Community Gardens, Economics, and Food Deserts

Community Gardens, Economics, and Food Deserts is a Commitment seeks provide both sustainable food and economic resources to a mutually impoverished and food desert community in Greensboro, NC. This Commitment nominally focuses on food security, economic access, and sustainability. The garden will serve both as a food source through crop cultivation, and an economic system through food sales and community employment. Focused towards youth ages 11-22, residents will work in the garden to earn income, and cultivate applicable job skills for future economic opportunities. • Month 1 – Find a community partner willing to have this project implemented in their community o Attend neighborhood meetings o Pitch the idea  Have written and electronic materials o Create a source of reference  Email, facebook, twitter, blog o Ensure community selected will have program fidelity  Is space available for gardening?  Are their willing participants to sustain the garden?  How long will they be committed for?  Is there a true need? • Month 2 – Community Garden Planning Education o Provide community with specific gardening plans  Location  Work needed to implement  Work needed to sustain  Harvesting  Selling  Storing  Accounting • Bank • Payments • Etc  Policies & Procedures o Advertise for positions at the garden  Hiring • Expectations • Education • Policies & Procedures • Training • Month 3 o Plant the garden • Month 4 & 5 o Full project implementation