Agri-Green Space and Learning Garden
A veteran-led activity to create a public green space and learning garden to benefit community residents and promotes technology learning on how to grow healthy foods, entrepreneurship, and public safety.
About the project
Our project name is the “Agri-Green Space and Learning Garden”. This is a component of Project Love Coalition and it's Green S.E.N.S.E. initiative that consists of a veteran led garden activity which will bring community residents together to create a public green space to remove blight, improve public safety combined with a learning garden to teach entrepreneurship and how to grow healthy food using sustainable technology based on STEAM elements.
A vacant lot site has been approved under the city’s Adopt-A-Lot program which will place the garden & green space on the Centre Ave corridor a block from the public library where PLC currently conducts public meetings.
The Steps
CALENDAR
2018
- March - Soil Testing
- April - Planning Harvest Homecoming Dinner; Begin ioby strategic planning for funding
- August - Partner and donor outreach
- October - Harvest Homecoming Dinner; Activate ioby strategy for fundraising
2019
- March - Clear site of tree stumps, garbage, Prepare Beds
- April - Garden Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with Mayor, media, veterans, officials, community organizations and residents
- May - Work Day (2nd week) and Planting Day (3rd week)
- May - August - Cultivating
- September - Cultivating / Harvesting
- October - Harvest Homecoming Dinner, Cultivating, Planting
Why we‘re doing it
The Project Love Coalition and it's Green S.E.N.S.E. initiative is actively exploring gardening activities for veterans which can provide healing therapy and economic opportunites for veterans. Additionally, there is a food desert and disinvestment in the community area designated for the project. PLC is currently seeking people to help develop an enhanced model training program to encourage veteran engagement in agricultural pursuits, particularly concerning small and medium-size farms and agribusiness, such as the provision of education and training to veterans and the development of skills leading to job placement and career opportunities in farming, including access to land (5 to 100 acres), equipment, and capital.