Creative Irrigation Helps Peekskill’s Community Garden Thrive

By Jo Boniello, Peekskill Community Garden

The grant we received this year from the Community Catalyst Fund enabled us to finally start growing in our Community Garden here in Peekskill. We were able to purchase deer fencing, cedar posts, topsoil and supplies for our water system. This year we had 20 individual plots, and a “People’s Plot,” where we grow in a cooperative manner.

Volunteers preparing the site

Our beautifully handcrafted sign, made sustainably from a tree that fell during a storm right here in Peekskill.

We did not have access to water, but we discovered a stream nearby and with the money from this grant, we were able to buy materials that allowed us to tap into the stream. Using a hand pump, we then filled the rain barrels, to allow us have access to water for the garden.  Besides pumping the water into the barrels by hand, we also used an old bike and purchased a well pump, which allowed us to send the water by pedaling the bicycle to a sprinkler system to be able to water a bigger area at one time.

A few of our 20 individual plots.

We still have room for expansion, and are hoping to have all of this up and growing to full capacity in a few years.

Lessening the Environmental and Economic Impacts of Flooding on Urban Agriculture (Focus: Burlington, VT)

By Holli Howard, Clean Air-Cool Planet Climate Fellow

It is well documented that heavy rainfall has increased in frequency across most of the United States. In New England, there has been over a 67% increase in the amount falling during very heavy precipitation events.   In Vermont, precipitation has increased by 15-20% in the past fifty years (Betts, 2011).  These heavy rain events have serious economic and environmental impacts and threaten the livelihood of many Vermonters.  The flooding from Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011 is still foremost in the minds of most Vermonters and many are still recovering.  The flooding of farmlands was particularly impactful, and not just to the farmers, but to the local food systems in Burlington, as the FDA regulations stated:

“If the edible portion of a crop is exposed to flood waters, it is considered adulterated and should not enter human food channels. There is no practical method of reconditioning the edible portion of a crop that will provide a reasonable assurance of human food safety.”

Unfortunately millions of dollars in crop income was lost during Irene. Economically, the cost of Irene ranks among the top ten (NYT, 2011).  The economic impact – statewide by the numbers stand at (Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, 2012):

• Agricultural at $10 million
• Fruit and vegetable $2.24 million
• Corn silage at $8 million

Burlington’s Intervale is a 700 acre urban farm, integral in the food system chain supplying local Community Supported Agriculture to over 500 and local produce for the most popular City Market.  The 14 farms that constitute the Intervale were all completely inundated with flood waters during Irene. The loss calculated by the farm’s Executive Director, Travis Marcotte, is estimated at $750,000.  Not only was there economic damage, reports Vern Grubinger of UVM extension, but due to the water quality, farmers note an increase in invasive plant species and worry about pesticides and herbicides infiltrating putting their organic status at risk.

Below are some photos I took of the Intervale peak season in July, 2012.

Now look at the photos from this blog entry during Irene by women dedicated to the Intervale and the connection with the local Coop City Market.

These extreme events are, as we say, catastrophic.

However, the smaller events, such as the July 4, 2012 rainstorm in Burlington, can be as impactful making those equally as damaging to the areas hit.  The Intervale takes advantage of the fertile soils of the flood plain, but not without risk.

This map shows the flood way in red which indicates the waters most opportunistic flow – right through the majority of the farms in the Intervale.  Some farms have decided the risk is too great and are deciding to or have moved– however most wish to stay and are brainstorming on mitigation and adaptation strategies to lessen the effects of these devastating flood waters.

Some big picture scenarios fall on the responsibility of state and local agencies, such as upgrading the waste water treatment facilities to minimize the outflow during these storm events.  The two facilities in the map below are directly upstream from the Intervale.  Both are currently in compliance with state and federal regulation, but during major events raw sewage overflow directly into the Winooski River is still an issue.

Another way to decrease impaired water quality during these events requires educating the residents of Vermont on the importance of anchoring residential propane tanks so they don’t disconnect and float away in flood events… such as these white tanks here washed away from people’s homes spewing propane across this Vermont farm…

Some strategies would require careful long term planning and tenacity from the farmers by changing the types of crops they plant… adapting to climate change with crops that may be less impacted by flood waters such as certain fruit or nut trees or even rice is being investigated by Will Raap, founder of the Intervale Center.  Also up for consideration may be chickens on tracks – certainly easier to move than lettuce and radishes!

If you were a farmer and this is your livelihood or if you are a farmer…

Would you wait it out or move? Would you risk planting cover crops for a few years to assess the situation or increase your riparian buffer and lose income from that acreage? What would you plant if your farm flooded every spring?  Would you try to learn from the Far East and try your hand at rice?  Maybe a vineyard?…

Not Enough CHEFS in the Kitchen

By Tim Ryder, Clean Air-Cool Planet Climate Fellow

Food is fundamental, and as one of the few daily activities which connects people across the world it is mind boggling that we have become so far removed from it. One of my favorite quotes from Roger here in Clean Air-Cool Planet’s Portsmouth office is, “you can’t manage what you don’t track” and I have taken this quote to heart with my project this summer.

My fellowship with Clean Air-Cool Planet focused on a new tool, which is on its way to being released, named CHEFS or CHarting Emissions from Food Services. This program has university faculty, professors and students input food purchasing data; outputs the total carbon emissions; and breaks it down further by stage (agricultural versus processing), ingredient (coffee versus beef) and gas-type (N2O versus CO2) in both graph and list form. This data can be manipulated in “what-if” scenarios in order to provide the head chef with a tool to maximize the efficiency of their menu.

Thus, my job this summer was to help increase the amount of data in the tool to the point where Universities could utilize it and then do something meaningful with that data. The first step was getting all the data in the standalone CHEFS program into the new online version. We were on a tight schedule as the second round of CHEFS pilot schools was almost done compiling their data and would soon need to enter it online. Though it took a week of hard work, I have brought the CHEFS tool up to more than 70 items!

With CHEFS functional, I was able to shift my focus to more qualitative endeavors such as a best practice list. This list was my first goal and I began by doing research into what our current pilot schools were doing and ultimately what initiatives the leading institutions of the nation were engaged in. I compiled these together including case study links to institutions which had a particularly spectacular program as a resource for those universities which were just starting a program. I also included some qualitative data in order to show the amazing potential of certain programs such as trayless or composting!

The best practice list prompted me to create a LinkedIn group which I named “Sustainability in Dining Services” that now has 60+ members from a wide variety of institutions. Hopefully this will become an area for discourse on the subject over the coming years. I am also working on making the document into an online expandable webpage in order to allow for easier access.

The next project on my plate was working on purchasing a large database to supplement the data we already had in the tool. While this is still underway it does look promising and I am hopeful that within a few months this database will increase the number of items in the tool by tenfold!

One of the biggest projects I have worked on this summer is the creation of a qualitative labeling system. The goal is that this system will bridge the gap between the dining service professionals and the student consumers. It is a system which uses graphics and colors to represent the amount of carbon emitted to create that product and the production method – such as organic.

At first my designs were very detailed with lots of colors but have gotten simpler and more refined as the weeks have gone by. This is thanks to a lot of design consultations from my friend Jason, a fellow Stetson graduate, and the people at ARAMARK. What I have now are three great designs which will go through focus group review and hopefully provide some very useful feedback. Hopefully this system will also be tested in some of the pilot schools’ dining halls so if you’re a student keep your eyes out for some beautiful looking carbon labels!!

Overall this summer has been an amazing experience. The discussions I had every day with my fellow Fellows were stimulating and fascinating and I learned more than I could have imagined from Roger and Jennifer. There is no doubt, my communications skills have grown leaps and bounds this summer and I feel much more prepared to spend the next semester in Washington D.C. at American University’s Washington Semester – International Environment and Development Program!

Bernardsville (NJ) Community Garden

By Wanda Knapik, Community Garden Director, Bernardsville Green Team

On the corner of Route 202 South and Springhouse Road in Bernardsville, New Jersey, a large community garden was designed and created in 2011.  A grant from the Community Catalyst Fund was used to purchase materials to fence in the growing area for 25 plots, install the fence and gate, till the plots, add compost, and start the garden.

The members of the garden use organic practices and methods to grow food.  Currently there are vegetables, herbs, flowers and berries growing in the garden.  We have seasonal educational events in the garden, planting garlic in November for example, and planting tomatoes and herbs in May.  Organic seeds and seedlings are provided to members who pay $50 per year for their plot.  If they sign up for two years, the fee is $75.

There have been many local groups and student volunteers who have contributed to creating and maintaining the garden in addition to the Bernardsville Green Team.  The Bernardsville High School Green Team is growing food in the garden and the Boy Scouts are involved as well.  This garden showcases how we are growing food and community in our town.  Wanda Knapik volunteers her time as the Community Garden Director.  She wrote the guiding principles and rules for the garden, administers the collection of membership dues, maintains the irrigation system, teaches classes in the garden and sources materials each season for the garden.  She educates and inspires people of all ages to grow food.

“I’m learning a lot about what, when, and how to plant vegetables and herbs.  We’re planting seeds and seedlings, annuals and perennials. I’m excited to harvest the garlic I planted last year!” ~Johanna Wissinger

Peekskill Community Garden Preps for the First Growing Season

By Jo Boniello, Peekskill Community Garden

The grant we received from the Community Catalyst Fund went towards a drainage issue we had at our garden site in the City of Peekskill, NY. Without this being rectified, we could not move forward.

It has been a long battle but we were able to convince the City of Peekskill to supply the machinery and labor and a local mason supply company (Home Mason Supply) gave us a generous discount on the supplies.

Since the drainage issue is now resolved we are able to move forward to offer our community a place to grow their own natural foods and bring our community one-step closer.  Stay tuned for more from the Peekskill Community Garden!

A Letter to Mrs. Obama from the Tupper Lake (NY) Middle/High School Green Team

Dear Mrs. Obama,

On behalf of our Green Team/Wellness Committee we applaud your efforts to improve school nutrition and decrease childhood obesity.

Our school, and many schools in our country,  rely on federal subsidies to make school lunches affordable and available to our students. Your consideration of the “kinds” of food offered would be so appreciated. Tupper Lake School District is trying to offer alternatives to the canned and processed foods that are currently federal subsidy items.

We would like to invite you and your family to our school to see the changes we have made to support your initiatives. Our school is nestled in the heart of the Adirondacks in New York State, and is adjacent to The Wild Center, a state of the art, innovative, LEED certified  natural history museum of the Adirondacks. It is a “must see” experience when in this area.

In our efforts to promote healthy choices for our students, we have secured a grant from Clean Air-Cool Planet to purchase a freezer to store fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. That grant has also funded a compost storage bin and the construction of a root cellar, to be used as learning activities for our students. In this way they will understand that eating healthy, home-grown vegetables and the process of storing, composting, and returning enriched soil back to the garden completes a life cycle. Many students do not understand that healthy, whole foods do not come in a processed package.

This grant has enabled us to make recent changes in our cafeteria menu. Fresh/frozen fruit smoothies and yogurt/fruit/granola parfaits are now offered every morning and at lunch. These items sell out every day, and are slowly replacing pop tarts. We are now adding a sandwich bar and bagels with peanut butter for lunch. Students are choosing these options over processed chicken nuggets or pretzels with nacho cheese sauce.

It would be an enriching experience for you and Sasha and Malia to join us on “Adirondack Day” June 8, 2012. On that day students K-6 will be involved in various learning activities that celebrate the Adirondack Park and all its’ natural resources. Green Team students in grades 7-12 will be hosting a “life cycle” activity that introduces students to our first school garden, how the harvest is stored, composted, and returned back to the garden. This is just one of several educational and fun experiences our students will enjoy.

We look forward to your response. Please visit us any time if you cannot make this date. Governor Cuomo has often enjoyed visiting this Tri-Lakes region and we’d love for you to come to know it as well!

Sincerely,

Kathleen Eldridge,  Art Teacher and Green Team Advisor, Tupper Lake Middle/High School

The 2012 RI Compost Conference and Trade Show

By Greg Gerritt,  Coordinator, RI Compost Initiative

The RI Compost Initiative is a project of the Environment Council of Rhode Island Education Fund, funded in part with a grant from the Community Catalyst Fund of Clean Air-Cool Planet.  For the  past 3 years we have been working to develop a compost industry in Rhode Island that would recycle (by composting) the 250 tons of food scrap that currently end up in the landfill each day.  The economics of composting are pretty weak in RI because the legislature sets the tip fees at the Central landfill, and the tip fee has not changed in 20 years despite all the other changes we have gone through.  While we work on policy issues and have been testifying at public hearings, the most useful work we can do is to bring together interested parties and help them form alliances, networks, and partnerships to create the industry despite the obstacles.

The 2012 RI Compost conference and trade show is the place to bring them together.  We have speakers ranging from the Executive Director of the US Composting Council to the Worm Ladies of Charlestown.  We are presenting a wide range of speakers from the industry, but more importantly we are offering a trade show with more than 30 exhibiters from  the industry.  It is in the trade show that the alliances and partnerships will be found and formed.

Seed Money for Seeds

By Helen Brady, President, Friends of Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center

The receipt of a generous grant from the Community Catalyst Fund allowed the Friends of Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center, Inc. buy the necessary vegetable seeds, soil amendments and supplies to plant our first Community Supported Agriculture program.

Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center, Yorktown Heights, NY, is a regional education center that offers programs on healthy and sustainable food production, and teaches skills for small-scale suburban and urban farming, illustrating sustainable living practices for regional and local communities. The farm features demonstration models for backyard farming, rainwater harvesting, composting, and green-roof technology. Visitors can hike the farm’s 3.5 miles of woodland trails; picnic on the farm grounds; buy a CSA share, purchase produce from a farm stand and at U-Pick; or attend numerous classes and lectures. The Farm offers tours, classes and field trips to school groups, garden clubs, and scout troops, with specific emphasis on agricultural preservation, drinking water protection, and the promotion of environmental stewardship.  The farm is open to the public, harnessed 1,700 volunteer hours in 2010, and donated 4 tons (est. value $18,000) of produce to regional food pantries.

Purchased in 2003 by Westchester County for watershed protection, and agricultural education, due to budgetary constraints within the County the Farm lost 50% of its funding for the fiscal year 2011, the loss of funding eliminated the budget for seasonal employees and horticultural supplies. To save and support the Center, the Friends group was established in June 2010, with the goal of fully funding and operating the Farm. The Friends is working cooperatively with Westchester County to reach the goal within three years.

The $3,000 grant towards seeds, soil amendments and supplies was the “seed money” that allowed us to start a Community Agriculture Share (CSA) program of 100 members.   A CSA affords farm customers the opportunity to become farm supporters by committing before the growing season to buy a share of the farm’s produce, in our case members receive 20 weeks of vegetables from June to October.   This arrangement helps the farm better plan for the season, particularly in the area of staffing. Through the sale of CSA memberships the Friends raised over $60,000, critical income for 2011.  With the income we hired 6 local seasonal staff, and provided needed working capital.

It is clear that the financial return on investment for this grant is outstanding, but it is equally important to highlight the impact the grant has had within the community; local food, local involvement, and local jobs at a Farm that teaches sustainability.

Thank you Community Catalyst Fund.

Welcome to the Ringwood (NJ) Community Garden!

By Amy Jolin, President, Eat Local

Thanks to a generous grant from the Community Catalyst Fund, Eat Local, Inc. was able to purchase lumber, fencing, water barrels, and soil for a large, beautiful garden in the wooded and rocky soils of Ringwood, NJ.The project started in 2010 as a charity garden organized by Girl Scout Troop 369. The girl scouts helped till soil and plant a garden at the Community Presbyterian Church at145 Carletondale Road. With the support of the church Session and donations from Eat Local and various local organizations, this service project supplied fresh healthy tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce and beans to the food pantry located in the same campus.

At the end of 2010, Eat Local received a grant for $2,500 to expand the charity garden into a full fledged community garden accommodating 27 families to grow their own food in the raised beds of a sunny, fenced area with great water access.

Eat Local received ample support from local businesses, including a machine for a day from CLC Landscaping who scraped the top layer of weeds from the proposed lot. Andersen Forest Products arranged for a great discount on untreated clean lumber with which to build raised garden beds. Boy Scout Troop 76 donated their time to build raised beds.

The Borough of Ringwood donated the rich, black, composted leaf mulch with which to fill the beds. They also donated the machine to move soil from the pile to the beds, saving the volunteers much hard labor. 

The news of the project spread like wildfire through the advertising efforts of Eat Local. Families fell in love with the idea and snatched up the plots quickly, contributing a small fee for the yearly upkeep of the garden. Each family joined a committee, such as communications, events, education, fences, water, soil, pests, and so on. Families worked with great enthusiasm to install the fencing, fill beds with soil and to even extend the project by building a small school garden in the pre-school playground adjacent to the garden.

The energy of the families grew from a feeling of camaraderie developed during several work parties and family holiday parties. Families shared gardening details and bragging rights over the tallest sunflowers or the fattest onions.  Children conducted a “Most Beautiful Garden” contest and chose the winner to receive a silver trowel.

The events committee of the garden is planning a Ribbon Cutting ceremony for the garden which will include the Ringwood Mayor cutting the ribbon, a blessing  of the harvest, a poem, and dedication of the garden. Later in the season, the families will gather for a twilight harvest dinner. Families will bring a dish of food from their garden, listen to the music of a talented garden guitarist, and enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Committee members have contributed articles to a monthly newsletter that includes photos of the garden build, growing tips on tomatoes, school garden successes and other details of the project.

For the most part, the families of the Ringwood Community Garden had been hindered in their garden attempts by endless wildlife challenges including bears, deer, turkeys, groundhogs, and even beaver. They have struggled with the rocky soil of Ringwood, and a rigid tree ordinance that keeps most yards wooded. The garden has been an oasis for them, allowing a home-grown food source, and the confidence of their own organic food system. The families are dedicated and delighted with their amazing garden, and grateful to the Community Catalyst Fund for making it possible.

A Busy Year for Spencer-Van Etten Middle School’s Greenhouse Program

By Brenda J. Anderson, Spencer-Van Etten Middle School

The 7^th and 8^th grade students in my Greenhouse Program (GHP) at Spencer-Van Etten (S-VE) Middle School in Spencer, NY, plan big .  The students in this hands-on integrated elective continued their work from previous years of promoting Green Education in their building, district and community in a variety of exciting ways. 

Much of their planning and work focused on promoting the 2^nd Annual Green Week, March 14^th -18^th, 2011 in both the elementary and middle school buildings.  Students in all grades PreK-8 participated in trivia contests, lessons, recycling initiatives with www.terracycle.net and a recycling audit.  Eighth grade math students used data from previous waste audits to calculate the amount of waste that S-VE school district diverts from the landfill each year by composting and recycling (102,000 pounds annually!) while eighth grade science students studied the ecology of the compost pile, grew fresh mushrooms and prepared a class luncheon fit for a king.  The week culminated in a spectacular presentation about environmental issues by presenter Glenn Colton at both the elementary and middle levels.

In April, the Board of Education (BOE) and community members were given an opportunity to look into the endeavors of the GHP during a community expo prior to a BOE meeting.  Students shared initiatives in composting, recycling, reductions in plastic bag usage and raising money for their program through “upcycling” with Terracycle.  Students shared a composting DVD and spoke to members of the media about their successes.

In May, the 8^th grade class and some 7^th graders in the GHP took a trip to Cornell University for a series of workshops on water and soil quality, recycling and hydrofracking.  Students had opportunities to speak with community leaders in their fields and learn about related jobs.  The field trip ended at Aman Farm in Candor where S-VE sends all of its compostable waste.  Students learned about the farm firsthand, including how their lunch room waste is turned into usable compost and methane gas for electricity production.  Following the field trip, students in the GHP began editing video footage taken during the trip.  Their video, while still in production, intends to educate the larger community about the composting process from lunch pail waste to completed compost. 

Our final community educational endeavor, Party at the Pond, took place on June 4^th, 2011.  Students from Green Teams in both the elementary and middle buildings spent the day teaching community members about the dangers of plastic bags with an educational flyer and DVD.  Participants that visited the booth were able to create canvas grocery shopping bags to take home and use on their next visit to the store.  Students also helped booth visitors plant seeds using the compost collected from our own cafeteria waste and recycled yogurt cups. 

While GHP students are wrapping up the year, they are also busy planning events for the 2011-12 season.  Plans are underway for a trip to a local recycling center and to Ithaca College to see green buildings and college campuses in action.  Students who attend will be turn-key trainers for other students when they return from their buildings.  Several community workshops are also in the planning stages, including one to teach community members how to compost with worms.  Students also wish to create an environmental calendar for community distribution.

A heart-felt thank you goes out to the Community Catalyst Fund from the students and community of Spencer-Van Etten.  Your generous monetary contributions are helping to make all of our Green Dreams come true!