

or

Clearing land

Mowing (push with motor)

calories burned per hour: 404

Planting trees

Mowing lawn (manual)

or Trimming shrubs (manual)

or Weeding

calories burned per hour: 486

Bagging leaves

calories burned per hour: 324

calories burned per hour: 364

food equivalent large cheeseburger Source: Mother Jones

or

Pizza Pasta Recipe

bowl of pizza pasta and a chocolate chip cookie!

1 bowl of whole wheat pasta 1/2 cup of low fat mozzarella cheese 5 cherry tomatoes 1 cup of spinach

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5 Steps to Start and Tend a School Garden Most school children get excited about gardening. They enjoy learning about and growing their own food.

Teachers are more likely to support gardens if they know there will be help to tend it.

STEP 1 FORM A TEAM AND PLAN THE GARDEN

A

Form a team of people to plan the garden. The garden team of people can be parents, grandparents, and staff from community based organizations. The garden plan answers the questions: Where is the best location for the garden on school property? All gardens need space, access to water, and gardeners to tend the plants. A good school garden space has at least 6 hours of sunlight every day, a nearby water source and enough room for children and parents to work together.

How will the garden be used? School gardens can be outdoor classrooms for science and nutrition classes or space for a garden club to meet after school.

Who will take care of the garden year-round? Who takes care of the garden when school is out for summer? The teachers and principals will not be able to maintain the garden without the help of others.

Make sure that you and your team have committed volunteers ahead of time.

What supplies are needed and how will garden supplies be purchased? Supplies are things like wood to build garden containers, called raised beds, soil, compost, shovels, hoses, and seeds.

STEP 2 TALK WITH THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL Make an appointment with the School Principal to discuss the garden plan. Introduce yourself and explain that you want to talk about starting a school garden. It is best to offer the Principal the most complete garden plan possible.

The Principal may say yes, no, or that they need to think about the idea before making a decision. The Principal may want to talk with the teachers about the idea. After talking with the teachers, the Principal may make a final decision about starting a garden or may ask additional questions. The principal may invite you to talk with the teachers directly. Remember to be patient and listen; a garden may be a big decision for teachers and other staff who already work very hard and may have concerns about new projects. This is a great chance to discuss concerns and work on the garden plan.

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STEP 3

FINALIZE THE GARDEN PLAN

After the principal gives approval, finalize the garden plan based on the amount of space and materials available for the garden and number and ages of the student gardeners. If you have not already talked with the school’s maintenance staff, ask for an introduction because these people are responsible for the access to water and security of the school. They are important allies for your garden to be successful.

Work with teachers to find garden lessons to teach students in school classrooms and in after school programs. As part of the lesson planning, use the resources provided in this Toolkit to decide the crops to plant in the spring, summer, and fall. In Philadelphia, the School District offers the Eat.Right.Now. program that provides nutrition education lessons for students in the District. Many of these lessons can be linked to the garden. Talk with staff of the Eat.Right.Now. program for more information.

Congratulations!

You have brought your garden plan this far. Now you are ready to collect materials and build the garden.

STEP 4 BUILDING THE GARDEN

B

C

CONTAINERS Many times, the ground of the garden site is covered by asphalt and poor quality soil, sometimes called “fill material.”

This soil is low in nutrients and very compact, which makes it hard for roots to grow and get the nutrition and water the plants need to survive. In places with asphalt and poor soil, it is best to grow food in containers, which may be a bucket, bin or raised bed. The raised bed is built on top of the asphalt or the poor soil and filled with healthy soil to grow plants.

The materials for making containers are available at a wide range of prices. A 5 gallon bucket costs about $2.50 and can grow 1-2 tomato plants. A 8-foot long and 8-foot wide raised bed built from new wood could cost about $50 from a hardware store and can grow 6 – 8 tomato plants.

If you can find and reuse materials, container could be free. For example, a plastic gallon milk container can be cut in half and used to grow herbs. A raised bed could be built from wood pallets, which can be available for free from local businesses. Refer to card C in the back of this book for a step-by-step guide to building a raised bed. Refer to card B for organizations that help communities find garden materials.

SOIL The garden container can be filled with soil that can be purchased or donated. You can buy good quality topsoil for your school garden. You can also ask your local garden center or a landscaping company about getting a donation of topsoil for your garden. Gardeners can increase the amount and quality of soil they have by adding compost, a rich blend of decomposed plant material.

Mix compost into all soil anywhere in the garden. Compost is a mix of plant materials that have decomposed over time to make new healthy soil. Compost provides nutrients, holds water and supports the good garden The Gardening Toolkit

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bugs. Add compost every year if possible to keep soil healthy and strong. Free compost can be picked up at Philadelphia’s Recycling Center.

Test the soil for contaminants like lead and arsenic if the garden is planted directly into the ground. These toxic substances that are found in poor quality soil and can cause serious health problems, especially in children. These toxic substances can be ingested directly from hand-to-mouth contact, ingested indirectly from vegetables and fruits that are not cleaned properly, or inhaled from dust in the garden.

Contact Penn State University Cooperative Extension, or another Cooperative Extension office to request a soil testing kit and ask for assistance filling out the testing form as needed. The cost of the basic soil testing for nutrient level is $10. The cost of testing for lead and other toxic substances ranges from $55 to $200.

WATER Plants will need water almost every day. You can draw water from a faucet into a bucket to use in the raised beds. You could also attach a hose which can be found for about $7 in large stores.

STEP 5 READY, SET, GROW

B

D

PLANTS Seeds are available at a low cost and through donation. They can be purchased with an ACCESS card.

Four or five seed packets of your favorite foods can fill a garden space of about 8 feet by 10 feet. Seeds of many plants, for example, tomatoes, peppers and herbs, can be saved from the harvest and planted the following year. Seeds can be purchased with ACCESS EBT cards and donations may also be available.

GARDEN-BASED NUTRITION EDUCATION Children can learn about nutrition, health, and science in the garden.

Children enjoy learning about the vegetable, fruit, protein, and whole grain food groups of My Plate by growing plants in the garden.

And, studies show that youth will eat more of these foods when they are available during nutrition and garden lessons.

Talk to teachers about garden-based lessons that support their curriculum. Students working in the garden can learn about the parts of plants we eat, water and nutrient cycles, nutrition, healthy habits and food preparation.

Choose the correct plants to grow for the season. Some plants grow in the cool weather of spring and fall, for example, peas, broccoli and spinach. Some plants grow in the warm weather of summer, for example, tomatoes, beans and peppers. See card D in the back of this book for a planting guide.

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5 Steps To Start and Tend a Community Garden Many people would like a garden to grow food, meet with their neighbors, and beautify neighborhood spaces! Neighbors share community gardens as a place to grow food and gather as a community.

All gardens need space, access to water, and gardeners to tend the plants. Water can be brought from home in containers and supplied through a hose connected to a faucet.

Gardeners can include anyone in the neighborhood with an interest in gardening.

Let’s take a closer look at starting a school garden and a community garden.

STEP 1 FORM A TEAM AND PLAN THE GARDEN The key to starting a community garden is having a neighbor, or group of neighbors, to lead the organizing work. Reach out through families and community organziations like churches and centers to build your team. The more people who are willing to do the work of starting the garden, the better!

Don’t be discouraged if it takes time for neighbors to join the work. Some of the best gardens in Philadelphia started as a result of the passion of a very small group of residents.

STEP 2

FINDING A SITE

A

Locate 2-3 spaces that could work for your garden site in the case one site is not available or suitable. The garden can be in a park, an empty lot, or at a church or community center. A good garden space has at least 6 hours of sun every day, a water source nearby, and volunteers to tend the plants. Find out when the garden space is accessible – is it open to the public? Locked at certain times? Many gardens or parks are locked at night or on the holidays . . . and sometimes, all summer. A Garden Start Up Checklist can assist you with determining the best garden site (see card A in the back of this book).

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STEP 3

ASKING LANDOWNER PERMISSION

You will need permission to grow on land that does not belong to you. The third step to starting the garden is to ask permission from the owner of the land where you want to start the garden. If the garden space is at a park or playground, contact the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department for permission. If the space is at a church or community center, ask the manager or director. It is best to get this permission in writing.

If the space is an empty lot, find out who owns the lot so you can ask for permission. You can find the lot owner by asking the Philadelphia Zoning Department, contacting your local committee person, Council person, or by searching the website of Philadelphia’s Office of Property Assessment (http://opa.phila.gov) for the lot’s address.

Be prepared! Getting permission to use land that does not belong to you can take several months to complete, even a year or longer. Make sure you get permission in writing to use the garden for the length of time you want to use it.

Congratulations! You have received landowner permission to start a garden. You are ready to collect materials and build the garden. Please refer to Steps 4 and 5 from the How to Start and Maintain a School Garden (pages 7 and 8) for instructions on how to achieve your plan for a garden.

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Health Promotion Council of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Inc. www.hpcpa.org p: 215-731-6150 • e: hpcpa@phmc.org 12

The Gardening Toolkit