Even though Spring is still more than a month away and there is almost a foot of snow still on the ground, there is
a lot going on in Central Ohio in preparation for the upcoming gardening
season. Last night, the City held a
meeting for the approximately 50 area community gardens, like the Stoddart
Avenue Community Garden, which are located on Land
Bank property. John Turner, Director
of the City Redevelopment Office, had a very informative powerpoint presentation (prepared by Graduate Student Intern Seth Brehm) for the 20
attendees. The Land Bank also has vacant lots available
that were community gardens in the past and just require a new
organization/group to tend them.
Grant Funding. Many community gardens need funding for
capital improvements, like hooking up to city water, compost and soil
improvements, soil testing, sheds, tools, raised beds, fruit trees, and fencing,
etc. As in past years, the City of
Columbus and Franklin County have allocated funding to support local community
gardens. Until February 24, gardens can
apply for grants up to $4,000 through the Columbus
Foundation. The checks will be cut
in early April. Last year, this program
funded 35 out of the 66 applicants, so the process is very competitive. Unlike past years, this year’s application
will be in MS Word format instead of pdf, but is otherwise the same. If you
have questions, feel free to contact Barb Seckler at the Columbus Health
Department. Scotts Miracle-Gro will also
be donating soil products (like garden soil, manurre and mulch). Scoring for the grant applications will
consider:
·
Completeness of the application
·
The capacity of the garden to complete the
process, based on years of experience, number of volunteers, etc.
·
The description of the project justification/need
and target audience
·
Whether the description of the project goals is
related to the description of the project justification/need
·
The clarity of the budget spreadsheet
·
The uniqueness and excellence of the project
Funding priorities favor requests for basic needs, rather
than aesthetic improvements, like benches, or trellises. The grants will not fund compensation for staffing
needs.
Gardens which are not tax exempt under IRC §501(c)(3) will
need to have a fiscal agent which is tax exempt. This will require the garden to have a
relationship (preferably documented in writing) with a public charity that will
accept and disperse the grant check and will sign the grant application and agreement. Gardens without such a relationship can
contact Julie Smith at the
Rebuilding Together Central Ohio (aka the Tool Library) for assistance.
Clean Turn is again willing to deliver on Earth Day (Tuesday, April 22) the soil donations to community gardens which receive grant funding. James will get the grant list and contact you to arrange for delivery times. You do not need to contact him. However, the community garden must provide the necessary volunteers to unload the bags. We were lucky last year that the Growing Hearts and Hands CG arranged for Alvis House volunteers to unload our bags for us at the SACG.
Side Lot Purchases. The Land Bank in the past has been more than happy to sell properties to adjacent property owners in order to improve the neighborhood. However, they have slightly expanded the program to include non-profit organizations -- like community gardens -- which have already benefitted the property and neighbors who live within 400 feet of the property. Technically, the property must be sold at fair market value or appraised value (but I've seen vacant lots listed at approximately $500). To benefit from this program, the purchaser must be among three types of buyers:
1. Adjacent property owner: An
owner whose property shares a property line with an undeveloped Land Bank
Parcel;
2. Property owner within same
block: An owner whose property is within the same block, across an alley, or
within 400 feet of an undeveloped Land Bank Parcel;
3. Non-profit community
organizations: A 501(c)(3) organization which successfully licensed and
improved a property as a community garden or beautification project for a
minimum of one year.
Mow to Own. A new
initiative at the Land Bank involves the opportunity of neighbors and 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations (which can include community
gardens) to purchase vacant lots in their neighborhood. The City is precluded by statute and ordinance
from donating the property, but it can sell it at fair market value.
The City will reduce the purchase price by the amount of investment made
by the group/neighbor to improve the lot and tending the lot. Of course, purchasing the lot comes with the
obligation to purchase liability insurance and pay property taxes . . . . To benefit from this new program, you should:
— Successfully license and maintain a land bank vacant lot
for a minimum of one year;
— Be an existing stakeholder within the same neighborhood
or area commission boundaries as the land bank vacant lot to be acquired ;
— Have no delinquent real estate or personal property taxes in
Franklin County ;
— Have no history of property maintenance, nuisance, building,
and/or zoning code violations;
— Have no delinquent utility accounts;
— Provide evidence that the nonprofit organization has the
ability to complete the proposed project, including maintenance and
improvements, in a timely manner in compliance with all city, state and other
applicable regulatory requirements;
— Submit the required application with a proposal attached
detailing the maintenance and/or improvements to be completed on the vacant lot;
— Pay a nonrefundable administrative fee of $175 (to show
you are serious and have the capacity to complete the transaction);
— Pay the deed preparation fees, pro-rated property taxes,
and transfer fees ;
— Complete all proposed maintenance and/or improvements on
the vacant lot to be acquired, including required maintenance sufficient to
satisfy the fair market value purchase price; and
— Understand that this option agreement is good for only two
years (unless you convince the City to
extend it in writing).
Catching Rain Water
and Rototillers. The Rebuilding
Together of Central Ohio Tool
Library had several great announcements.
·
Rototillers. Late last year, the Columbus Foundation
purchased several rototillers to be dedicated to area community gardens each Spring. The Tool Library already owned a few which
they would loan out to area residents and gardens on a first-come-first serve
basis. In the past, you could reserve
the tillers, but, as you may recall from the SACG Opening Day last year,
they went to a first-come-first-served basis (which can be very stressful when
you only have so many volunteers available on a limited basis). Now, community gardens can reserve these
special tillers for the gardens during the Spring. The Tool Library is also going to a digital
reservation system (like is used by many area media libraries) so that you can
reserve tools online in advance. Whoo
Hoo!
·
Catching
the Rain System: The Tool Library and the City already have a
program to loan
giant cisterns and rain
barrels to community gardens to catch and store rain water. However, some community gardens are not near
any buildings with roofs or gutters to catch rain water. Accordingly, Stephanie has spent the last year
designing a system (i.e., a slanted
gazebo) to catch rain water for a rain barrel. While the Tool Library will provide the
materials, design and project leader to construct this gazebo, the garden must
provide the volunteers necessary to dig the foundation and assemble the gazebo
(which will be a temporary structure in compliance with the City Land Bank community
garden license). It is estimated that
it would take about 6 hours to build it.
·
Trailers. The Tool Library also announced that it has a
trailer it can loan, but it has a hitch.
·
Cold
Frames. The Tool Library also regularly receives donated windows (which can
be used to build a cold frame) on a first-come-first-served basis.
Announcements. John explained that community gardens need to
mow their lots every 2-3 weeks and get approval before adding structures. Compost needs to be in bins. He also recommended that we call Joe Sulak in the City's Forestry Department at 645-6648 when seeking delivery of recycled wood chips to use
as mulch and to line paths, etc. Joe will want our parcel number and address. (I added that many tree-trimming companies are also willing to drop off wood chips if you give them enough notice since it saves them the trouble of driving them miles south of the City. The SACG has greatly benefitted from such donations from both the City and private tree companies). The
City and the Tool Library are also working with OSU to offer free
soil testing. (I volunteered last
night that CLC would conduct lead tests for $35, but it was really $45. CLC will also test for other heavy metals for
$190. Land Bank lots which have not had
extensive soil testing are required to utilized raised beds).
Brainstorming. The City is very supportive of area community
gardens and requested suggestions for how the City could be of even more
assistance. These were a few of the suggestions:
·
Compost.
The City used to donate 20 yards of com-til and now doesn’t donate
any. In addition, the City’s facility
stopped letting gardens and individuals pick up their own com-til (at a greatly
reduced price from what can be purchased retail). It was suggested that the City could make a
giant pile available for community gardens to pick up on their own (like at
Franklin Park Conservatory). Also, the
City could permit community gardens to pick up compost like it permits commercial
businesses.
·
Water. It
would be extremely helpful for gardens to have improved and less expensive
access to City water. It costs
approximately $1500 just to hook up to the City water system and an additional
cost to purchase the water. The City
explained that the Water Utility is separate from the City and also charges the
City for water it uses.
·
Security.
Many gardens are having problems with their produce getting stolen. One garden even moved its location this year because
of the extent of the thefts. I suggested
security cameras would be helpful. I
also explained that the SACG has used black raspberry bushes around our garden
to deter thieves and offered our extra seedlings to the other gardens to create
their own edible barrier.
·
Greenhouses.
One garden suggested a central greenhouse where gardens could place
their seedlings. It will be time to start
seeds in a few weeks, but most of us do not have the capacity to start
seedlings. I use a small, portable greenhouse on my
patio. Straders Garden Centers often generously donate lots of seedlings in June, but that is pretty late for planning purposes.
At last week’s GCGC meeting, there were a few announcements:
·
Whole Foods wants to provide greater support for
community gardening. It provided refreshments for the meeting and is willing to
partner with certain community gardeners to provide educational seminars on
healthy eating. This can include cooking
demonstrations. Call Tiffany Dixon at
the Lane Avenue store for more information.
·
Next month’s meeting will be at Whole Foods and
will again feature Dr. Darraugh from CLC Labs to discuss soil testing.
·
OSU Extension is also seeking to partner with
community gardens in providing FREE seminars through its Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. EFNEP
partners with local agencies and organizations to offer a series of small-group
classes in a variety of settings. Taught
by EFNEP paraprofessionals who have undergone extensive training to teach nutrition
to adults, they can schedule classes at your convenience. All participants receive class materials,
recipes and a certificate of completion. This program – which is focused on households
at 186% of the federal poverty level -- has already been rolled out in over 800
counties nationwide and reached more than 150,000 adults. The Program is designed to help families make
healthy food choices, manage food dollars, understand food labels, keep food
safe, choose nutritious snacks, and balance a healthy diet with physical
activity. There are also youth seminars
being lead by GCGC’s Peggy Murphy.
Urban Connections and the SACG are
hoping to sponsor these seminars this summer in the Stoddart Avenue neighborhood and so I spoke with Jennifer Dulaney at OSU yesterday. There are 8
sessions, at least six of which must be attended in order to receive the certificate of
completion and a COSI pass for free admission for up to 8 people. There are food tastings and takeaways provided
at each hour-long session. For instance,
the sessions would look something like this:
·
Physical Activity – Attendees get a beach ball
and pedometer to measure their daily walks.
·
Shopping smart – Attendees get a shopping bag
and form shopping list booklet.
·
Vegetables and Fruits – Attendees will get a cook
book and vegetable brush.
·
Whole grains – Attendees get a measuring cup and
spoon.
·
Healthy Bones -- Attendees get an exercise band and physical activity book.
·
Proteins and Food Safety – Attendees get a food
thermometer.
·
Fast food and sugar – Attendees get a calendar
of recipes and cook book.
·
Celebration – Attendees who attended at least six of the prior classes will receive a COSI pass and certificate of completion.
[Editor's Note: With just under 2 weeks to go before our Opening Day, we have only 2 plots left (and 6 raised beds). Once those plots and beds are taken, gardeners will be placed on a wait list because every year we have gardeners sign up who do not show up for our Opening Work Day. You snooze; you lose:-)]
