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Projects and programs always have four (4) stages. First is the idea stage when plans are developed. Second is the implementation or start-up phase when the plan is set in motion. Third is the operational phase when the project work is done on a day to day basis. The fourth phase is planning for continuation and includes refining the original plan—or deciding that the project is not worth the effort and going on to something different.
“Growing the Community from the Ground Up", the FFC Community Garden Program, is in Phase III: the gardeners are working the garden on a day to day basis, learning how to garden, and making decisions about the future. Based on comments from everyone involved, we have reached the mid-point of our project and have achieved some success. “Success” in this case means that stuff is growing, the garden is well-tended and attractive, and that individual gardeners have stuck with it and have worked hard.
Another measure of success is how well our teenaged leader, Kari Keever—with lots of help from Mom Mary and Sister Alicia—has managed the garden and kept it connected to Loaves and Fishes with donated produce. Still another measure is the positive coverage provided by Carroll County News: look for a story this week about the garden and FCC.
Having begun in March, we are exactly at the mid-point in our garden’s first year of operation. There are still some aspects or “parts” of our initial plan (Phase I) that we need to take in hand—or defer for another time. There are four (4) items that we need to take action on:
First, it is time to install the “Growing Community from the Ground Up” sign. Volunteers are ready to go: what they need is to have the location of the sign determined—and permission to erect the posts and sign.
Second, the rain barrels planned for distribution of rain water has not worked as planned. The original idea was perhaps too complicated: it has been difficult to run piping from the church to the individual beds. An alternative idea is proposed: collect the rain as planned, but then hand-carry the water to a reservoir (one of the blue barrels) located on the garden site. This will facilitate either by gravity or with the aid of a small pump, piping the water into a network of drip hoses laid out on the growing beds. Dave Buttgen, who is designing alternative technology systems for a fish farming project in Malawi, may be able to design the system and power the pump with a very low cost solar or wind generator.
Third, a decision should be made regarding what “kind” of garden FCC will operate: will it be a traditional garden operation, a “natural” garden, or an organic garden? Different rules apply and the decision has implications for who will choose to participate, how much we can charge for production if we sell it, and so on.
The fourth decision is about what to do with what is produced. Currently, some of the stuff is taken home by the gardeners for personal use. And some of it is donated to Loaves and Fishes. We also used some of Jennifer’s flowers to decorate the church on Sunday. Are there other ideas? For example, should produce be sold as a fund raiser for the youth program, for a cash gift to Loaves and Fishes, or to go into an operating fund for the garden itself? Or, should what is produced simply be distributed after services to anyone who wants it? Or, is a combination of all of the above…plus other ideas…called for?
Please use the comment function located here if you have an opinion or idea you would like to share. Or, email:
“Growing the Community from the Ground Up", the FFC Community Garden Program, is in Phase III: the gardeners are working the garden on a day to day basis, learning how to garden, and making decisions about the future. Based on comments from everyone involved, we have reached the mid-point of our project and have achieved some success. “Success” in this case means that stuff is growing, the garden is well-tended and attractive, and that individual gardeners have stuck with it and have worked hard.
Another measure of success is how well our teenaged leader, Kari Keever—with lots of help from Mom Mary and Sister Alicia—has managed the garden and kept it connected to Loaves and Fishes with donated produce. Still another measure is the positive coverage provided by Carroll County News: look for a story this week about the garden and FCC.
Having begun in March, we are exactly at the mid-point in our garden’s first year of operation. There are still some aspects or “parts” of our initial plan (Phase I) that we need to take in hand—or defer for another time. There are four (4) items that we need to take action on:
First, it is time to install the “Growing Community from the Ground Up” sign. Volunteers are ready to go: what they need is to have the location of the sign determined—and permission to erect the posts and sign.
Second, the rain barrels planned for distribution of rain water has not worked as planned. The original idea was perhaps too complicated: it has been difficult to run piping from the church to the individual beds. An alternative idea is proposed: collect the rain as planned, but then hand-carry the water to a reservoir (one of the blue barrels) located on the garden site. This will facilitate either by gravity or with the aid of a small pump, piping the water into a network of drip hoses laid out on the growing beds. Dave Buttgen, who is designing alternative technology systems for a fish farming project in Malawi, may be able to design the system and power the pump with a very low cost solar or wind generator.
Third, a decision should be made regarding what “kind” of garden FCC will operate: will it be a traditional garden operation, a “natural” garden, or an organic garden? Different rules apply and the decision has implications for who will choose to participate, how much we can charge for production if we sell it, and so on.
The fourth decision is about what to do with what is produced. Currently, some of the stuff is taken home by the gardeners for personal use. And some of it is donated to Loaves and Fishes. We also used some of Jennifer’s flowers to decorate the church on Sunday. Are there other ideas? For example, should produce be sold as a fund raiser for the youth program, for a cash gift to Loaves and Fishes, or to go into an operating fund for the garden itself? Or, should what is produced simply be distributed after services to anyone who wants it? Or, is a combination of all of the above…plus other ideas…called for?
Please use the comment function located here if you have an opinion or idea you would like to share. Or, email:
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I like the idea of having a solar operated pump for watering the beds. We could show it to other people and get that kind of innovation used more widely. Nice work Kari, Mary, and Alyssa.
ReplyDeleteAre the youth involved in the gardening? If they are we should sell some of the vegetables like the tomatoes and use the money for youth activities.
ReplyDeleteWhat variety are the tall sunflowers at the back of the garden. They are really big.
ReplyDelete1. I believe a spot was shown to Jennifer as to where to put the sign. She should be able to tell Bill unless things have changed.
ReplyDelete2. Is it too much of a hassle to hand dip the water from the rain barrels to use?
3. It was my understanding that being a certified organic garden was going to be a bit too much, so instead, everyone would try to be as natural as possible. To my knowledge, everyone has done a great job in that area. I would think a vote from the users would be the way to decide.
4. Personally, I like the way the garden is operating now...for personal use, excess to Loaves and Fishes, any funds that can be raised and used for church projects, etc.
I think those involved this year should be commended. I never expected to see such a successful garden our first year! Barbara
Great comments, Barbara, thank you!
ReplyDeleteReally big sunflowers are grown from seeds that were taken from a sunflower field in the Former Soviet Union.
ReplyDelete